The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-06-18
F.slSCO HIGHBINDERs.
THE CRUEL DEEDS IF THE
CHINESE MAFIA.
Secret Societies Hold Chinatown In
Terror-The Utilization Ceremonies
OF tho Chico Kong Tong
- Its Signs.

The reign OF terror continues In
Chinatown. Murders are OF weekly
occurrence. writes tho San Francisco
correspondent OF tho New York Press.
The authorities are powerless TO pre-
vent the shedding OF blood. They
find it impossible to detect tho assas-
sins. The highbindor's victims now
number fully 100 persons. The
strongest OF the rival organizations is
the Chico Kong Tong branch OF the
Triads OF China society whose
object Is the overthrow OF the present
Tartar dynasty OF the Chinese Empire
! 1t is said that all tho revolutions IN
J China during the last three centuries
are due to this society. Its American
branch. however. Is far from being a
patriotic society. and Is composed OF
desperadoes assassins and thievea 1t
has affiliations in nearly every Amerl-
can city. Littlo is known OF its inner
workings. The initiation ceremonies
bear out the original patriotic design
Of the society.
The members have q regular system
OF signals and passwords. The sign
OF the society is made by putting the
thumb and first and second fingers in
the position OF the legs of tripod
and pressing their onds against the
person whom 1t is desired to recognize.
On initiation nights the president is
clothed in the dress worn by the Chi
nese before tho Tartar conquest
During the ceremony the members
wear their queues implanted to denote
tho ancient freedom OF the Chinese.
The wearing OF the queues 1t will be
remembered. was ordained by the Tar
tar rulers OF China as a mark of de-
graduation and subsection on the part
of the native race. The applicant for
membership swears by thirty five :"
oaths to assist in placing Chinese on
the throne OF the Celestial Empire
and to obey in all things the COM
mands OF the supreme ruler OF the so.
ciety.
In Its character OF absolute secrecy,
the cruelty OF its sentences and the en-
tire obedience required OF its members,
this Chinese secret society equals the
italian malta Like the latter. it also
has ramifcations throughout the
United States. Its decrees are sure
to be executed sooner or later. so ex-
tensive is its membership and power
The police OF the city have made
several raids on the meeting places OF
these thugs during the past three
months. But the murder nevertheless
continue. Captain Price few weeks
ago set out to destroy all the lodges
Of the Ratchet men. Twenty rooms
were broken into and their contents
destroyed.
The guardian deity OF this band OF
murderers Is the God Chez. JOSS
Chez had $40. 900 altar in Spofford
alley. The idol was n big plaster
figure with long mustacne. 1t wa.
credited with the power OF striking
every one dead who should speak
slightingly OF it or touch it irrever.
emily. Chez was OF old Buddhist
priest who had escaped Me general
massacre OF priests on the occasion
OF the Tartar rulers The thieves and
blackmailers who loaded Chez with
offerings attributed to him grea
supernatural powers.
Captain Price notified the occupants
OF the headquarters that the big lido
and his belongings should be removed.
and that the Chinese must cease Il
assemble there In speaking OF the
matter recently the captain said: .Ir
this room (where the Joss was) mer
are tried. fined. condemned to death.
and on the floor below the society
meets and selects the man or men who
are TO DO the killing This society
numbers thousands and has branches
all over the United States. Not long
ago one OF their men committed .
murder in ST. Louis, and they mo-
only sent money from here bu
witnesses to swear him free" The
captain and his men destroyed thi.
headquarters OF the Chez Koue
Tong. but tho society meets else
where.
No one is safe from its vengeance.
The members OF the rival societies
suffer most, but many inoffensivt
Chinese also fall victims to its coward
ly deeds.
Besides the Chez Kong Tong there
are many ether Chinese secret socie
ties in the city. A popularity O.
them is their high sounding and sane.
timonious names; for example the
Knong TAX Tong. signifying 1.-THE
chamber OF far-reaching virtue" has
for its object the importation OF wo-
men as slaves The Gu Leong Tong.
1.-The chamber OF tranquil conscious.
ness" pursues the same business
Among organizations OF assassins
there are several decorated with very
happy names
The Hop Shing Tong is 1.-The hall o.
victorious union;" the Sui On Tong
means the hall OF maintained re.
pose;" the Ping Kung Tong signifies
'the hall OF maintained just,ce;" the
Wa Ting Shan Fong. in English is the
.dowery arbor mountain BOOTH" the
Pc Shin The and the Kai Thin The
the two OF the worst of the lot mean
respectively the guild for the protec.
ton OF virtue and the guild OF her
editary virtue"
The Yeong Wo. one Of the Chinese
six companies Is bitterly fighting all
the highlander societies The Yeong
Wo is commercial company and It's
interests are damaged by the constant
warfare existing in Chinatown. The
city officials find 1t impossible to Sc
cure any evidence sufficient to convict