The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-18
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PIPE WITH 4 HISTORY.
was Once Owned ny Chinese Mobiles
HAS Caused Two Murders.

Buffalo Express.
what Is said 10 be the most costly OPT
um pipe in this country is now In this
city. II was brought hither by Jim Kong
three days ago and win remain here til
Jim starts West. The pipe Is best known
for Its association. II has a remarkable
history. jim. the present possessor. re-
lated Its story to some of the local Chi
namen who had heard of ii, but who
knew not its fun history. The pipe weighs
about seven pounds, which is more than
twice the average weight of pipe. 1t is
made OF Chinese cherry, and each end IL
iniaid with cypress and ebony. The work
manship is superb. The bowl is OF earth
enware. and the tap into which 1t sets is
banded with silver. A solid silver tray.
q brass lamp with silver trimmings, two
silver cups for matches and cigarettes.
and silver yen-hawk with gold tips, so
with the layout.
No price. save that OF two lives. has
ever been placed on the layout. Jim KONG
would not sell it for the best Chinese shop
In the city. and he would risk his life in
defense of it, This is the story OF 1t as
told by himself:
Wong Fee, who, years ago was chief
servant TO the emperor of China. got the
pipe from an ancient edi6ce. 1t was
found by workmen who were tearing out
an altar. The excellent workmanship OF
the pipe was palpabie. and Wong Fee
compelled the laborer to turn 1t over to
him. He. being a smoker himself used 1t
for many years. An effort was made to
learn the early history OF the article.
but, like everything in china, its early
ownership could not be ascertained, nor
anything Of Its history secured. A rec
ord for the dope-instrument was estab-
lished. The servant said that it had be-
longed to Confueius. Every one knew
this was a fable, but II was accepted as
true by some
The story of the pipe was spread. Rich
Chinese would rather possess fine pipe
than q fine daughter. The prestige Of
wealthy family Is half established by the
pipe It has. Consequently many wealthy
Cinnamon coveted the renowned Wong
Fec pipe. Wong Fee was made uneasy ty
the designs on his article and he np-
pointed 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 20
smoke every morning and every even
Ing One time Yen confided to his mas
ter that a merchant had offered him a
fabulous sum for the pipe. whereupon the
chief servant OF the emperor ordered YIN
killed instantly. believing that the offer
had tended to corrupt Yen. Another GUS
todian of the pipe was then appointed,
and he was told that II, by any chance.
he lost possession OF his charge, he would
be beheaded.
About seven years ago the second GUS
todian was found murdered in his apart
ments In Shanghai. The pipe was gone.
The motive of the murder was apparent
and large rewards were offered for infor-
nation that would lead to the finding of
the pipe. They availed naught, and the
emperor's servant was much enraged.
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his house was searched in vain. year
later mysterious murder was committed
In tho ssme city. and the relatives of the
victim admitted that the murdered man
had had the renowned Wong Fec pipe.
He had secured II by hiring brigands to
murder the guardian appointed by the
emperors servant This renewed inter-
est in the former affair and the emperor
busted himself searching for the owners
OF the pipe. thinking In that way to cap
ture the murderers of the second owner
of the thing. He was as unsuccessful as
his chief servant had been.
II was a short time after this that Wan
Poo. while wandering about that section
of Shanghai inhabited by thieves and
lepers, was ac-osted by q Chinaman, who
asked him TO enter small court fianked
by tenements and obscured from the
street by lattice-work Poo was dressed
known TO have money He was In Chi
nese aristocracy what a duke is In Eng
land. The stranger said to him. holding
out q pipe:
How much will you give for the piper"
lin Chinese langueg)
Poo looked at 4. and recognized IL as
tho one of which so much had been writ
ten. and which up to that time had
caused the death Of at least two men. He
made an offer which the holder Of the
pipe refused Poo thereupon doubled his
offer which made the purchase price an
enormous one. and secured the pipe. He
asked no questions of the seller. and no
consequently knew not whether he WAS
buying OF murderer or merely a thief.
Poo hid the pipe In his room. He kept
the fact OF his possession secret for
four years, but then II leaked out In some
way. Fearful that his life might be
taken by some coyetaus person, and re-
ssrding his possession almost as dearly
rs his life. he left Shanghai and went 70
a town which is on the coast OF the yell
low sea. He imagined that he was be-
ing followed by persons resolved on get
ting the pipe, and thinking that muir
der would be the result If he stayed in
China, he set out for this country. Hs
came here by way of Montreal, and
wound up in Hartford. Conn. where he
now lives. He conducts a heightened
opium Joint and pretends TO run a iaun-
dry business.
jim Kong. who brought the pipe to
this city. claims that Poo lent IL 20 him.
His story IS discredted. It Is believed by
China urIu who are familiar with the fam