The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-04
MORE GUILE IN All SIN.
HIS Bones May Go Home, but He Comes
Back i'm the Flesh.

'a'h IN the Iletns
The certificate presented to the customs
inspectors at San Francisco by a re-
Gently arrived Chinese passenger stated
In English that It's holder was Lee Fong.
a merchant residing at IL Second street.
Portland, ore, and that HIS partner was
wan hee. Collector Phelps curiosity was
excited by some Chinese characters writ
ten on the back OF the document, and
a translation of them showed that they
were there 10 coach" the holder as to
who he was not. They told him that his
name was Lee Fong, Wah KEGS partner
In business at II Second street, Portland
and conveyed some other information
which would enable him TO land through
the custom house. When IA Second street
was visited night before last It was
found 10 be occupied by an American
plumber. and a search of Chinatown
failed 10 discover Wah Kee. Yesterday,
however, the firm OF Wah Kee & CO.,
general Chinese merchandise, was located
at $50 Second street between Washington
and Alder.
Wah Kee knew Lee Fong very well:
was his business associate in fact. for
several years prior TO his death. which
occurred three years and two months
ago. Lee was a genuine merchant and
very good Chinaman. His death occurred
in this city. and his remains were in
TERED with all pOmp and ceremony due
his station I'm life. His bones We're sub
sequently eXhumed and shipped to China.
The Chinanan who represented himself
10 Collector Phelps as Lee Fong, partner
OF Wah Lee, was a fraud because that
particular Lee Fong Is too dead TO travel.
Wah Kee knew that Chinese passengers
under false pretense, and he also knew
that many Of them falsely represented
themselves to be his partners in business.
But what could he do 10 prevent IT.
even If he desired 10 DO so?
A very intelligent young Chinaman,
who had listened 10 Wah KEGS expla-
nation. then told the story Of the late
Chin Wan Lee and the shameless way
in which his honored name is pilfered
by coolies seeking a first landing on
these shores Chin was a merchant OF
high standing in this city. About eigh-
teen months ago a small. dark speck
appeared on one Of his eyeballs. IL did
not cause any physical pain. but It's APP
pearance was suspicious, and Chins SEN
sitive soul was much troubled. He Wis
tied an eminent Chinese occulist, and re-
ceived the discomforting assurance that
tllf oll'Nh NbNiAs NIL NM hlA4lll a. gtNFs
After paying the eminent one a princely
fee for his information, he picked up
his traps and took the next steamer for
China, TO die in the bosom Of his family.
Six months later he was a corpse Wor-
riment over the speck and the occulist's
prediction developed into galloping de-
cline. which carried him off. He was
duly buried amid his forefathers. but
since his interment he has returned In
the flesh 10 this city many times None
Of his old cronies here have seen him
since he babe them goodbye and started
with his eye speck and his burden Of
worriment FOR the Celestial Empire. but
they are convinced by the testimony OF
duly signed certificates that he has IRE
cuently arrived among them since men
According TO the statement OF the Drisnt
young compatriot who told the pathetic
tale. there is Chin Wah Lee. merchan,,
among every cargo OF Cinnamon dumped
in Portland.-Por,land OreSonian'