The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-15
UP IN CHINATOWN.

English speaking Chinese rcsidenta oil
Helena were somewhat disturbed when thoy
read in yeat,rday's dispatches OF the threat
ened war between England and their native
country. They saw in tho event OF such a
o%atastrophs a possibility that they might
be called back to the land Of their birth
aud made to take up arms In the service OF
his imperial majesty, Kuang Hsu. This
would not only involve the expense Of an
ocean voyage with the disagreeable features
OF sea sickness. hut would leave the matter
of return to the United States after England
had been whipped one OF grave doubt and
active lodging unless they could slip in
over tho border by way Of Fort Benton.
Well informed diplomatists living in
Chinatown say they have no fears of
the ultimate outcome OF such a strug-
gle IA that which seems to be
impending; they point with pride to the
prowess of the only one of their race who
ever entered a prizp ring, Ii Lung, Of
Peoria, Ill.,, who on Sunday whipped his
oolored antagonist, George Massier, ito
a standstill." Hop Wong, the we'll known
washerman, says: .lan'1an no whippee
Chinee. Chinaman lickee Blitisher alice
samee like hellee." Quong Sabee, the
kindting wood artist, spat on his hands and
took a fresh grip on his saw as he grunted
out something to the effect that the other
fellow wouldn't be in it. His brow was
init and his graceful movements we're ac-
companied by a rasping sound, as If he
were saving the tail off the British lion.
Others. however, did not take such a flow
cry view OF the situation. They knew
that his celestial majesty had
the most men for fighting purposes
and with the exception of those temporarily
residing in Helena, Butte, Fort Benton and
other cities of Montana, they were all
within call of the tocsin. while England
could, according to the latest census, only
show up a few more million people, and
most of these were scattered over the globe
in her colonies. England, it was true, had
ten armored battle ships to China's one,
but that didn't seem to cut any figure. as
the general impression was that a fight to
u finish would have to be settled on dry
land. -
China Tom, who is an exile from his ma
tive land on account of his pr%etensions to
The imperial crown. sees in the coming con-
hict an opportunity to restore the fortunes
of his fallen house, and make the present
recognize his right of succession.
says China is in a much better condi-
tion to carry on a prolonged war than
England is, as she only owes eighty mill
ions, while the national debt of Great
is nearly three-quarters of a
billion. The only unfortunate part about
Ibis, he says, is that China hasn't as good
as England, having failed to settle
some of her bills and allowed a note to go
10 protest. This, however. is Toms OPP
oortunity. He proposes to mortgage his
in Squaw Gulch and with part Of the
hire a we'll known Montsnian to
an artillery regiment. which he
will place at the service of Kuang Hsu. The
balance he will devote to the purchase of
he latest improved firearms and all the
United States men of war not at present in
lse. With these adjuncts to the Chinese
srny and navy, Tom thinks that there can
70 no doubt of the final result. The Chi
lese, he says, are a very grateful people,
md when the war is over, recognizing his
to the empire, they will invite the
xi'e home and give him a second mort
,age on the throne. due at the expiratio n
# the present lease.