The morning call., 1895-01-21
NATIONAL CHURCH.

Urls arrived on the Peru. They
Ied to be natives of California but
Iding investigation as to the truth OF
Ie statement they were sent to the Mis-
Ision 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 a 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
hi1Aan pOnHc in tboir hac nd bo
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 while she was ordered remanded
and an officer was coming to take he1
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 I 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
a short time ago, and it was that the law
must take its course-little Leong Dong had
to go back"
"And you rested satisfied with that de-
cision?" was asked.
Miss Culbertson's reply was an en-
phatic negative eve have made fina1
appeal by writing to ask if l can take out
adoption papers for Leong Dong. 1 viii
bring her up myself and be responsible fo1
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 unfavorable
it will be long in coming, SO that we may
home in Hong-Kong before the child is
has been very kind; he knew our motive
was to save the poor thing from going to a
dreadful ife.'
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
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 been
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 to