Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1898-06-15
CHINESE Law GIRLS.
Cruel Methods OF Mongolian Slave
Mastera
An Instance In which IL shown the
Poor Creatures Are Spirited
Away in San Francisco
Chinatown.

please come and save me. 1 am 4
poor Chinese slave girl. / am beaten
and abused by everybody. Help me or
/ will die"
This may not be a literal translation
of the note received by Mrs. Lake, of the
Methodist Mission home. but it is what
the note meant, and, while not a day
passes without some UGH appeal for
help, the good matron of the mission
felt that she could not lend a deaf ear to
this pathetic cry for assistance. Yet
the sequel forms one of the saddest
stories of Chinese slavery that has been
made public. The girl was a victim of
Chinese justice melted out to one who
tries to escape a life of servitude and
degradation, for the effort to rescue
was a failure. and it is well known that
death is the punishment inflicted upon
slaves who max an unsuccessful at
tempt to escape.
This appeal for aid was received at
the Mission home, and it was de-
termined to rescue the girl if it were
possible. Communications were opened
between the matron and the slave girl.
and all arrangements were made. The
girl gave explicit directions. so that the
rescue party could make no mistake.
and when they reached the house she
was to stand at the door and look
through the grated window. AS soon
as the rescue party made its appearance
she was to hold a card in her hand, and
then draw the bolts so hat the rescu-
ers could get inside.
Mrs. Lake well understood the cruei
methods of Chinese slave masters and
determined that this attempt should be
successful if it were possible. She en-
listed the officers of the police and the
time was set for their raid. At the ap-
pointed hour the party reached the door
and started up the stairs toward the
grated oor above. The girl was there
according to the arrangements and
held up the card. She pulled back the
bolt as the party made n rush for the
top of the stairway. but before they
could reach the opening the door was
slammed shut and the bolts drawn
while the girl was dragged shriekinp
away. They could see the helpless girl
holding out her arms to them. and then
saw a cloth thrown over her head. and
all was as silent as one of those cham
Dtio VI idhIuiAl.tN utai ihC hosPlAdA.
The officers battered at the door, and
finally a most innoeent-looking China
man appeared and asked:
What you want here? Why you
Gomez"
He was told that they were after
the slave girl, and the innocent look
took on a deeper expression with b
little addition of injury as he replied:
\ girl here long time no girl here.
Me live lone here"
Strict search was made, and not
withstanding the fact that several girls
had been seen through the grated door
when the rush up the stairs was made,
the house was apparently as empty as
if it had been left to the rats which
scurried before the lights of the search
ing party.
What became of the girl?
That is known only to her Maker and
to the Chinese brutes who had held her
in captivity. Her fate may be surmised
because she had disappeared as com
pletely as if the earth had opened and
swallowed her from sight of man. The
stories of other slave girls made after
their escape may also give grounds for
~ ~ 80 49, "Se ~
killed if caught, and all say that those
who attempt to escape and fail are
killed.
With runways like rats; with dark
alleys between houses, unknown to the
builders; with tunnels below the
streets from block to block; with a
thousand and one ways to make away
with obnoxious persons, these blocks
known as chinatown" hold many a
tragedy that never comes to the light
of day.
If slaves can be held, beaten, bought
and sold day after day while the gov
eminent officials say that slavery does
not exist, then it is easy to surmise
what may happen when Chinese
vengeance is aroused against n of
the helpless beings who sends forth
such an urgent. plea for rescue. 1t is
easy to surmise what became Of the
unfortunate cerature who was last seen
with her head ~enveloped in the folds of
a heavy cloth to stifle her cries for help