The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1897-10-29
charlie LONGS TROUBLE.
Must Raise the Price of Washing
Four Cents.
HE Is IN PERIL OF DEATH.
Highbindcrs HOunding a Tenth Street
Laundryman Because He
Cuts the Price-.-His
Goods Stolen.

Charlie Long, the Chinaman arrested
on Tuesday on complaint Of Augustus
seargent, went to Philadelphia yester-
day to consult Lee Toy, mayor OF
Chinatown, and the head men OF his
own company or clan, as to how to pro-
tect himself in his present tribulations.
Longs troubles are not the result Of
his arrest, nor his dread Of punishment
on the charge preferred by seargent, but
come from his own countrymen. They
are the beginning Of system of perse-
cution peculiar to the Chinese, and
which Long has good reason to fear may
soon end in death.
Indeed, the Lee Yup Company Of
Highbinders, having branch in Phila-
Gelphia, have notified Long that un-
less he chooses to charge the
union rate for washing he may ex-
pect to die. Long has resisted the pres
sure for a long time, but it begins to look
now as if he would have to give in.
There is difference Of just four cents
between Long and life, for he has cut
down the price OF washing shirts from
II cents to 8, and there is where the
trouble started.
Charlie Long is a versatile Chinaman,
who, when he will, talk English with a
degree of clearness and fluency. There are
times in every Chinaman's life when he
forgets his English, if he knows any, and
occasionally even he forgets his Chinese,
and sometimes his own name. These
times have now come to Charlie Long.
Long has been bounded, his goods have
been stolen, his books have been mutt
lated, and he has been the victim Of a
thousand petty and serious annoyances.
Not long ago, customer entered Longs 8
place and rendered him check.
Chinese laundry checks, by the way,
are stubs torn from books in which the
remaining portions Of hieroglyphics must
correspond to the checks. Turning to the
book he found the stub gone.
Here was work which none but a
Chinaman could have done. In an in
slant it flashed over Longs quick, orieli-
tai brain, that he felt the thin entering
wedge Of Chinese persecution. Sadly
turning to the customer Long acknowl-
edged that the clothes were lost. There
was no alternative but to pay their value.
Repeated instances Of the same sort
almost drove Long and his Chinese as
sistant out of their wits. When Sergeant
called for his clothes they were missing.
Long, frenzied with his troubles, tore
the check to pieces. Sergeant, to whom
this conduct was inexplicable, had Long
arrested on charge OF larceny as bailee,
which was afterward reduced to disor-
DERBY conduct. He was mulcted in $15,
which was divided between the magis-
tratc and the complaining witness. Then
he was dismissed.
But Longs troubles are not over. He
still has his Chinese enemies to fear. If
he can arrange matters i'll Philadelphia
so that the highbinders will leave him in
peace he will be content. If not, he will
consult Rev. Frederic Poole, the we'll
known Chinese missionary, as to what
ought to be done. Mr.. Poole spent many
years in China, speaks the language, and
is the man who was instrumental in
bringing the Chinese minister at WASH
ington and his suite to Camden at the
time when the mayor OF that burgh de-
cined to protect the Chinese laborers
who were being assaulted there. MIR.
Poole may exert himself in Longs be-
half, for Long is Christian; or the
matter may be adjusted in the Chinese
Masonic Temple in Race street, west Of
Ninth, Philadelphia, where the six com.
panies, the highbinders and the great
Joss have their headquarters.