Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-26
A RAID ON THE CHINESE.
Gambling Places Entered and Many Celes-
tials Taken to the Station.

rAS-rsx AND DoxrNoEs N rrIL OPERATION
How THE GAMES ARE PLAYEp-oPIUM SMOKERS
ALSO cAPruRED-wHAr GROCERY STORES ARI
UsKD FoR-PLESTY OF TEA foR ALL
ia citizen Of San Francisco had passed down
Al street Just south of Pennsylvania avenue
between 10 and IL o'clock last night he would
not have been obliged to stretch his imagina-
ton greatly to think for the moment that he
was in that part of lis own city known az
Chinatown, for nearly every almond-eyed
celestial Of the national capital was on tina,
square for a short time at least. There are
nearly 100 OF them here, the police census
which was taken some time ago showing a
total OF seyenty-eight at that time. The cause
of their presence On the streets was a
weIl-plauned raid that had been made by De-
tective Block. who was assisted by the officers
OF Lieut. kelly's police station. Sergts Falvey
and Brosnan had charge OF the blue-coated Off
GERS, while the detective officer superintendent
the entire Job. The raid determined on
some days ago because Of numerous complaints
Of citizens as well as of complaints by some OF
the less successful Cinnamon OF losing their
money at the gambling games Of fan-tan and
dominoes. Information to the effect that
opium joints and Chinese drinking places were
connected with the grocery establishments
where Chinese products are sold was also re-
ceife0 pY Inc pOiice-
HOW EVIDENCE WAS SECURED.
In order to get some evidence against the
celestials before making the raid Detective
Block procured from one Of the Chinese vic
tins an order for some liquor and opium, and
a small bow was sent to the stores with the
order. 1t was filed and the officer got Jug or
stone jar Of whisky and gin as wen as some
small paper boxes Of opium, which is 70 De
tested and used as evidence against the pro-
prietors.
Having thus secured this evidence and know
ing that the supposed gamblers we're In the
joints the detective led the squad to the houses
through the beating rain and walked into the
places Of Hip Wah and Sing Sing Lung with
out any difficulty. The Cinnamon were there
in full force and the two filthy dwellings were
filed with celestials who sat and lay about on
their couches smoking opium. or hitting the
pipe and playing games mes Of don an ana
There were Cinnamon in every room and
there were a number Of rooms
THE CHISAMES DIDN'T MIND IT MUCH.
Some few Of them who had never before been
in a raid were more or less excited or fright
ened, but such as Won Lung and Jim Lee, who
were better acquainted with the laws. did not
mind il any more than if they had been called
upon to engage in game Of fan-tan and some .nnt,
Of them said in pretty good Engiish that they
didn't care d
Just before the police reached the houses
couple of Cinnamon were seen TO enter the
premises and they were taken with the others
In the grocery stores are kept all products OF
their native country, including vegetables, fish
and fruits. and almost everything Is dried and
has to be soaked before cooking. Among other
articles they have dried flying fish. their shape
being similar to that of rat, only the flesh Is
white and has the smell of Goldfish. On the
top shelves were bottles done up In wicker
cases and tightly scaled Some of these con-
tain Chinese liquors. while most OF them have
some sort Of medicine in the liquid mixture.
PLENTY OF TEA.
In the store were large cans of tea which was
Of an unusually pretty and rich color, and
while the tea was very strong, there was not
that strong smell about it that there is about
most tea served by Americans. This tea seemed
to be free to ALL just as liquors are in trst-ciass
American gambling establishments. and one
after another would walk mp and help himself
They used small cups and gulped down the re-
freshing beverage as the average drinker makes
q glass of whisky disappear, and sew
ersl Of them, after drinking three or four cups
Of ten, poured out glass OF some strong liquor,
and then each one in the particular group OF
cousins would take q taste until the glass was
emptied-
THE OPIUM SMOKING ROOMS.
On the upper floors most Of the opium smok-
ing was being done. and there on their beds,
which consisted Of strip Of mating on n pine
elevation, three or Tour lay III q group anu
pulled the opium. There were two sick people
In these upstairs rooms and one who looked as
il he had the consumption was too III to be
moved. The other patient seemed stupehed,
and he, too, was permitted to remain On the
first floor in one house a dozen or more ceies-
tials were engaged in a game with dominoes of
an unusually large size and the appearance Of
the police did not even interrupt the game.
For q while they rather thought that they had
appreciative audience, and when the heavy
- n. c. Ill. 4
table several Of them laughed as though it was
great joke
In another room a small amount Of money
was found on a deserted table The man who
was suspected Of being banker was partially
searched and more than go was found on him,
mostly In silver.
THE FAN-TAS ROOMS.
The fan-tan rooms are in the easements and
there the doors and windows had been sealed
and pasted over and gas fixtures enough to
light any gambling room were there. The
rooms were brightly lighted and for chat reason
the officers believe that games we're in full
blast The fsn-tan tables are simple structures
and the games can be played by young chill
dren, no science being required The table is
high one and OF good size. so that large
number Of players can get around it at a time
In the rear is place for the banker and he is
the only man who had the good fortune Of hav-
ing seat A piece of wood hinged to the
him from the players. He is a sure winner
every time, because the losers pay the winners
and he takes the surplus or a percentage
Pieces Of glass that look like buttons are used
in the game and they are piled on a square
piece of tin which Is nailed to the center Of the
table. The dealer or banker cuts the game by
dividing them with stick made for that pur-
pose and the glass buttons are counted the
gamblers betting on odd even, counting
tours.
In the kitchens were large ranges on which
were immense cans of boiling water kept in
readiness to replenish the supply of tea and not
to wash clothes, as these places are not laun-
dries. While waiting for the patrol wagon the
Cinnamon discussed the condition of affairs in
their own language and several of their num-
Der came from other places ostensibly for the
purpose of trading but sort Of don't care
Chinaman admitted that he was looking for
game
EXTENT OF CHINESE GAMBLING.
II IL estimated that fully one-fourth and per-
haps one-third Of the eelestials live without
working. as they spend most of their time at
the fan-tan table and win the earnings of those
who labor day and night over the wash tub and
ironing board. Some OF them the police saw.
win as much as 500 in a single night and
that's what keeps so many of them poor
Quite q number of them. when questioned
about opium smoking, said that they were not
addicted to opium habit, but gave as their only
excuse that the Opiuni costs more than tohacc,.