The morning call., 1893-04-23
BELGIC MONGOLS.
One Sly Opium-Smugg!er
Captured.
A TOURNEY OF WITTIcIsMS.
Fun on the Mail Certificates
Which Bear Evidence of Being
Very Rank Forgeries.

The steamer Belgic had hardly more than
! touched the dock yesterday morning. when
the News was passed about that a sly
| Celestial steerage passenger had been
caught in the act of smuggling.
Inspector Maginnis noticed a Chinese
| acting very suspiciously, lodging about in
the forecastle and keeping his almond eyes
constantly upon the minions of the revenue
| law.
MaginniS hid behind a bale Of merchan-
disc ana was soon rewarded for his vigi-
lance by seeing the suspect run quickly aft,
carrying some thing under his blouse.
The Inspector followed closely after the
Chinese and grabbed him before he could
get amidships.
Upon searching the heather. who, like
Bret Harte's celebrated Celestial, tried TO
allay suspicion with smile that was child
like and bland, it was discovered that IN
the ample folds of blouse and sleeves in
scrutabe Quong Sue had secreted twenty
five tive-taeI tins OF choice opium.
Believing that more of the drug was
stored forward careful search was made,
but the original Seizure was not augmented.
Yesterday was not lucky day wi Ii the
Chinese on the water front by any means.
Closely following the seizure of opium
which was destined TO soothe the heather
Of presenting his bogus certificate for Off
cial inspection, one FOng Took, who, with
party of friends from Chinatown had
been carrying on long-distance couVeTSa-
ti0n from the wharf with cousins" in
duranee vile on the Belgic, attempted to
alight from the Brannan-Street car back
ward. FOng struck the c0bblestones little
harder than lie had calculated. His head
was badly cut and his kneecap diSlocated.
y large crowd was attracted by the sight
thlnamaD
against tie wall of an adjacent building
while his companions jerked at the manned
limb, hoping TO pull the kneecap out TO
proper shape again.
An express wagon was finally hired and
the sufferer driven away, presumably for
Chinatown.
The BeIgic is locked on the south side of
the Mail CompanY's wharf, while the China
lies alongside opposite TO her.
Not one of the Belgic's steerage passeD-
gers was allowed 10 land but occasionally
Il heaInen from the China would pass in.
spectiOn and be allowed to roam on United
States soil.
Evidently among the latter class of fortu-
mates there were those inclined to chatting,
for ever and anon q released passenger
from the China would come to the gang
way Of the Belgic and hurl taunts at the
group OF Mongols who stood on the steam
er's deck watching with greedy eyes the
freedom enjoyed by Cinnamon of the city,
who took occasion TO air their social and
political advantages before their country
men by Strutting about the dock with a
cigar stuck in their mouth raised to an I'M
pTe5sive angle OF about fOrty-five degrees.
The pigtailed gtoup on deck did not appear
to relish the outsiders jokes, and occasionally
defunct orange or stale potato would
shoot out from the midst Of the prisoners,
followed by a Shrill vOlley of laughter
mingled with Chinese oathS.
Two rather gOod-lOOking Chinese girls
carried on wholesale Irritation with the
new arrivals. They were not at all par
ticular whether the objects of their smiles
and mods were "lsbOrers" or tourists"
The sedate merchant" with red kuobbed
cap and silken blouse, was even tempted
into smiling shyly, while the cody ex-
pressed his delight at being favored with
smirk by yells of mirth, and remarks
which were apparently approved by all
present Judging from the plaudits which
generally followed one of these sallies.
Like the Chinese on the China. the 2S7
passengers en- route TO the Worlds Fair are
armed with consular certificates, but the
credentials which are to be presented by the
tourists" for Portland, Tacoma, Sacra-
mento and other places are undoubtedly
bogus.
Like the certificates held by the ChIna's
passengers for the Northwest the Belgic's
peoples papers are covered with Chinese
characters i'll many cases. and are the rank
est kind OF work in the way of forgeries.
fn one case certificate examined by per-
was erased in a number of spots. Over the
signature of the holder is large stain made
by some corrosive acid used to efface ink
marks.
The customs officials will doubtless lose
no time III making public their intention re-
garding the treatment of some of he Belgic's
crowd, for fraud is so evident that even the
Impractical eye of one unaccustomed TO the
examination Of these papers could not be
deceived.
hal WI inf al
matter, said that he was fully alive to the
fact that the certificates in many instances
were rank f0rgeTies. lie will take good
care that none of the holders shall land
-, The serious question has arisen whether
Chang Pax kwai, who is engineering the
Worlds Fair scheme, is not the instgalor
OF wholesale plan to defraud The Govern
ment.
1t was learned yesterday from good
authority that only $50 Chinese would he
employed by the Chinese exhibit at Chi
cago.
The original measure adopted by Congress
provides for the entry of 200 Cinnamon, and
Chang PAX Kwai was provided with GER
tIhcates for this number of people shortly
after the law passed.
The law mentioned states positively that
only 200 could come in, yet the custom
house people are trying to lead PEOPLE to
believe that they will probably have to land
about 800 of The heathens.
In the excitement over the Chinese, the
little brown men" have been almost over
looked.
There were a number of them on the
Belgic in cabin and Storage
Most of their number was booked for the
" orld'S Fair too, but it is understood tn at
more than half Of them VIII stay in San
Francisco.
The Jaranese feel Justly proud of their
exhibit for the big show, and those who
knew anything about it and had sufficient
command of the English language to speak
plain some OF the fine things contained in
the heavy wooden cases marked Japanese
Commission, Worlds Fair. Chicago"
One beautiful specimen of work Is
pagoda OF cut rock-cTystal, mounted in gold
and silver There are silks of the finest
quality and tea which retais at as much as
81 pound.
This latter is the cured leaves of the
| plant, plucked early and favored by Il pro-
cess which renders it fragrant and deli
ciOus. Draughts of nectar fit for the gods
can be stepped from il.
The Japanese are very quiet and excu-
siye, coming to and going from = he vessel
with grave looks and glances OF mingled
disgust and nonchalanee toward their
| neighbOrs, the Chinese
One strange fact in connection with the
| coming of the Chinese on the Belgic and
China is that the last of the empires ex-
! hlbit is here. In all it was contaiAe ed in $50
| cases. Ii all the tourists" 20 east with
| the village 10 help in construc ing it there
| will be a Chinamau and half to every case
OF goods shipped for exhibition.
ST. MARY'S FIELD DAY.