The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-09
FRIsCO's HIGHsINDERs.
Rival Chinese Secret Societies Hold
Chinatown in Terror.

Chinatown in Terror.
From the Neto York Press.
SAN Francisco, April 2.-The reign of
terror continues in Chinatown. Murders
are Of weekly occurrence. The authorities
are powerless to prevent the shedding of
blood. They find it impossible to detect the
assassins. The highbinders victims now
number fully 100 persons. The strongest
of the rival organizations is the Chez Kong
Tong, branch of the TriaiS OF China a
society whose object is the overthrow Of
the present Tartar dynasty OF the Chinese
empire.
1t is said that all the revolutions in China
during the last three centuries are due TO
this society. Its American branch, how
ever, is far from being patriotic society,
and Is composed Of desperadoes, assassins
and thieves. II has affiliations in nearly
every American city. Little is known Of
its inner workings The initiation cere-
monies bear out the original patriotic de-
sign of the society.
The members have a regular system of
society is made by putting the thumb aud
first and second finger in the position Of the
legs of a tripod and pressing their ends
against the person whom it is desired to re-
cognize.
On initiation nights the president Is
clothed in the dress worn by the Chinese be-
fore the Tartar conquest. During the cere-
mony the members woar their queues un-
plated to denote the ancient freedom Of the
Chinese. The wearing of the queues, it will
be remembered, was ordained by the Tartar
rulers Of China as a mark of degradation
and subsection on the part of the native
race. The applicant for membership swears
by "thlrty-hvsn Oaths to assist in placing o
Chinese on the throne II the Celestial en-
mira and fo n tIfurn "a a.
of the supreme ruler Of the society.
CRIME AND IDoLATRY.
In it's character of absolute secrecy, the
cruelty Of its sentences and the entire Obs
dience required Of its members. this Chi
nese secret society equals the italian Malta.
Like the lat or, it also has ramifcations
throughout the United States. Its DEGREES
are sure to bs executed sooner or later, SO
extensive 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
murders nevertheless continue. Capt. Price,
few weeks ago, set out TO destroy ell the
lodges OF the Ratchet men. Twenty rooms
we're broken into and their contents de-
stroyed.
The guardian deity Of this band of muir
derers is the God Chez joss Chez had a
$4,000 altar IN SpoffOrd alley. The idol
tache. 1t Was credited with the power Of
striking every one dead who should speak
slightngly of It or touch it irrevreently
Chez was Of old Buddhist priest who had
escaped the general massacre OF priests on
the accession f the Tartar rulers. The
| thieves and backmailers who loaded Chee
with offerings attributed TO him great su-
supernatural powers
Capt. Price notified the occupants of the
headquarters that the big idol and his be-
longilgs should he removed, and that the
Chinese must cease to assemble there. IN
speaking of the matter recently the captain
said: "ln this room where the joss was
mon are tried fined, condemned TO death,
aud on the floor below the society meets
AID selects the man or men who are t. do
the killing. This society numbers thousands
and has branches ali over the United States.
Not long ago one Of their men committed q
murder i'll st. Louis. aud they not only sent
money from here, but witnesses TO swear
him free" The captain and his men de.
stroyed this headquarters of the Chez Kong
Toag, but the society meets elsewhere.
GOOD NAMES FOR BAD PLACES.
No one is safe from its vengeance. The
members Of the rival societies suffer
most, but many inofRensive Chirese also fall
vict ms TO its cowardly deeds.
Besides the Chez Kong Tong there are
many other Chinese secret soc cites in the
city. A popularity Of them is their high
sounding aud sancrimoniOus names; for ex-
ample, he kwong TAX Tong. signifyiag
"the chamber of far reaching virtue has
for lis object the importation Of women as
slaves. The Gu LeoIRiHong 1.-THE chamber
of tranquil consciousness pursnes the same
business. Among organizations Of assassins
there are several decorated with very happy
names
The Hop Shiug Tong is "the hall of vic
t0rious union" The Sui On Tong means
''tbe hall of mautlined repOse;" the Ping
Kung Tong signifies "the hall of maintained
JUSTICE" tne Wa Ting Shan Foug. which is
supported by the revenues of the Chinese
hrothels. in English is the "fowerY hrbor
mountain BOOTH" the Pc SHIN The and the
Kai Thin The two Of the worst OF the lot,
mean respectively the guild for the pro5ec
ton Of virtue" and the guild Of hereditary
virtue"
The Yeong Wo one Of the Chinese six
companies, is bitterly fgating all the high
binder societies The Yeong Wo is a com.
mercial company aud its interests are dam
aged by tbs constant war fare existing in
Chinatown. The city officials find il i'm
possible to secure ony evidence sufficient 80
convict any OF the nurderers. Whit will
be The outcome Of the present reign of law
leSsness no one can foreses.