Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-15
PIPE WITH A HISTORY.
Once Owned by Chinese NObles-HR
Caused Two Murders.


Caused Two Murders.
| From the Buffalo Express.
What is said to be the most costly opium
pipe in this country is now in this city. 1t
was brought hither by Jim Kong three days
ago, and will remain here till Jim starts
| west. The pipe is best known for its asso-
citation. 1t has a remarkable history. Jim,
| the present possessor, related Its story %
| some of the local Cinnamon who had heard
of it, but who knew not its full history. The
pipe weighs about seven pounds, which Is
| more tan twice the average weight of a
pipe. 1t Is made of Chinese Cherry, ana
each end Is inlaid with cypress and ebony.
The Workmanship is superb. The bowl Is
| OF earthenware, and the tap into which 1t
sets is banded with silver. solid
! tray. brass lamp with silver trimmings,
two silver cups for matches and cigarettes
and silver yen-hawk with gold tips 20
with the layout.
been placed on the layout. Jim Kong would
not sell ii for the best Chinese shop in the
city, and he would risk his life in defense
of 1t. This is the story of it, tod by
himself:
Wong Fee, who, years ago. was chief
servant to the Emperor OF China, got the
pipe from an ancient edifice. 1t found
by Workme1 who were tearing out an altar.
The excellent workmanship OF the pipe was
palpable. and Wong Fee compelled the la
borer to turn 1t over to him. He, being
SilOheT himself, uSeu ! LOT many years. An
effort was made to learn the early history
of the article, but, like everything else in
China, its early ownership could not be as
certained. nor anything of its history
cured. A record for the dope instrument
was established. The servant said that 1t
had belonged to Confucius. Every one knew
| this was a fable. but it was accepted as
true by some.
Chinese would rather possess a fine pipe
! than fine daughter. The prestige of
wealthy family is half established by the
pipe 1t has. Consequently many wealthy
China men coveted the renowned Wong Fee
pipe. Wong Fee was made uneasy by the
designs on his article, and he appointed a
Chinaman, whose last name was Yen, to
| guard it. Yen's only duty was to keep
watch OF the pipe and to roll pills for his
master, who wished to smoke every even
Ing. One time Yen confided to his master
that merchant had offered him a fabu-
lous sum for the pipe, whereupon the chief
| servant of the emperor ordered Yen killed
instantly, believing that the offer had tend
ed to corrupt Yen. Another custodian Of
the pipe was then appointed. and he was
told that II, by any chance, ne lost possess
sion Of his charge he would be beheaded.
About seven years ago the second custo-
| dian was found murdered In his apartments
| in Shanghai. The pipe was gone The
motive Of the murder was apparent, and
large rewards were offered for information
t would lead to the finding of the pipe
They availed naught, and the emperor's
servant was much enraged. Suspicion
pointed to a silk merchant, but his house
was searched In vain. year later a mys-
FERROUS murder was committed in the same
city. and the relatives of the victim admit
ted that the murdered man had had the re-
nowned Wong Fee pipe He had secured it
by hiring brigands to murder the guardian
appointed by the emperor's servant This
! renewed interest in the former. affair and
the emperor busted himself searching for
| the owners Of the pipe. thinking in that
way to capture the murderers of the second
a
full as his chief servant had BEEN
1t was short time after this that Wau
Poo, while wandering about that section of
Shanghai inhabited by thieves and lepers
was accosted by a Chnaman, who asked
him to enter a small court fanked by tene-
ments and obscured from the street by lat
ticework. Poo was dressed in royal garb
and was consequently known to have
| money. He was in Chinese aristocracy
| what duke is in England. The stranger
said to him. holding out pipe:
How much will you give for the pipe?'
lin Chinese language.
Poo looked at 1t and recognized 1t as the
one of which SO much had been written,
and which up to that time had caused the
offer, which the holder of the pipe refused
Poo theTeupon doubled his offer, which
made the purchase price an enormous one,
and secured the pipe. He asked no ques-
| lions Of the seller, and he consequently
knew not whether he was buying of a MUIR
| derer or me rely a thief.
Poo hid the pipe in his room. He kept
the fact of his possession a secret for four
years, but then It leaked out in some way.
Fearful that his life might be taken by
some covetons person, and regarding his
possession almost as dearly as his life. he
t1eft Shanghai and went to a town which is
on the coast Of the Yellow sea- He imagin-
| ed that he was being followed by persons
resolved on getting the pipe. and thinking
that murder would result II he stayed in
| China, he set out for this country. He came
| here by way of Montreal and wound up in
Hartford. Conn.,. where he now lives. He
| tends to run a laundry business.
Jim Kong, who brought the pipe to this
| city, claims that Poo lent 1t to him. His
| story is discredited by Cinnamon who are
familiar with the famous pipe. Kong SAYS
he Ia on his way to San Francisco. II is
thought that he Il on his way back to
China. where he can realize q fortune out
of his possession.