The morning call., 1890-06-12
CAUGHT IN A TRAP.
In Transit Chinese Penned In in
Mexico.
Collector Phelps Sends Two Special Agents to
the Border Line With ship-Load Of
Mons olians to Checkmate Them.

Collector OF the Port Phelps was called upon
by CALL reporter yesterday and asked for iu-
formation regarding the Chinese colony down on
The Mexican border.
"Well," replied the Collector, settling back In
his chair, Il suppose that l can safely tell you
all about that colony now. / have withheld the
information from the public hitherto, for the
very good reason that did not wish to disclose
all our plans to the friends of the Cinnamon; but
that need deter me no longer, for have discOv-
cred that the Cinnamon down there are now
thoroughly posted about the whole affair, or at
least they know that we are watching them.
"WelI, when the steamers from China began to
bring so many passengers en- route for the Mexi-
can ports Of MaZatlan and Guaymas, was led
to believe that the whole lot OF them was simply
trying to smucgle into the United States by that
route. / called in Special Agent Of the Treasury
Evans to consult with me and We concluded tiat
the question as TO whether these Chinese pas
sengers are legitimately headed for Mexico with
the intention Of staying there. or whether ihey
are seeking that route Into the United States,
should be fully settled for future guidance OF the
Federal Department.
WATCHED BY TWO AGENTS.
$50 we concluded to send Two trusiy and WIDE
awake officers along with The Chinese and watch
I'll, NJ and. II they attempted TO cross the border,
TO capture them. Special Agent Irving and an
other volunteered for the duty and light well have
they performed it, They disguised themselves
bern, which left here on April 25th last, bound
for G uaymas, Mexico. This steamer carried sixty
Cinnamon bound for mat port.
" The officers mixed In with them, and by the
time The steamer was halfway TO her destination
they knew the features OF every Chinaman on
board, and could swear 10 each mans identity.
Twenty OF the Chinese who had taken tickets for
Guaymas left the steamer at Ensenada. Tele-
graphing 10 the Collector at San Diego to look
out for these. the two officers continued on with
tile rest
"At the end of twelve days Guaymas was
reached, and they all went OIL shore. The day
next after the arrival of the steamer consider
able squad Of the Chinese lett on the railroad in
the direction Of Nogales. The two officers took
the same tram and Travelled In the company OF
the tMOngolians until, when within Fifty or sixty
miles OF NOgales, and close 10 the border OF
Uncle Sans dominion the sixty Chinese left the
train and went into camp near tile railroad track.
Willy JOHN TOO CUNNING.
The Two officers went TO NOgales and
there made full preparations for the capture OF
the Chinese the moment they stepped over tile
border But WHY John proved to be more
cunning than the officers supposed. The Chinese
did moi cross the border and. 10 all appear
aDces, did not Intend 10 do so until they lully
understood the situation. The rest of the New
bern's contingent soon came up with their
countrymen and went into camp mol lar from the
others.
- In the meantime another steamer with Ill
Chinese in transit for Guaymas arrived IN San
Francisco. These went forward on May 9th on
the Panama steamer, and Special Agent Irving
was telegraphed TO look out for these also. In a
short time, sure enough. these last made their
appearance IN the neighbOrhOOd OF their fellows
makiDR in all about $50 Chinese encamped close
TO the promised land and eager TO get in.
Some two weeks ago, a Chinese letter was
intercepted and given to Special Agent Irving
and by him sent here 10 me- From a translation
of this, II was discovered that the Chinese were
fully aware of the preparations made for their
capture. This explained their long delay In
making the attempt TO cross the border.
The twenty-four Chinese recently appre-
hended on the desert by Inspector Mccoy and
now in the hands of the United States Commits
siOner at Tucson, ARR, are the first OF the TWO
lots which have attempted TO cross the border
Twenty-eight left Alta, in Mexico, with six
mule team and were followed by Mccoy and an
assistant. What became OF the other four is not
known. They may have turned back or may
have perished on the desert.
HEMMED IN ON ALL SIDES.
"a few OF the $50 Chinese went up TO Magda-
lena, Santa Ana aud Alta. and have gone 10
work on the railroad. IL IS expected that the
rest are waiting to elude the vigilance of our Of
fcers. They md themselves III most unpleas
ant predicament. They cannot go south or east
because OF the Apaches; on the west and north
west lies the great desert. and immediately in
'front.' across the border Of the United States, are
vigilant officers waiting TO seize Them.
They may well be undecided whether 10 go
back or attempt the dangerous crossing OF the
border. At Guaymas their cOuntrynen, who are
engaged In the boot and shoe and other indus
tries recently started there, are quite hostile 10
them. They do not want 10 share The good things
that they have with horde of hungry Mongoll-
ans fresh from The Celestial Empire.
"What will become Of tnem or what they Will
try 10 do is impossible for to say or even con-
| lecture. Our officers speak in very high terms
| Of the United States Consul at Guaymas and OF
| the customs officers at Nogales.
!" feel highly pleased at the result OF this trip
OF Special Agent Irving and his associates. 1t
has demonstrated the fact that he flood OF Chi
nese, which had taken passage for Guaymas, did
so FOR tie sole purpose OF smuggling Itself into
the United States, and 1t shows the wisdom Of
stopping them In transit at this port aud justfes
The action OF sending them back to China"