The evening times., 1897-05-25
MOY WINGS LAST SMOKE
The Opium Pipe Causes Chinese
Laundryman's Sudden Death.
His Compatriots' Strenuous Ohjec-
ton to an Autopsy Coroner De-
Cides None Is Necessary.

Moy Wings pipe has gone out forever
messenger of death. Moy Wing is dead and
his body, cold and stark lies on the slab,
wrapped in shroud, in the morgue at the
Emergency Hospital. The gas n the room
was turned dowplow and left burning all
last night, at the special request OF his
countrymen, to keep away the evu spirits
which are supposed to be surrounding the
dead body Of a Chinaman
Moy smoked his opium pipe once too
often, and it was the indirect cause Of his
death, Moy followed the pursuit in which
the great majority of his CCuntrymeu in
America are engaged. His laundry is To-
Gated at No. T27 Ninth street north west,
where his brother Will continue todo wash
ing at the same old rates. Moy came from
China seventeen years ago, and for the
past twelve years he has lived in Wash
ington, and has been an honest and In
duStrUuS laundryman But he would smoke
opium, like nearly all CeleStials SUNDAY VS.
be would Congregate with others Of his
countrynen in the joints in China
Quaff of the pipe.
Yesterday morning. after taking a Smoke
at his wn place, he started out to go I'D
on Fourteenth street. between l. and NJ
streets. to get a bun die of laundry. While
returning he WAS suddenly taken i'll on the
street and an ambulance was called and
he was removed to the Emergency Hospital
Dr.. Turner and the other physicians at the
Institution tried to save his life but he
expired IN a few moments after reaching
the hospital. The direct cause of death WAS
no doubt heart disease, brought on by opium
smoking, which habit he formed before he
left the FIowery Kin gdom.
The corridors OF the hospital looked ike
the interior of a Chinese joss house yester-
day afternoon, when score of CcleStiaIs
came TO see MOy and bring good things TO
him on his journey and frighten away the
evil spirits from the body of the dead man.
The first visible sign of sorrow expressed
by any OF them was when Dr. Turner toll a
delegation who had come for Moy's body
that it would have to be kept atthe hospital
until the coroner had performed the au-
topsy There is no synonym in the Chinese
dictionary for the word autopsy, but Dr
the anxious laundrynen that Moy's lody
was to be cut open and an examination
made as TO the cause of his death
''Velly blad Mclean man, Cuttee China
man: no goodee," said one pig-tailed ;ndi-
viduaL He then explained that out of
5000 persons who die each day in China
no investigat ION is ever held over any Of
them. When q man is dead, they hold it
does not better the case to find out why or
what caused his death. There is also the
belief that if Chinaman's body is cut lie
las the same difficulty in passing to the
next world as if he had been murdered A
murdered man is always haunted with vii
spirits. The Cinnamon communicated with
DIR. Ham;nett. and asked thas no autopsy
be performed,
Great preparations are being made for
Moy's funeral, which will Ike place iom r.
row afternoon, and he will be temporarily
buried in Graceland Cemetery, and even
tually removed to China and inferred IN the
soil of the Flowery Kingdom, as it is be-
lieved that his body viii not rest we'll in
any other cline.
The coroner decided this morning that it
was not necessary TO make an autopsy or
hold an inquest and gave a certificate Of
death from natural causes The body was
therefore surrendered to the friends Of the
deceased