The San Francisco call., 1897-07-19
SLOWLY Died In
A Living GRAVE
Another Little Chinese Vic
tim of the Chamber Of
Tranquility.
She Had Consumption, and for
Two Days LanguiShed in
the Death Vault.
Christian Workers Organize Rescue
Party to scour Darkest
Chinatown.

The article in yesterdays issue of THE
CALL about the little slavegirl who was
rescued from one of the Chinatown
''cham bers of tranquility. has brought to
light another story of the same sort, with
the exception that the ending was a
tragedy, and the little victim was left to
perish in her living grave. The child's
name could not be discovered, but the
story is vouched for by good authority.
In personal appearance the child was
rather extraordinary one. Although of
Chinese parentage, she was the possessor
of Titan red hair, and was as fair as many
white children. Her features, however,
were of the Chinese type.
1t seems that some time ago little girl
in Chinatown caught severe cold, which
resulted in quick consumption. After the
native doctors had done her all the harm
they could, it was finally resolved on to
call in white doctor. He pronounced
her incurable, ana said that it would be
but question OF time before the little one
would die. Miss Lake of the Chinese
mission heard of the case and at once
started out with her Interpreters, intend
ing to carry all the sunshine possible into
the little life so soon to be ended. She
who said, Suffer little children to come
unto me-" This little one listened eagerly
TO the old story, and plaintivel asked
her teacher to come again. This she did
and had long, pleasant chat with the
child.
In day or two Miss Lake took short
vacation, and when she came back she
hastened with her arm full of flowers to
the home of the sufferer, only to be met
r-5H hn fhnt hnE hoA &ha
child had died and been taken to the un-
dertakers. This shocked Miss Lake ter
rlbly, but there was nothing to be done,
so she sadly wended her way homeward.
1t was only day or so ago that she
learned the revolving truth. That child
had been literally buried alive in one of
those filthy dens!
The child had become so very i'll that
the mother became frightened, for the
Chinese think it Is a terrible thing for
any one to die in the house, and so the
poor, helpless thing had been taken to
the undertakers" and slowly starved to
death. She lived two days after her i'm
prisonmeut.
Little Kwan Ho, whose case was given
at full length yesterday, Is resting little
easier. The terrib BILE shock her nerves re-
ceived during her imprisonment In the
house of the dead has left her terribly
weak. In spite of this, however, her wan,
pale little face has taken on a happier
look than it has known for many a weary
day. She seems to fully realize that she
is at last among friends.
The ladies of the board will apply at
once for letters of guardianship. Miss
Lake in speaking of the subject said:
'Of course there is no fear that any one
will claim her now. at least not while she
is in her present helpless state. But if
she were TO recover. why there would be
no end of the Chinese that would claim
her. Oh, dear; it seems as though 1t is
i'm possible to do all that is to be done
among these wretched people. There is
so much to do and so little to do it with.
At any rate do think that these Cham
bers of tranquility should be closed up
by the authorities"