The Labor enquirer., 1886-03-06
THE SEATTLE MURDERERs.
The Firss Truthful Report of the Work
OF the Judge and Preacher Cow
ardly Assassins.

The First Truthful Report of the Work
OF the Judge and Preacher Cow
ardly Assassins.
For the ENQUIRER.
Sunday morning, February Z, 1886, the
Citizens Committee of Seattle, Washington
Territory, with whom went the mayor and
sheriff of the city, proceeded quietly and
without arms to the Chinese quarter. Here
they called the Chinese together and stated
that the agitation against them was very
strong, and that while it was now possible
to prevent violence on thepart Of the people,
yet that If they continued their residence in
Seattle, bloodsbed might occur in the future.
Under these circumstances they asked the
Chinese whether they would leave that day,
on the steamer HQueen of the Pacifc.n All
the Chinese signified their willingness to go,
but many of them said they had no money
to pay their fares; business had been very
dull, and few were then in employment,
owing to the rigorous boycott prevalent. The
committee assured them that these fares
would be paid. Some of them said that they
had not time to collect in their bills; the
committee guaranteed that these should be
paid, took the names Of such whites as owed
them anything, visited these Idebters and
either collected thesnoney or paid it them
selves. A subcommittee was then left at
each house to assist the Chinese in packing
up, a large number Of wagons were engaged
and the Chinese and their goods were trans
ferred to the wharf. This was all done by
O:30 a. M, and so quietly that very few of
the mass of the citizens knew anything of
what was going on. s
At this hour the news came the ear of
Governor Watson 9. Squire, who caused the
alarm bells to be rung to assemble the mu-
nicipal officers and pro Chinese whites, Of
whom there are not at most more than $50 in
the whole city. Among those who reported
were, of course, Mayor Yessler and Sheriff
McGraw. In the face of the protests made
against the alleged necessity" Governor
Squire by proclamation called into service
the two militia companies, most Of the mem
bers of whom were then present. While
this was going on Lyman Wood collected
sufficient money among the crowd on the
streets to pay the fares of SO Chinese; and
these with s, who bought their own tickets,
went on board the steamer; 215 Chinese still
remained on the wharf, guarded by the Citi-
| zens' Committee. Just an hour before the
sQueen' was to sail writ of habeas corpus
was sued out, requiring all the Chinese, in
cluding those on board the steamer, to be
produced in court Monday morning at IL
O'Clock. Supper and beds were therefore
furnished to the Mongols by the committee,
and at midnight the task of guarding them
| was turned over to the sheriff and his regu.
lar posse.
At o'clock Monday morning Governor
Squire made his first attempt to precipitate a
riot, by arresting M. F. Mcmillan, master
workman of the Knights of Labor, Junius
Rochester, 81. Metcalf, John Winscott, P.
Wickstrom, John Keane, L. R. Kidd and 81
M. Hall, prominent members of the Citizens
Committee; at II a. m. however they were
bailed by B. F. Day, George B. Adair, Charles
Kennett, George Dorfell, Mr. Korn, John
McGrath and 81. Jones, among the most re-
spectacle citizens in the town; but mean
while the Chinese had been rushed up, be
fore the hour appointed, to the court room
before Judge Green. They were there ad
vised that they need not go, but upon calling
the roll only 16 out of the whole lot ex
pressed any desire to stay. Fifteen hundred
dollars was, however, needed to pay the
fares of the balance. When this news was
announced to the crowds on the streets il
was saluted with cheers, and William Coch
rane donated 800 toward the amount. F.
81. Harkins, L. R. Kidd, 81. M. Hall, R.
Myer, d. M. Crane, P. Wickstrom, ]. G.
Haines, M. E. Kenworthy, A. Anunds, John
McGrath, Junius Rochester, W. Latka and j
F. Jordan by their subscriptions raised the
amount to S1,400; Sheriff McGraw added
five twenties, and the required amount was
complete. Cneer after cheer rent the air
the people danced and shook hands in the
widest excitement, and again the Chinese
took up their march to the steamer. MOI
one act of violence of any character hao
thus far been committed, and not deadly
weapon of any kind had been seen upon the
streets.
Upon arriving at the wharf it was found
that there were accommodations upon the
steamer for only 1856. A consultation was
then, called with the citizens, and they
agreed that the remaining Chinese should
stay until the next steamer and should be
supported in the interval by the Citizens
Committee. 1t may be noted here that Of
the 16 Chinese who desired to stay, 10 1at
now changed their minds and were ready tt
CO. The "Queen" cast off her lines and
steamed away; and the citizens upon the
wharf, shouting themselves hearse, formed
in triumphal procession to escort the Chinese
back to their homes, there to await the sail
| ing of the next steamer. -
| But meanwhile Governor Squire and his
white. Chinese, enraged at their failure tc
retain the Mongolians, had consulted to
gether; few of the more virulent had
armed themselves with Winchester rifles
and revolvers; ); this crowd, about 70 (who
were NOT then sworn in as deputy sheriffs,
| were not "Home Guards" and had no lega
anthnritv RI ant) shouIdered their guns and