The San Francisco call., 1897-07-27
TAKEN OUT
OF A DEN
OF SLAVES
After Attempting for Six
Months to Escape She
Was Successful.
EASI IU fiSS HE VFFlUiANS.
Evidently the Exclusion Act
Does Not Keep Out the
Chinese.
WITNESSES WE'RE NOT WANTED.
Girls Who Said They We're Slaves
ent Back Instead of Being
Used in Court.
WITNESSES WE'RE NOT WANTED.

For six months Chinese slave girl
has been trying 10 escape from bondage
and last night, through the assistance of
the Methodist Mission and the officers OF
the Enreka Society for the Protection OF
Children, she succeeded. She is now one
OF the happiest inmates OF the home OF
the mission on Washington street, and
tells story that should be heard by all
those who so persistently deny thvt
slavery exists i'll San Francisco.
Three years ago the girl was brought
from China slave and entered this port
without the intervention of Government
officials. She said that she simply tod
that she had been born here and there
was no effort made to stop her. Since that
time she has been kept in vile house on
st. Louis alley, and has received the usual
treatment accorded 10 slaves by their
brutal task masters. She says she has
been beaten and otherwise ill-treated
whenever the receipts from her employ
ment fell below the amount that her
owners thought she should have secured.
For six months she has been trying 10
escape and during that time she has alter
nately been cared for most kindly and
abused most horribly, according 10 the
mood and temper of the kwai 20, or mis-
tress of the den where she was confined.
Last February word was received al the
mission n-house that the girl was desirous
ofescaping and arrangementswere made to
givt her assistance, but as it was well known
that failure meant death to the girl the
H.,
excite sus p.cion of her owner. On this
account no attempt could be made until
those who were TO form the rescue party
were absolutely certain OF success, and the
result was that no appointment ever came
to head until last night.
A week ago yesterday it was decided to
make the attempt, but when the rescue
party reached the alley 1t was found that
the owner of the den had received word
that trouble might be expected and his
place was closed, locked and barred, and
the attempt had to be postponed. Next
day the man who was the intermediary
between the girl and the mission went TO
The home, with tears in his eyes, and told
that the girl, with the other four slaves in
the house, had been taken to the base
ment and there in the dark had been
beGten ard tortured in order to make
them confess which one was trying TO get
away. As confession meant death to the
poor girl nothing was learned by their
owner. and finally they were returning to
their rooms, but the hour of opening the
house was changed from to IL in the
evening and spies were placed al the
mouth OF St Louis alley, on Jackson
street. and Nun Kuk alley, on Dupont
street
Saturday night another Intellectual ef-
fort was made TO rescue the girl, and Sum
day, she, with all the other inmates, was
taken 10 a family house al 826 Clay street
and confined il a room pre- pared for them
there. The girl managed to get word out,
and Secretary Holbrook learned that lot
no warrant could be issued to search the
place for girls a raid was made for lottery
tickets and the Chinatown squad entered
the house
They went directly to the room where
tha girls were confined and the place was
surrounded. As none of the party knew
which girl wanted to get out Mrs. Lake of
the mission was sent for and pointed out
two girls, who were taken by the officers
TO the mlsslon-house. AS usual, when a
rescue is made, the girls struggled as long
as they were in sight of their owners, but
when they found that they were safe they
showed that they were glad to get away.
Dai Lin, the girl who has been trying so
long to get away, told her story TO re-
porter OF The CALL last night. and while
talking she seemed almost overcome with
Joy because of her escape. She said that
she had been beaten often, and that when
the kwai po found some one was trying
10 escape she took away all of their cloth
ing except just what was necessary for
them to wear. She said that after the
raid Saturday night the girls were first
taken TO cellar and kept IN darkness
while the officers were at the door, and
oft orIt Z hary Era
and treated with the greatest considera-
ton.
When asked concerning slaves in China
town, she said there were many who
would be glad to get away. She said 1t
was very easy for Chimes girls to get into
this country. The officials did not make
any trouble for them if they said they had
been born here. She said that five girls
came in at one time, and that when they
got here two Of them found that they
would not have to stay If they refused to
tell the stories that had been taught them,
and they were brave enough to say that
they were slaves and had not been born
here The other three girls told the story
as they had been advised and, notwith-
standing the fact that the two brave ones
were there and could have been used as
witnesses, the three were permitted to
land. while the others were sent back to
China.
There was much rejoicing at the mis-
son-house last night over the rescue and
also over the fact that little Kwong Ho,
the girl who was rescued from The Cham
ber of Tranquility, had been placed in the
Children's Hospital. The missionaries
and nurses made up the amount neces-
sary for the first months treatment and
it is hoped that other charitably inclined
people will come forward with donations
for her support while undergoing treat.
ment.
Fees in the James Estate.