The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-15
A LICHTNING-LIKE CHANGE.
Police Induce a Wonderful Trans
formation Scene in a Laundry.

An Innocent-looking Crowd Of China
men Who Were Surprised at Being
Charged With Playing Cards - A
Peep Into Wing KEGS Opium Room.
How the Pipe Is Hit and the Feel
ing It Induces.
The Chinese have the reputation Of
being remarkably shrewd and exceed
ingly alert about anything they undertake,
and if an incident which occurred in Sa-
vannah recently can be taken as a criterion
the reputation is a deserved one.
A few mornings ago, between l and 2
o'clock, two MORNING NEWS reporters,
while passing Wing KEGS laundry estab-
lishment, on Whitaker street, between
South Broad street and York street lane,
had their attention attracted by rat
Ting of chips, jingling of money and ex-
cited voices rolling out Celestial language.
Added to this the odor of opium came
creeping through the cracks of the door,
showing that the pipe was being hit inside
IN connection with the little game. The
voices were not Indicative of quarreling
but rather of mirth, but the sounds gave
the impression that the entire Chinese
colony of Savannah was partaking of
Wing KEGS hospitality.
ANXIOUS TO SEE THE FUN.
The newspaper men were DESTROYS of
joining the Cinnamon for the purpose of
seeing their game and getting a glimpse
at the true Chinese style of hitting the
pipe. They knew, however, the almond
eyed Celestials would refuse them admis-
sion if they applied by themselves, so they
hunted up couple of policemen and told
high rolling time at Wing KEGS place.
The officers determined that if gambling
was going on the place would be raided
and accompanied the Scribes back to Wing
KEGS. The sound of the chips, themerri-
ment of the laundrymen and the aroma of
opium was still issuing from the house.
The policemen raped on the door with
their clubs and demanded admittance
The Cinnamon evidently recognized the
sharp sound and for moment the stiffness
OF death apparently came over those
within.
TRANSFORMATION UNSURPASSED.
The newspaper men and officers thought
the lights would be extinguished and that
Wing KEGS guests would make a break
for liberty, but in that moment of still
ness the cunning of the sons of the
F'olwery Kingdom had asserted itself
There was a quick shutting of feet and in
about one and half minutes after the de-
mdnd for admitt3nce was made Wing
Kee opened the door and greeted his early
morning visitors with an innocent smile
and pleasant Hello, glood informing"
To the utter establishment of the officers
and newspaper men as they stepped into
the laundry instead of finding a table
with evidences of gambling around it
their eyes rested on a banquet board.
There was steaming tea in dainty little
cups and nicely Sliced bread, some sort of
cold meat, and as innocent-looking a lot
OF Cinnamon sitting around ON stools re-
freshing themselves as one could wish to
find.
THE VISITORS UNNOTICED.
Wing Kee was grinning at the door and
the Cinnamon at the table were chatting
with each other TO all appearances oblivi-
Gus of the fact that strangers had entered
and were looking at them. The trans
formation was as complete as it was
unique and accomplished in quicker time
than the transformation scene in the
streets of New York; where a gambling
dive is turned into Salvation Army head
quarters at the approach of the police.
Where's the game, Wing?' asked one
of the officers.
elaine" repeated the laundryman in
a manner which indicated he had been
shocked. "What glame?n
80, that won't do, Wing" replied the
officer. you have been gambling here
We heard the sound of the chips out
side.n
ONLY HAVING GOOD TINE.
elaine, chips, ," said the Chiuaman in
low tones to himself. Then looking up at
the officer he spread his face with broad
grin and said ''You mistaken. No
glame, no chips hero. My fliends halv-
ing refreshments Only Might fiom work
Having glood time Sunday you know"
mo, ! don't know anything about it
being Sunday answered the officer.
This is Monday morning and YOU China
men have been gambling. Where's the
chips and stakes2n
Wing never lost his good humor and
replied: 80, you mistaken. WHY, fliends
play domino. No monee. Chinee play
fol fun and dlink tea.''
AS there was. no visible evidence of
gambling the officers could make no ar
rests, and the visitors turned their atten-
ton to discovering the opium attachment
OF the concern.
ENJOYING THE PIPE.
From little room partitioned off in the
northwest corner of the ironing room
came the sound of merry voices inter
mingled with clouds of smoke. This was
the den, and the officers and newspaper
men pushed their way in, although the
Cinnamon at the banquet board did not
like the intrusion into the sacred pre-
cincts and for the first time showed they
knew unwelcome guests were in the house
by jabbering to each other in vicious fash
ion.
Inside the room were three Cinnamon.
One was sitting on chair smoking a
cigarette and the other two were reclin-
ing on a couch with tray be-
tween them, on which was a
lighted spirit lamp, a small bowl
of liquid opium and several pieces of
wire. Jim All Sing who registered week
before last and announced himself as a
mo pipe and white Chinese" was putting
a cloud of smoke from a long piece of
bamboo, at the end of which was bowl
about ~ inches in diameter with per-
forated cap. These perforations he held
directly over the fame of the lamp and
pulled on the bamboo about half dozen
times
THE METHOD OF PREPARATION.
AS soon as Jim exhausted the opium in
the bowl he handed the pipe TO his COM
panlon and lay back on the couch laugh
ing like happy child at play The other
Chinaman dipped piece of wire into the
liquid opium, rolled it around until a suf-
NtH n