The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-18
WATERS OF PUGET SOUND.
Beautiful Terminus of the North Pacific
at This Far-Famed Sound.
The Anti-Chinese Troubles at New Tacoma
and at Seattle-A Statement of the Case
Between the People and the Chinese.
Correspondence of the Indian apolis Journal

the picturesque and placid expanse of the far
famed Puget sound Its salt waters are as blue
as the sky which bends above it. The shores of
mainland and islands are softened in their I'M
dulating outline by dense and impenetrable for
ests of pine and fir Sixty miles away tower
the snowy heights Of Mount Tacoma This
mountain, fifteen thousand feet high, visible
in its solitude from every part Of the sound
country, seems the natural protector of the re-
gion. In its ample bosom, scanned with glitter
ing glaciers, dozen rivers find their royal birth
place. Toward its dazzling summit thousands
daily turn their eyes, as the Jews turned toward
their temple, in earnest aspiration for the de-
velopment and population Of this superb coun-
try. It is their altar and their idols very
dream of beauty, shining like silver against the
spotless crystal of the sky.
Here the Northern Pacific railroad finds its
natural terminus Here the great inland empire
of the Northwest finds its outlet Here the prod
ucts of the vast and fertile territory of eastern
Washington will be seized and carried by white
sailed argosies to the busy markets of the world
Here are inexhaustible forests for the ship
builder, with trees from six to ten feet in diam
eter and three hundred feet in height Here is
iron for the forge and coal for the furnace. Here
is lime for the contractor and hides and hemock
for the tanner Here will be the seat of manu-
features and the site of cities. '"The gateway of
the Northwest"-this is at once theHtrue name
and destiny of Puget sound. Already the sweet
peace of nature has been disturbed in this virgin
country by the discords of men. The Chinese
riots present curious and disreputable phase of
human nature
IN - IL
charred timbers of great fire. At Seattle. two
squares from the dock whore you land, there
may be seen a number of small round holes in
the side of house. Apparently something has
been removed from these holes by the aid of
pen-knife. This appearance is correct The
holes were made by bullets. The bullets them
selves have been removed by curiosity seekers
The story of the fire at Tacoma and the explana-
ton of the bulet-hoes at Seattle have been
cleaned by me from the mouths of eyewitness
twelve miles from Seattle. hop growing
try Last fall farmer, being unable
get enough Indians and whites to gather his
crop. contracted for number of Cinnamon from
Seattle to help him.
A few ruffians resented the innovation. A
company from the neighborhood surrounded the
tents of the Cinnamon at midnight, and. with
out warning, fired upon upon the sleeTers.
killing some and wounding others. Indictms nts
murder. Two or three were tried. The proof
was overwhelming. but in each case the jury re-
turned verdict Of acquittal.
This was the beginning, not the end. The
spirit Of violence spread over the whole North
west The Knights of Labor at Tacoma took
up the issue. They organized thoroughly in
secret. Outsiders were taken into the conspir-
racy. The Mayor, the sheriff every deputy
every fireman in the place, were in sym
pathy. active or passive with the movement
The ringing Of the fire bells was the signal, at
which the Knights of Labor left their work and
assembled at the rendezvous 1t was 10 o'clock
in the morning. heavy rain fell all day. AS
the men came running at the signal. outsiders
Joined the crowd. Numbering thousand. they
started for the Chinese quarters. The Chinese
we're told to pack up and leave at once. The
mob helped them pack Robbing was no part
of their purpose Yet the crowd could not pur-
fly itself. Thieves took advantage of the situa-
ton. Linen in the laundries, goods in the
stores. were grabbed and sometimes destroyed
sometimes stolen. This was not the fault or
purpose of the ring-leaders. However, from
some cause, the Chinese lost large part of
their property. With such belongings as they
could hastily pack in bundles, they
were placed in the center of the
rioters went from place to place, wherever
Chinese were employed. The same acts of vio-
lence were repeated. Three four citizens of
Tacoma who employed Chinese domestics
NAMED at their homes al day with locked doors
and loaded guns. This was ALL They were not
disturbed, but they privately sent away their
servants. Late in the afternoon the mob
marched its victims through the mud and rain
out of Tacoma six miles in the country, to a rail-
road station called Lake View Here they re-
NAMED. cold. wet and hungry. till the next day
Then some by railroad and more on foot, terri
fed for their lives. started for Portland, hun
dred and forty miles away. The mob returned
to Tacoma The Chinese stores and houses
hmm nf ~ ha
found in Tacoma. where there were hundreds
short time since.
In Seattle, affairs took different turn Lead
ing citizens banded together to prevent outrage
similar to that at Tacoma. The Home Guards
were organized, to assemble at the ringing of
a bell, whenever a mob should start. On
Sunday morning of February last. man ran
to an engine house to ring the bell A fireman
resisted him, but he succeeded in giving the
alarm. A large number Of leading citizens as
ssmbled and were hastily sworn in as United
States deputy marshas. Meanwhile the mob
went through the town, drove the Chinese from
their quarters, and marched them to
steamship Queen of the Pacific about to
sail for San Francisco The mob undertook
to force the Chinese on board. The captain of
the ship summoned his crew, and turned his
cannon on the mob, shouting that no man could
como aboard without paying his fare Some
paid their own fare some were paid for by the
mob many more remained on shore Mean
while the citizens were not idle. Judge Green
of the United States Court, nephew of VIM.
NJ. Evarts, issued writ restraining the ships
from sailing, and directing the captain to bring
every Chinaman on board his vessel, into court
next morning. The captain obeyed the writ
The Judge explained to each Chinaman that he
free to 90, to stay, and that if he staid he
should be protected Many chose to 90. The
Home Guards, armed with rifles. returned these
to the ship. Those unable or unwilling to
60 were still at the dock. The guards
placed these in their midst and started to escort
them back to their quarters in the town. They
had proceeded two squares. when the rioters,
headed by the Knights of Labor confronted
them. They unarmed, and evidently be-
lieved the militia would not fire. cry arose,
take their guns from them" The crowd
surged forward A lumberman from a logging