Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-01-31
THE HlGHBlNDERs.
Remark able History OF tins Order in
California.

Remarkable History OF tins Order In
California.
The highlander societies in San
Francisco number about fifty. They
are an outgrowth of the life of the
Chinese on this coast, as none of them
were organized in China. When the
coolies first began to flock here in
great numbers, allured by the offer Of
high wages to work on the Central
Pacific railroad, the lawless element
among them saw the opportunity for
blaokmail and general espionage, and
began the organization of the societies
that have proven the source of most
of the Chinese crime committed on
this opast, There were already in ex-
istence then what we're known as the
Chimes six companies.
These were societies formed for the
mutual protection OF members, for aid
to the sick and destitute, and, most
important of all, for the transfer TO
China OF the bones OF those who died
The companies represented the two
districts of China which contributed
the greatest number OF coolies to this
country, and no Chinese ventured to
come to this country without joining
one Of these companies. The compan-
los did much good in early days in
enforcing order and in furnishing any
crimes OF its members, but OF late
years their power has been 80 much
encroached upon by tho highbinders
that little remains,
Nearly twenty years ago the first
highlander society was founded. II
was known as ths Chez Kung Tong,
aud II was regularly incorporated
through the aid OF white lawyer,
who declared in his application that
II was society Of Chinese Free Ma
SONS. This parent society is very
wealthy. 1t owns handsome brick
building on Spofford alley, in the
heart OF Chinatown, and here are the
headquarters OF the officers, the large
meeting room and the Joss, before
which all new members are initiated
and all oaths taken. One enters the
door, which bears plainly in English
and Chinese the name OF the society
aud ascending flight Of stairs reach
es the main audience room, wher,
state councils Of the society are held
This is handsome apartment ftte,
up In celestial style, with heavy oil,
oak ranged around the wall; larg
table stands in the center directl
under costly lamp, while Chimes
paintings and notices from confuciou
and other moralists cover the wall,
for your highbindor is nothing II nc
moral. Near the head OF the stat,
is an enormous lockwood tablet Il
into the wall, ON which are engrave
the names OF the 1900 charter men
bers OF the fraternity, with the su,
OF money that each contributed t
found the institution.
AT whatever hour OF day or nigl
one may enter this room he will fin
in the small rear Office some one
inquire about his business and to a
swer any questions. 1t seems tn
the Chez kung Tong boasts of ov
$500 members in San Francisco alon
while throughout the United State
South America and Cuba the re
amounts to 10000. In all it has 3!
branches scattered over this gre
'rerritory,but each reports to the pa
ent society. Every six months 70
"hesdmen" are chosen by election
conduct affairs, and under them a
thirty-three "hatchet- men" or acti
police, who are under oath to ob,
implicitly any order OF the headline
The Chez kung Tong for many yea
was the most influential OF the hig
binder societies, but many of it's me
active members have started 9th
associations and now the palm
supremacy in local power is disput
by the Go Sin Sea and the Bo
Sea, the two societies between viii
the present deadly feud RACES.
The engineers of the New Yo
acqueduot commission are now
work on plans for the construction
the greatest dam in the world, Il
which will be known as the DUAL
RAIL-. T.. :.