The morning call., 1895-01-21

nese girls arrived on the Peru. They
claimed to be natives of California, but
pending investigation as to the truth of
the statement they were sent to the Mis-
sion Home instead of to All On Won, a
woman of shady reputation on Stockton
street, to whom they were consigned. The
notorious Little Pete was also supposed to
have an interest in the girls
The United States Marshal, assisted by
officials from the Chinese Consulate held
an inquiry at the home, which proved that
the girls were not native born, and they
were ordered deported.
The youngest of the three, pretty child
named Leong Dong, was heart-broken over
the decision. According to her own state
ment and those of her companions her
parents had died about year previously,
and as she had no one to provide for her a
woman had taken her with the intention
of selling her either in America or Singa-
pore.
"The life of the Chinese slaves is bad
enough here" said Miss Culbertson yester-
day, 'but it is worse in Singapore, for
there is no hope of ever escaping. Leong
Dong is an innocent child, who had the
greatest horror of entering life of shame.
When she heard she was to be deported she
cried and begged not to be sent back, as
the woman who had her sent here would
surely sell her again..
Miss Culbertson then explained that
there had been some talk of prosecuting
the girls for smuggling as they. confessed
| that their masters had hidden contraband
articles in their trunks and bedding. 'All
their baggage had gone to All On Won's
home, 1905 Stockton street, and when they
sent for it here they only got one trunk,
with nearly all the clothing taken out.
The girls confessed that their masters had
hidden goods in their baggage, and the
! officers went to search the place on Stock
| ton street. They found every room locked
and all their looking did not bring any
clothing to light.
"District Attorney Garter said that, in
case they did prosecute the girls for
smuggling, Leong Dong might be wanted
as witness, so she got little time longer
here. The other two girls went back.
After a while she was ordered remanded,
| and an officer was coming to take her
down to the Custom house the next day.
The poor child was simply broken-hearted.
She lay awake all that night sobbing and
moaning, and in the morning [ went 70
our attorney to ask if there were not some
means by which we could keep her, at
/ least till we got an answer from mission
| home in Hong-Kong, to which we had
/ written, stating the case.
collector Wise was appealed to and he
consented to stay the order of deportation
till the authorities at washington had
been appealed to and asked whether, if the
mission undertook TO bring up the child
and be responsible for her, she might re.
main in this country. We got the answer
short time ago, and it was that the Law
must take its course-little Leong Dong had
to go back"
'fAnd you rested satisfied with that de.
cision?" was asked.
Miss Culbertsons reply was an EN-.
phatic negative. 1--WE have made fina.
appeal by writing to ask if can take out
adoption papers for Leong Dong. | vii
bring her up myself and be responsible fol
her if they will let me keep her. We may
get the answer any day, but we are hoping
and praying that if it is to be unfavorablt
it will be long in coming, so that we may
have had time to hear from the mission
home in HongKong before the child is
finally ordered deported. Collector Wise
has been very kind he knew our motive
was to save the poor thing from going to a
dreadful life."
One thing that Leong Dong is IN terror
of is being cruelty punished for not having
succeeded in smuggling herself into Amer.
lea as native born. at is so cruel, this
being allowed to send girls here on thai
Plea said Miss Culbertson. Sometimes
they actually send them out twice, and ]
have had girls tell me that awful punish
ment awaited them when they had beer
not been able to establish their claim
Leong Dong was threatened, and she fully
| believes that all the threats will be carried
out when she goes back unsuccessful"
The idea of white woman appealing tC