Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1886-03-09
THE SEATTLE RIOT.

PORTLAND AHti-ShiuOSC No"e''o' ~
Cit,zens' Committee of Seattle called
on the Chinese and asked them wheth-
er they would leave that day, Feb.
9TH, on the Queen Of the Pacific, and
informed them that tho anti Chinese
feeling was growing very strong, ard
that there might be bloodshed il they
remained. Many of them could not
pay their fares, and they were paid
by the citizens, and their outstanding
debts collected for them, or paid by
citizens. They had all expressed u
Willingness to go, SO large number
Of wagons were engaged and their
goods transferred to the wharf. Gov.
Vim. c. Squires assembled two mill
tia companies and the pro-Chinese
whites, $50 in all. While this was
going on Lyman Wood collected
money enough from the crowd on the
street to pay the fares Of 80 Chinese,
and these, with eight others who paid
their own fares, went on board the
vessel. Two hundred and ten Chi
nese still remained on the wharf,
guarded by the Citizens Committee.
Just an hour before the vessel was to
sail writ of habeas corpus was sued
out, requiring all the Chinese, includ-
ing those on board the steamer, to be
produced in court at 10 o'clock on
Monday morning, the 9Th. AT seven
o'clock that morning Gov. Squire ar
rested eight prominent members of
the Citizens Committee, among them
M. Mcmillan, Master Workman OF
the Knights of Labor. They were
out on bail ut IL o'clock that day.
The Chinese we're rushed up before
Judge Green before the hour appoint
ed, and advised that they need not
go, but on calling the role only six
teen out of the whole lot expressed
any desire to stay. Fifteen hundred
dollars were needed to pay the fares
of the balance. This sum was quick.
ly raised, and again the Chinese took
up their march to the steamer. No,
one act of violence had thus far beer
committed, and not a deadly weapon
of any kind had been seen upon the
streets.
Upon arriving at the wharf 1t wa:
found that there were accommoda
tions on the steamer for only 100. A
consultation was then called with the
citizens and they agreed that the remain
steamer and should be suppc rted in tn,
interval by the Citizens Committee. o
the sixteen Chinese who desired to stay
ten had now changed their minds ant
were eager to go. The Queen cast off he
lines and steamed away, the citizens OIL
the wharf cheering themselves hoarse
and formed in triumphal procession to es
cort the Chinese back to their homes, ther
to await the sailing.of the next steamer.
But, meanwhile, Gov. Squire and hi
white Chinese, enraged at their failure t.
retain the Mongolians had consulted tc
gethor, and few of the more virulent ha,
armed themselves with Winchester rifle
and revolvers. This crowd, about twelve
{who were not then sworn in rs deput
sheriffs, were not Home Guards, and ha'
no legal authority, whatever, to act), shou
dercd their guns and proceeded on ru
TO the wharf Before they got there the.
met the lriumphal procession returning
With insolent manner and aggressive AZ
,ion they insisted upon the citizens break
ing their lines and surrendering til
charge of the Chinese to them. This wa
done without murmur. On arriving 8
the corner of Main and Commercis
streets, Charles G. Stewart, logger, stepl
ed forward and asked ono of the escor
David Webster, .What are you going
do with the Chinese!" Webster replied
N"Come along with me, you--at til
- A. IL, . TAU