The sun., 1891-07-12
THE CHINESE-PIUTE FBUD.
A TALE OF BLOoDsHKD FROM THE
WILDS OF NEVADI.

Characteristic OF the TIVE Rsces-Ths
reud Arose Out OF Natural Antipatsies
"A Graphic story orthe Latest Murder
BAN FnANcrsco. July 5.-Mono county. in the
very heart OF the most rugged and inaccessible
part OF the Sierrss, whore the telegraph and
the railroad are unknown and where life is as
primitive as In tho carly days. hos been the
scene OF . long and bloody feud between Piute
Indians OF Nevada and the Chinese OF this
mountain mining camp. An Indian was done
20 death by q Chinaman with horrible Jack
the Ripper accessories, while tho Indians took
vengeance for the murder Of ono Of their
tribe by dragging tho Mongoiian from the
very presence OF the officers OF the law In the
Court House and hacking him to pieces in
broad daylight. within sight and sound OF
several hundred white men and women. This
was tho latest act In o feud as bitter aud as
barbario as any which harlan county. Ken-
tucky. can AFFORD. Tho causes that led up to
II furnish an Interesting glimpse OF the race
hatred between Indians and Chinese. which
dates back before Denis Kearney. tho now
Constitution anti Chinese riots. and the Scott
Exclusion net were ever hoard of.
The Pluto Indian was found By the argo-
nauts who swarmed to California whom the
news o; the finding OF gold was confirmed
precisely as he is to-day. He was then the
laxiest, dlrtiest. most worthless OF red men.
Ho would only work when forced to do so by
actual hunger or by the equally strong desire
for li1uor. Tho trappers and frontierSmen had
given him tasto for whiskey. which he foun
far better than tho native tlprle that he made
from wild fruits and berries. Tho Pluto OF north
srn and central California never caine under
tho influence OF the mission Fathers. and hence
mover learned any OF tho lessons In agriculture
and tho mechanic arts which make tho Indians
OF southern California ~ useful to the white
ranchsr. In fact, ho simply added drunken
ness to his other vices. and took not one
single virtue from the newcomers. He
was as cowarlly then as to-day. but when
strong in numbers no was dangerous and
It was not uncommon to hear that bnnd
Of thom had murdered eome solitary miner
or ranchman for tho sake OF his few belong
inGs or Of his stock. The Indian could seldom
bs utilized by the ArGonaut. who looked upon
the Pinto with that good-humored contempt
which il reflected In 40 many OF Biet Harte's
stories. Tho Indian on his part had pro-
founl admiration for tho courage. energy. and
nerve OF the white prospector. and profounder
respect for the pistol and bowie knife which
the stranger handled with such skill.
Among the earliest sold-seekers were many
Chinese. who came over from the Sandwich
Islands and from down tho coast ss far as
Chilli: and few months later every ship that
crossed the Pacific from the Orient bore
number OF these little brown mon. who were rs
eager to make their fortunes as any Of Tho ad-
vontGrers Of other races. 1t was noted that
while the Pluto tolerated the Mexican. or evcn
the Kanaka. he at once showed violent antag-
onism toward the pic-tailed Chinese and that
this antipathy was raturned with interest
By John Chinnman. They refused absolutely
TO fraternize from the outset, though they fire.
Quenty occupied contiguous quarters In the
outskirts Of mining towns Nothing could
afford greater contrast than the two races.
Tho Indian was Observation-Disclosures
tramp OF nature. Not oven the women OF tho
piutos had rudimentary idea OF decoration or
dress. They were too lazy to mako anything
which did not boar directly on the main points
Of food and clothes and drink. In strong
contrast with them was tho tireless
worker from the Orient. Tho Chinese
for the frst twenty years OF his res
idencs in California was regarded as
valuable member OF tho community. He
had little OF tho white mans enterprise. and
therefore was servioeable Us q laborer. or II he
took to mining on his own account he didn't
enter into competition with tho white prospec-
TOR. but was contented to work over claims
which tho hrst locaterS had abandoned for
richer diSRinGa Hewas a natural trader then
60 now. and he imported many articles that
helped to make life more oadurable In the new
Fl Dorado. Hs was imposed upon mero-
lessy by tho tax.eatherer. who frequently
collected poll tax OF $50 each from The
entire camp OF Chinese and then bousted
OF his work. Mining licenses also cost the
Monaghan dear, and lie was frequently run
of his cluim by desperadoes whom they
found he had struck 1t rich on ground which
they had abandoned as worthless. Ali this
John endured patiently from the stronger race.
himself with spelling even the
shrewd Yankee when It came to o trade. But
no would endure no mark OF despite and no
wrong from the Indian. and quarrcls between
the two races were numerous and murders
not uncommon. At this work the MonRolian
was as trcacherous. as cunning and as cruel as
the Indian. whi.e he was far more patient and
subtle. The records Of the early days. SO ad-
mira bly, presented by Hnbert. H. Bancroft in
many Instances Of carly blooh f-uds between
tho two rnces. The law seldom stepped in
cause white men wer. too busy to was 9 time
settling lhe uuarrels of the copper lorsd
races. 1t was only when John or Hombre-
Known iIU s and addressed d-k'Iied a w6i!o man
that the eDginery OF the law was ever brought
Of q vigilAnte mob that r!ddisd the offender
With hul cts or strung him 10 the nearest tree.
anu tE6n drove liB companions OWt OF tno ulS-
Srict. 1t was seldom that an Indian offender
Was reached. because the Piutes lived gen-
orally in large rancfierias or native vi!laRes.
and when the alarm was given by. fugitive
oil the Inhabitants. excent lew Of tho very
old aud intirm. took 10 the hills or the woods.
where Il was useless to follow them. The GUS
tomary procedure in such cases was to burn
i've rancherin and to contiscate tho winter
IN Nevada the CHR first appearea in
large numbers at the time o! the build
Ing OF tho Central Pacific Railroad. The
Chiness did splendid work on this most
difllcu!t piece OF railroad construction. and
when the Central Pacific force met the Union
Pacific gangs and tho last spike was driven,
many OF the thousands OF Chinese scattered
through tho mining camps OF Nevada, Utah.
and California. and nude a good living either
Rs keepers OF wash houses or rs miners. Taken
% class they wsren superior body OF men.
for they had enjoy ed. excellent training on the
railroad and all tho weakly and incompetent
ones had been weeded out
1t WAS natural that these Chinese should hato
the lazy. thieyinG pinte Indians. who hang
around all the mining camps OF Nevada.
and numerous have been the rows between the
two races. or late yeas. since the, bottom
mining towns, are woll,nigh abandoned. the
old antipathy between MonGolian and Indian
has famed up moro fercely than ever. The
lsud. which eliminated Gs will be told further
pn broke out about five years ago In Esme-