The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-04
MIDDLE OF RIALTO BLOCH.
Furniture. Carpets. stoves, and Ho"seho'd """"s'


linz OF the societies did not have the ef-
feet % abolsshing them On the otner
hand they spread silently. but rapidly. IN
III they eliminated IN what Is known m
history a. the great Tai Ping rebellion. n
aueillnz which the services Of Gen. Cor
don we're enlisted BY the Manchur.an gov
erurueut. the Gen. Gordon. before whose
tomb the great Chinese statesman. Ii
Hung Chang. in his recent European tour,
placed a wreath OF flowers az a token Of
gratitude en- the part OF the empire ne
represented.
THE rebellion was Quelled in China but
wherever the Chinese went TO. principally
the straits Settlements, Australia, New
Zealand Honolulu Canada. all over the
ruited States. in fact. everywhere outside
Of the Jurisdiction OF china, branches az
the home societies we're formed This >
the origin Of Chinese secret societies as Ws
krow them. Many join for the ostensioie
purpose Of carrying out the object Of
these societies. Inasmuch, however. as
there IS little room FOR play IN the arena
OF politics IN countries outside OF China,
r-any Of the members avail themselves OF
the strength Of the societies so as 10 DOM
neer over and intimidate those who are
not members. Even where legitimate Ia
Dor Is concerned, the influence of these So
c!eties is felt In mining towns a China
rs
societies might as well be out Of existence
~ TO think OF remaining out Of rtle society.
The societies are kept UP on funds de-
rived from hlsekmaN levied on Chinese
gamblers and importers OF Chinese girls.
brought 10 this country for sale. These
funds are also augmented by blood money
paid when services of its members are
required Tor purposes of murder. Ii has
besn known for many years back TO The
polire In san Francisco that all that WAS
necessary 10 remove a ChFraman of the
face OF the earth was for his enemy TO
gt 10 these societies and pay the price for
such services. This Is the way the no
tCrfoas Little Pete commonly known as
the king Of the Sam Yups. he being one -
the wealthiest and AT the same time
sErewdesr among the denizens OF san
Franclsco's Chinatown. was removed by
his enemies The police Of San Francisco
krow how IL was done, but on account OF
the secrecy observed they are still baf-
fed in tracing the murder 10 its perpetTa-
tors.
'',1'he original object of these societies.
while not forgotten. is pretty much lost
sight Of For that reason feuds have arts
en-. causing schlsms. These are known TO
san Francisco and the California public
as highlander 'tongs.' The feuds at times
become exceedingly bitter in which case
the police invariably look for murder as
the result and they are seldom disap-
pointed. 1t got so intolerablo a few Years
ago in san Francisco that Chief Crowley,
advised BY the Chinese consul and as
sisted b. the missionaries. notably Rev
Or. Masters, determined TO give these so
cieties a decided shock. The chief forth
with Issued general orders for their demo
Ition TIE more iaw-ahiding Chinese or
San Francisco and those who were not
members Of those societies We're greatly
pleased at the chiefs work. The work OF
demolition was hardly over when the high
tlnders surprised the chief with a suit for
heavy damages. a sum running up into
tens OF thousands Of dollars The suit was
going on nicely until the chief was fur
flsAed with what might be called com
mission 10 kin issued under the seal of
one Of the branch societies In British Co
h mhia. The commission WAS not intend
"a to see daylight outside Of the immedi-
ate purvew Of the societies premises, but
I, fen into the hands of officials. who pre-
served il ss evidence Of the nature Of these
societies. Tho production of this document
marked the cessation of the suit The
hiehbIpders interested dreaded more the
document Of their own production than
they loved the tens Of thousands Of dol
lars they wanted from Chief Crowley
can you tell more OF tho details OF this
commission 90 kill?'
Il have no, A copy of the document with
me. hat I have a good recollection OF its
contents. II authorized the Chinaman 20
whom II was issued 70 go down 10 the
dock upon the arrival Of China steamers
az Victoria and 80 collect 500 per girl from
the importers The document stipulated
how much should be paid It's holder In
case he should be interfered with. and in
the hight that might ensue, II he should be
In Iured. how much he should he paid
should he be manned for nfe, how much
should he paid his relatives Ia case he
himself should DC killed and how much he
should Re paid tn case he succeeded IN
killing others. The reason assigned for
the collection % tho sioo was that in the
event % the Girls or their owners being ar
rested. the society wouid furnish witnesses
sbo WOULD swear - their respeot hilitv.
10 iS only Fair 20 state that while the
members of these societies are exceedingly
numerous NOS all Chinese SIRE IN SYM
pBfhy with their workings There are
those who loin out ~ fear ard there are
those Nho sand entirely aloOf from
thfm"
mr. Gardner Ga tho one who WIS I'm Seat
ne iyo or three years ago and caused the
administering OF the famous chicken
bead oath durisg a preliminary ex8ruina~
tioo - fhiu1mar for robbery 4 Chin
ESQ Inspector thought the opportunity had
arrived Ter him 10 set some reliable in
formation froru enc ~ the witnesses as 20
ae length - ume he had been IN the
country The Inspector was positive that
thc ChlaSman had evs6ed the ex-
clGson act and prompted the prosecuting
attorney 20 ask hin how hong nc had 1seysu
iH th8s countFg "Oh a long time re-
nlie3 fHc Chioamsn. THE fnspe ttor VS.
thunderstrHck and could not understand
the proposition. Finally ne asked nr
DardUer shout &c and was informed that
even undrr the chicken oath a Chinarnan
Goes n9t consider himself bound - ter
the truth, only or the vial paints at Is
sue.