Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-21
CHINESE THUGS.
An Effort Being Made to Get Rid Of These
RascAls.

An Effort Being Made to Get Rid Of These
Rascals.
San Francisco Letter.
Never since the Chinese first came to the Pa
cifc coast have the San Francisco people been
go energetic in their efforts to suppress the
highbinders and their methods as now. This
action was brought about by the fact that
within the last ten days three Chinese have
been killed in the streets of Chinatown and one
fatally wounded. The highlander societies are
composed Of disreputable and criminal Chinese,
who band together and levy blackmail on their
more respectable countrymen.
The ability Of highlander to levy depends
on his reputation for bravery, so they do not
murder secretly, but openly on the streets. II
they are caught and punished by law they are
regarded as martyrs. II they escape, as they
generally do. they are heroes. The present
highlander war was caused by one society en-
croaching upon anothers preserves. Accord
ing to the others. he was not killed. but so
seriously wounded that his society had to have
. life from the other side. According to high
binder ethics when member Of the society is
killed his death must be avenged by the killing
of some one else. The society whose man had
been wounded therefore killed one Of their
rivals and thought they had avenged matters,
but the others thought differently. They had
merely wounded the man while ono Of their
nuIlber was killed. SO they killed one Of their
opponents and retaliated.
There was q fair prospect for both societies
to become exterminated. but the danger to in
nocent people in Chinatown from the flying
bullets became 30 great that the police took q
hand. One OF the highbinders WAS caught red
handed after committing the last murder and
nine others have been arrested OH suspicion
and have been indicted by the grand jury for
murder. Usually it Is extremely difficult to
convict Chinese Of crime unless they are caught
THE POLICE ARE ACTIVE.
This time the police have adopted new tactics
They realize that il highlander is pulled down
from his pedestal as a bad man in the eyes of
his countrymen his power will be gone. Ac-
cordingly the police have been constantly raid
ing Chinatown the past few days, and every
known highlander and those whose looks pro-
claim them such are searched for arms, and il
none are found they are kicked and cuffed and
dubbed until they disappear from sight Their
meeting places are invaded, their idols de-
stroyed and everything done to humiliate them.
A. . result Of this policy Chinese laborers and
merchants who at first looked with horror at
the police daring to treat the warriors in such .
manner now boot and jeer at the discounted
highlander as he is propelled from the vigorous
toe Of policeman.
Inc consul general mas united with the chief
Of police in his efforts to crush the hiRhblndera
The Chinese consul general is much in favor Of
the Chinese method dealing with these wretches
In China . highlander is decapitated when
caught. and il he escapes and refuses to sur
render all Of his nearest relatives have their
heads cut of. The consul general IL so much
in earnest about the recent killing that he is
about to recommend to his government that
the relatives in China Of all known San Fran
cisco highbinders be treated in the manner
above stated. All proclamations to Chinatown,
unless they bear the consul's stamp, will be
Of terrorixing viii be cut of. Many Chinese
thugs were arrested as Migrants, and the police
courts win not accept Chinese bondsmen unless
the bonds are approved by the consul general.
The highbinders are now very meek and the
police intend to keep them SO, maintaining
constant espionage over the Chinese quarter
and keeping it cleared Of the highlander
element