Evening star., 1895-08-20
Police Authorities Watching the
Local Chinese War.
AN ATTEMPT TO BURN A LAUNDRY
Oil Soaked Material Ignited and
Thrown Into an Area.
D E T + CITY YES DET

1t Is apparent to the police that the time
Is not far distant when the members of the
local Chinese colony will give them con-
siderable trouble, and that in their efforts
TO get rid of their rivals in business they
may do serious injury to some citizens not
of their own race. When the last of the
Chinese cases We're dismissed the police
had hoped there would be no more annoy
ance from the celestials, but the former
crime of attempted murder was followed
last night by the serious offense OF attempt
ed arson Had the fire fend succeeded sew
eral lives would in all probability have
been sacrificed.
TIL, attempt was made on the building
occupied the lower floor by Wan Lee
and his cousin, and it was after II o'clock
when the ffrebug operated, an hour when
the occupants cf adjoining houses We're in
their beds asleep Had the fire gained any
headway, they would no doubt have had a
narrow escape at least, and perhaps would
have pershed in the flames.
Wah Lee and his cousin We're in the
laundry at the tina, and they We're startled
at the cry of fire and the subsequent
smell of burning oil under the side window.
Those who had been Dent upon destroying
his laundry. and perhaps Wah himself. had
used fully three quarts Of kerosene Oil,
which had been poured over some Chinese
paper and newspaper in a gallon milk can
Rival Chinnmen Are Suspected.
This they had ignited, and had then
thrown the can into a small areaway open
ing into the cellar. Two men were seen
there, and it is said they were not dressed
in Chinese costumes, but even if this be
true, the police think there is no doubt that
the attempt was made by Cinnamon. The
presence of the Chinese paper in the can
indicates this. and then the Chinese know
OF no American people who are incensed
against them.
Policeman Wagner who was near by at
the time. responded to call, and extin-
guished the flames with the assistance of
the celest.als. Water-soaked clothes, soup
and buckets of water were thrown upon the
fire, and the result was that only the outer
boards of the house We're scorched.
Tried to Throw 1t in the Cellar.
thrown in the aieaway it was evidently
the intention of the incendiares to throw
1t into the cellar, where it would set fire to
tie side wall and the flooring, but there
were two pieces of board put across the
opening to make the coal cellar burglar
proof
This affair. happening as 1t did, shows the
ponce that the Chinese trouble is by no
means ended. and that although the trouble
is confined to the celestials, they realize
that such affairs the shooting and the
recent attempt at arson may result in in
jury to persons other than celestials Should
these dangerous affairs continue it is
possible that an effort will be made to get
Chinese detective here. Such an officer in
New York is being talked sof, and Charlie
Ton Sing of Greely expedition fame is men,
toned for the place
Detectives Detailed on the Case.
Inspector HoIInberger, who realizes the
Importance of prosecuting these cases, de-
tailed Detectives Carter and Gallaher on
the case this afternoon, and these officers
will make an effort to apprehend the Of
tenders.
Why this attempt should have been made
on Wah Lees place is not known, for he
does not keep a cut-rate laundry, nor has
he figured in any manner, SO far as the
police know, in the recent Chinese trouble.
But Wah has his own idea about the
matter. He has only been located there a
few months, while across the street Is an
old established laundry. conducted by Sam
Wah; then not many squares away there
are several more laundries. Wah Lee says
mis- business has largely increased lately,
and the other Cinnamon want to get rid of
him. He told this to Star reporter this
afternoon, and he also said that there is a
colored man VINO saw the two Cinnamon
run from where the attempt to burn the
building was made and enter a particular
laundry.
Inspector Hollnberger is determined to
have the guilty ones apprehended II pos
eible and has instructed the officers 10 leave
no stone unturned in making the investiga-
ton.