The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-31
HIS FIRST DRINK OF ICE WATER.
An Unsophisticated Chinaman Tastes
1t and Thinks It is Bewitched.

An UDSOphisticated Chinam6n Tastes
1t and Thinks 1t is BewItched.
From the Neie York Herald.
Some ten years since was stationed at
Shanghai, China, employed on one of the
line Of steamers plying between Yokohama
ami that port, as a sort .Of supercargo, my
duties being chiefly 70 watch the coolies as
they loaded rice into the ship and to see
that nothing was stolen.
There was one particular gang Of raw re-
crults from somewhere up in the interior
who gave me great deal of trouble. They
were continually Sinking their work, and
were slow 70 obey orders. Most Of them
had never been TO the seac0as5 before, and
the idea of being ''bossedn by a white man
did not seem at all TO their fancy. In the
absence Of their foreman, whom they
oDeyed implicitly, | had q pretty hard time
Of it.
BAD MAN.
There was one strapping big coolie whose
sinister looks and apparent ugly temper oc-
casIoned me no little annoyance. He seemed
20 follow every action of mine with that
ugly scoWl OF his untll | began TO fear that
he meant to do me bodily harm. Had it
not been for Offering MIN a glass Of ice
water one day L am inclined TO think that
tins unamlable Celestial would certainly
nave tADue lil4 some injury
1t happs Ell this way The day was very
hot, aud down in the hol1 wnere the men
were working the heat was almost unbear-
able. A large tub of warm water stood
near stanchIon for the men to drink from
when thirsty, and the way they poured
down great draughts of the lukewarm and
unpalatable stuff was a caution.
For my own use and that of the ships
officers there was well filed ice cooler,
which seemed to be regarded with some
suspicion by the wOrkmen. Noticing the
big fellow before referred to standing idle,
| ordered him to go to work. The foreman
had gone ashore for some needed article
The man paid no attention. and then l
yelled at him and made threatening
gesture.
He seized a stick lying on the floor and
then started to walk IN my direction, first
stopping to take a drink of water The tub
vas empty. This didn't seem to improve
Mr. Chlnaman's temper any, and as he con-
tinued to advance l had about made up my
mind to retreat up the steps. An idea,
however, suddenly seized NE. Going to the
ice cooler | filed large tin dipper, and
holding it toward the advancing Chinaman
beckoned him to drink
IN AGONY. NATURALLY.
He seemed in doubt at first, aud then
stepping up TO me took the proffered dipper.
The heat was sweltering. Great beads of
perspiration stood OUT ell over his face and
naked body. He drew a deep breath aud
emptied half the contents of the dipper in
one great gulp.
A look, first Of surprise, and then of agony
came over his features.
Hi Yahl" he yelled, dropping the dipper
to the floor and then rolling over the deck
himself screaming with pain. The other
Cinnamon came rushing to the scene, and
explained about the ice water as best l
could.
The PROSTATE Chinaman had recovered,
meanwhile, and on regaining his feet gave
the dipper look of terror and fled from the
ship.
At first l could not understand his action.
but afterward learned that he had never
tasted ice water and thought that 1 had
used some witchery in giving him the
drink. never saw him afterward.