The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-05
All 500, Seven Years of Age,
Brings Eight Hundred
Dollars.
RESCUED FROM A VILE DEN.
Good Work of the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to
Children.

County of San Francisco may be a story
that the ordinary reader is prepared to dis
credit but the tale, alas, is only too true.
To be sure the sale is not conducted in the
open air for the ediication of a morbid
gathering, but it is carried on in the Chi
nese quarter, as the records of Judge
Troutt's court and the Society for the Pre-
vention OF Cruelty to Children will bear
testimony.
All 500, a Chinese girl, only seven years
of age, was offered for sale, and the fact
was, until Monday night last, conspicu-
ously posted in the slave-dealing rooms in
Chinatown in large faring letters of red.
The facts of the intended sale were pre-
ciously guarded. as the owner of the child
feared that the arm of the law would fall
upon her, and she therefore confined her
transaction to the regular slave market.
Miss Williams. who is acting matron at
the Methodist Episcopal Mission, was in
formed of the advertisement and late Mon
dav evening reported the circumstances to
Secretary McComb of the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Children, who de-
tailed Officers Frank Holbrook and II.
McMurray of the society to make a thor
ough search for the girl. An interpreter
was secured, and visit to the several
slave markets confirmed the report made by
Miss Williams. In one place the inter-
prefer heard the inmates talking of the
child, and saying that $500 would be fair
price for her. From this conversation it
was learned that the child was an inmate
of den on Church alley.
The officers, accompanied by Policeman
Callaghan of the Chinatown squad, hast
ened to the place, and they were there
none too soon, for the slave-dealers had
~ of 1ndn a 10
to warn the keeper of the child. Both the
officers and dealers arrived in Church alley
at the same time, the former breaking in
the door, much to the chagrin of those
who were about to give the warning.
Once inside the den, the officers lost no
time in searching the place. Their search
was about to be given up when they no.
ticed what appeared to be blind door.
one of the inmates of the place was stand
ing guard over it, and had to be pushed
away before she would move.
Rreaking into the room, they found All
500 hound in one corner of the room, with
ont liaht or bed other than pallet OF
straw The officers took the girl from her
nrison and tried to have her identity her
keeper. The child was about to do TINS
when one of the inmates threatened ner
with violence if she spoke. :,
Finding that they could not get the girl
IN sneak. the officers who had her in
charge attempted to leave the den. they
were instantly surrounded by score OF
Chinese, who came from every direction.
They resisted the officers until 1T was nee
essarv for them to use force to get out OF
the place While they were making their
exit the child's garments were nearly torn
from her body in the attempt 10 relaKe
her.
Once outside the officers lost no time in
folr ba M6thO0lSt
Episcopal Mission, where she Was put IN
Miss Williams charge. AS soon as she
was out of the presence and influences OF
her keeper the child told the following
story through an interpreter to Officer
Holbrook:
here in this City. I am only years old.
About three months ago my mother sold
me as a slave to Chinese merchant. |
was too Young and he brought me back.
/ Ever since [ have been kept where you
found me. A week ago my mother de-
cided to go back to China, and to get some
money my mother offered me for sale.
Many merchants came to look at me.
NY mother wanted $1,000 but they
glad the officers found me, for / don't
want to be slave Ny mother was my
keeper and when the officers found me,
they threatened to kill me if / recognized
my mother" This story is corroborated
by remarks passed by the inmates of the
! house when the officers and interpreter
were present.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Children has had many similar COM
plants, but until Monday night had not
been able to prove their correctness.
On Wednesday General McComb APP
peared before Judge Trout and asked that
he be granted letters of guardianship for
the child. This proceeding usually takes
five DAYS, but in this case, as there are no
parents to cite, and having heard the tes-
| timony of the officers and child as to the
character of the house, the Judge granted
| the papers at once.
1t was explained to the Judge that three
different women claimed the child as
theirs. That satisfied the Judge that there
were good grounds for the child being
taken from so many mothers.
Since the case has been in charge of the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children, the officers have been searching
for the real mother and have learned that
she left for China on the last steamer.
The Chinese have concocted all sorts OF
schemes to get the child out of the mis-
sion, but without success. They have