The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-03-22

DAN FRANCISCO. marcn l0.-NeYer since
the Chinese first came to the Pacific coast
have the San Francisco police been SO en-
ergetic in their efforts TO suppress high
binders and their methods as now. This
action was brought about bv the fact that
within the last ten days. during one Of the
periodical wars between the highlander
societies, three Chinese have been shot
and killed on the streets of Chinatown
and one fatally wounded.
The highbinder societies are composed
of the disreputabls and criminal Chinese,
who band together and levy blackmsii on
their more respectable countrymen. One
OF the chief sources OF their income is
the earnings of the female slaves. The
ability of the highlander TO levy black
mail depends upon his reputation for
bravery. so they do not murder in secret.
but do their work openly on the streets in
theatrical manner. If they are caught
and punished by the law they are re-
garded as martyrs. II they escape. as they
generally do, they are heroes The present
highlander war was caused by one society
! encroaching on another's preserves-ae-
| cordingly one OF the poacners was shot as
| a warning 10 the others. He was not
killed, but was SO seriously wounded that
| his society had to have a life from the
other side.
According to highlander ethics, when
member of the society lie killed his death
must be avenged by the killing OF some
one else. 1t does not matter who, as long
! as he is connected with the society that
Echt he
whose man had been wounded therefore
killed one OF their rivals, and thought they
had avenged matters, but the other tong
thought differently. They had merely
wounded a man, while one of their MEM
bers had been killed. 80 they killed one Of
their opponents and the latter reteliated in
kind. There was a fair prospect that both
the societies would become extermiEated,
! but the danger to the innocent people in
| Chinatown from flying bullets became so
| great that the police took hand and are
now having their innings One of the
highbinders was caught ed-handed after
committing the last murder, and
! nine others who have been
arrested on suspicion have been
indicted by the grand jury for murder
Usually it's extremely difficult to convict
| Chinese of crime unless he Is
| caught in the act or the crime is witnessed
by tine whites. Chinese witnesses are
afraid to testify. and friends of the accused
| have no scruples about committing per-
! jury in his behalf This time the police
| have adopted new tactics. They realize
that if the highlander is pulled down
from his pedestal as q bad man in the
eyes of his countrymen his power for ex-
acting tribute will be gone. Accordingly,
the police have been constantly raidine
| Chinatown for the past few days, and
every known highlander and those whose
| looks proclaim them such is searched for
arms, and if none are found they are
1 kicked and cufied and dubbed until they
disappear from sight.
Their meeting places are invaded, their
Idols and decorations destroyed and every
thing known to inventive police is done
to humiliate them. AS a result OF this
| policy the Chinese laborers and merchants
who at first looked with horror at the police
daring to treat the warrior in such q man.
ner now boot and jeer the discounted
| highlander AS he Is propelled from the
vigorous toe of the policemen. The con-
sul-general has united with the chief oil
| police in his efforts to crush the highbind-
| ers. The Chinese consul-general IS much
in favor of the Chinese method in deal
| ing Will tQeeo hItbCu0S. III Ouiuh Tic
highlander is decapitated when caught,
and II he escapes and refuses to
surrender few of his nearest
relatives have their heads cut of.
The consul-general is 60 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 man
ner above stated. All proclamations in
| Chinatown unless they bear the consups
stamp are to be taken down and thus one
hiQhbiDder method OF terrorizing will be
cut of. Many Chinese thugs have been
arrested as Migrants. and the police courts
will not accept q Chinese bondsmaH IN
less the bonds are approved by the con-
sul-general. The highbinders are now
very meek, and the police intend to keep
them so by maintaining constant espio-
mage on the Chinese quarter. keeping ii
| cleared of the hiphbinder element