The record-union., 1893-01-09
UNDER TIE DRAGON FLAG.
Some Of the Mysteries and Miseries
of Chinatown.
What Visit to Pawn-shop Disclosed
"A chinese Pharmacy and
Other Curious Places.

In company with Police Captain Brad
ley RECORD UNION reporter last even
ing visited the Chinese quarter, and
among other places entered pawn-shop.
After going through winding passage,
that could only be followed by the
Initiated, All Coon was found behind a
barred window somewhere under ground
and about in the center Of the most pop
ulous block in Chinatown. He bore an
aftluent and prosperous appearance, and
had three or four wives, notwthstand-
ing.
The place was dimly lighted by few
tapers, but upon the appearance of the
Captain, who was instantly recognized,
the Chinese ''Uncle' opened a narrow
door into his inner Office and lighted a
small lamp.
! In one corner of the dingy room there
was locked vault, which the proprietor
also opened and disclosed a store Of goods
wonderful to behold. Hundreds OF par
GELS and packages, all labeled with brass
labels, were stored on the shelves, and
which, judging from their sizes and
shapes, might contain almost any
thing in the shape of portable property
| from jewel to u suit of armor.
| Upon number of shelves the space
was given up exclusively to pistols and
revoIyers, and there were enough fire
arms in the collection to arm half the
Chinese in the city and kill off the others.
| These, too, were all labeled with brass
labels and tag, presumably bearing the
| names Of the owners and the amounts
| due on them.
The revOlvers were nearly all new, of
| the very best patterns and make, and of
large size and caliber. They were
stacked IN layers with the labels all in
view, and doubtless any or all of them
could be instantly handed out when
called ior and the amounts for which
they were pawned paid.
Other shelves were loaded down with
scores of the peculiar shaped and tormid-
able knives used by highbinders, some Of
them large enough to serve as swords.
After leaving the underground apart
ments and reaching fresher air il was
amusing TO note the effect Of the Police Can
| tain's appearance along l street. The
officer had raided SO many of their lottery
! games and opium joints that he is gener-
ally recognized. Every few steps doors
world be hastily closed, windows quickly
let down, and various warning signals
| observed.
Several opium dens were looked into.
where, amid the sutfocating smoke which
almost obscured the occupants, and
where the odors were OF most formid-
able variety and power, the Chinese could
| be dlscerned i'll heaps and rows indus
! triously preparing or inhaling the de-
moralizing drug. No white men or
women were found in the dens visited
but there may have been numbers in
some OF the more obscure and hidden
rooms.
One Of the most interesting "stores'' to
visit, II one can stand the malOdOrous
surroundings, is an I-street drug store.
The varieties of drugs and medicines in
stock are very numerous, and COMPRISE
more things from the heavens and earth
than are dreamed in our pharmacopoeia.
The Chinese drug store is evidently a
magazine for such dead rats dried fish
and other delicacies as smell too strong
for any other place in town, which is say
ing great deal.
one thing was noticeable about the
chinese merchapts particularly, and that
was their uniform courtesy and polite
generosity. They freely treat we'll
behaved visitors to cigars made up, evil
IDENTIFY, of various kind of rope, leather
and other vegetation, and do not object
to their tasting the dried lizards, shrimps
gophers and such other fruits as abound
in confusion.
The drugstore also carries an assorted
stock of rare liquors, which have to be
tied down i'll extra thick bottles to pre-
q
the bottles are only halfGlled, and the
druggist explained that their strength
was taxed to their utmost to hold what
was i'll them.
One brand of Chinese gin is SO much
more almighty than anything known in
the annals Of American beverages that it
has to be kept il stone bottles, and when
they let 1t out ten drops is a big dose for
the most daring of the Bang Coon Tong
Society, but 1t wouldn't phase Hand
some" Brady's cast-iron stomach,
The druggist described the effects of
some OF his choice liquors, and became
SO excited IN depicting their influence
/ that he had a spasm
While the reporter was in the drug
store customer came in and bought
| twenty-five cents worth of medicine.
| Everybody at his house must have been
very sick, for he got about a peck OF
| drugs.
His supply was taken from various
parts OF the store, the druggist going
about careiessly and taking a handful Of
everything he could reach. II one box
or bin was empty, or fastened, he
reached into the one most convenient.
| When he made up his collection all into
one package, it was such an assortment
as probably contained 'cure'' for any
| disease known to the race
The unfortunate purchaser said he
| would not take it all at one dose. but
would take some and then rest awhile.
After he rested he would take more. and
so on until he was all "liteD
There are more things to be seen in
| Chinatown than many old residents are
aware OF, and an able-bodied person who
can mold his breath for an hour or so can
ana much there to interest him.