San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-01-23
THE OPIUM JOINT RAID.
AN OPEN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
BY THE CHINAMEN IN
CHARGE.
Fined In the Police Court--A Visit to
the JoInt--Oplum Smoking
Years AGO In San An
tnnIn

1
the Joint--Oplum Smoking
Years AGO In San An
tonic.
The recorders court, always interest
| ing on Monday morning, was doubly so
today, and the dingy Old room bore an
animated appearance seldom seen In
that minor, but very important tribunal.
| The opium smoking cases, with all the
sensational fumes supposed TO accom-
psny the poppy juice, WAS set for III
| o'clock. That brought out the audience,
| for there 10 always something interest
| ing In the Acknowledged Celestial, even
| II it crop out in the police court.
G. ii. Birdell, John Raymond and
Cbas. Edwards, q trio of nicely clothed,
| middle aged men, who were found In
| the den on Friday night last, we're pres.
| ent with red eyes and flushed cheeks, 10
| testify against Wah Lang, keeper OF the
Joint. Several Cinnamon were present,
hut Elsie Dismore, soiled dove who
had also been caught In the opium joint,
WAS conspicuously absent. She is
blonde variety artistic" whose talents
are not restricted to kicking up her heels,
for IL is publicly known that she is an
adept at shifting the pipe" he city
attorney in person, with his able and
handsome assistant, were both present;
and there appeared also the broad and
genial "phiz" OF Capt. Cardenas.
1t was supposed, no doubt, that the
evidence would reveal many startling
facts, showing the extent to which
opium Is consumed In San Antonio, but
when Recorder Adam called the case,
Wah Long, a little pinched.face China.
man, walked up with oriental dignity,
and plead guilty to keeping an opium
den. He was fined S2S. aud the Others
were dismissed. or course, the money
was forthcoming and the disappointed
| sight-seers filed out OF the room. The
pipes, lamps and general opium para
phernalia were Returned to Wah By Capt.
CardeDas, with the injunction that I'VE
Intend breaking up this business, and
intend raiding your place at every OF
portunity."
TYPICAL OPIUM DEN
or course LIGHT readers know moth
ing of an opium den, but LIGHT report
ers, who sometimes crush In where
angels fear to tread" have had occasion
| 10 investigate. The joint in question is
on Aeequia street, and looks harmless
and innocent enough from the exterior.
When this man of news knocked for 8d-
mission this morning, he was stubbornly
refused by the Chinaman In charge, but
remembering those little compliments
which every reporter desires to pay the
legal profession, he assumed the cloth
and air OF lawyer" and told Celestial
John that he came rs an angel or de-
tense, and wanted TO be shown through
the establishment. That was the straw
that broke the camel credulity's
back, and he was taken into
partitiOned department, dark, dingy,
and even frightful to. the mildI.man-
nered intruder, who 10 unaccusto med TO
the rougher ways Of this rude world.
There were three hunks, pipes, etc, all
ready to confisgrste the brain OF any
customer. In another department was
| another bunk, and still another In the
main room. That Is all there can be
seen. But ism that enough? Could
| those blaokened walls but speak, what
scandals might they tell.
OPIUM IN SAN ANTONIO YEARS AGO.
Back in the years Of ls7S.79 opium
Joints were more common in San Anto-
MO than at the present day. Then,
though IL was never proven, every
Chinese laundry was supposed TO be an
opium den. 1t was also a custom for
chose addicted to the drug to secure
room and the services Of Chinaman,
and there, 10 seclusioD, while away their
ruined lives with the fatal pipe. Every
old member of the local sporting frater-
nifty will call to mind the sad ending Of
Duke Flemming, who died In the "Gold
Room" gambling house in San Antonio
during the fall of 1879, from the effects
Of opium. Flemming was born sport,
and rode high horse in consequences.
but fast horses, faster women and
whisky lowered him beneath his assocl.
stes at cards, and he took to opium
His very first experience proved his
bane. One dollars worth Of the drug
killed him in two days. Prior to bis
demise, Flemming went to the Gold
Room" and lay down on table to sleep
of the effects OF his last debauch.
Duke Flemming never awoke. At that
very time his father WAS mayor OF
Louisville, KY, to which place, II mem
Org serves we'll, 1.-The polluted and disls-
Dated remains OF one whose life promis-
ed much, were sent for iDterment. This
is but one instance, OF the many that
have occurred right under our very
noses, and it is mark 10 the credit OF
our police officials that they are keeping
q vigilant and watchful eye on this most
nefarious and degrading practice.