The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-17
INTREPID HIGH PRIEST.
Gee King Tong Stands at His Post, Guard
ing the Altar.

Ing the Altar.
From the Washington Post
1t was the eventide of yesterday, and
the clocks were striking s. One Lung,
Johnny Wong, lie Quong and a dozen
more Celes tials were standing ON the
pavement in front of the Church"
Any untutored policeman on the force
will tell YOU that the church is nothing
more or less than the age-stained two
story brick building at No. 104 Az
street. And the same policeman, IL
he happens ito be in the mood to talk,
will tell you that this self-same build
ing stands in the very heart of Little
China But to go to Gee King Tong
or Johnny Wong or any OF the other
yellow-stained firPcc- G hainlgf qct-ls
yellow-skinned loungers about the cor
ner and they will tell you another
story.
About the first thing Gee King Tong
will do will be to point ito the three
gilded letters over the front door and
mutter something in the purest OF Chi
nese If there happens to be an inter-
prter in the neighborhood. he will tell
you that the three golden letters above
the dingy doorway are the sign of the
church. But whatever you do, don't
fail to follow Gee King Tong when
he leads the way up the narrow stair
way and enter the church itself. You
will see long prayers. printed In black
letters on strips of blood-red rice pa
per, hanging on the walls. You will
see a queer little altar made of pine
boards covered with red muslin, and
In front of which stands a counter
draped In muslin of a kindred tint.
On this counter a dozen or more
sticks of fragrant incense will be burn
ing. and over all and more impressive
than all will be the many-tinted lights
that the glowing candles give from
their strangely-colored shades. The
idols stand under the shadow of a red
canopy, and If you are not Celestial
they will remind you of the dummy
figures used by the professional VEN
trilouuist.
Gee King Tong is the officiating
priest of this strange temple, and when
THE clocks were striking last night he
was standing in front of the aforesaid
altar, mumbling over his prayers and
replenishing the supply of incense. AS
he was thus engaged. Johnny Wong
pushed his shaver head through the
open doorway and shouted something
about the fire of helle." Then a puff
of black smoke swept through the win
dow in the rear of the altar and ming
led with the blue vapor of the incense
sticks. Then came the jingling OF
harsh toned bells. the chatter of horse
hoofs on the stones outside, and then
another and a bigger puff of black
smoke through the open window.
But Gee King Tong moved not from
his place at the altar. and never as
much as blfnked his beady eyes. The
smoke grew thick. forked-tongue
flames tapped THE grimy stairs. Streams
of muddy water gushed against the
rear walls and made funny looking
stains on the printed prayers hanging
on the walls. But Gee King Tong re-
manned at the altar One Lung and
Quong and all the others ran in and
out and chartered as they ran. Fire
men swore, policemen bullied and the
assembled populace wondered.
The unshaved fought the advancing
flames and the insurance agents fg-
ured on their losses. Everybody was
excited; everybody but Gee King Tong.
1t took half an hour for the firemen
to put out the fire. and when their
task was completed. Richard Pearson's
barber shop, which happens to be in
mass of smouldering ruins. Further
more, the sacred place itself was badly
scorched. But the altar. with Its idols,
was untouched and the yards of prayer
had also ESCAPED
After 1t was all over. One Lung and
Wang and the reporters went in with
uncovered heads. They found Gee
King Tong still mumbling over his
prayers. and had to wait an even 10
minutes before The condescended to in
form them that 500 would cover the
damage to the temple.