The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-30

to in that Joint Wong All Hing produced q
begging card, and the sum of Is cents was
promptly raised for him. He acceptd 1t with
| a grin Of plasure.
"That money will keep him In opium q
week, said the guide.
"But will now take you to the worst
opium Joint in San Francisco" said Williams.
He led the party through a narrow alley and
turned up a narrow passage.
'This used to be the old Chinese theater.."
said Williams. "There was panic in this
passage one night owing to a false alarm Of
fire. and nearly fifty Cinnamon were crushed
and trampled to death trying to escape
through this exit"
He led the party down a rickety stairway
and into q dark courtyard.
1--WE are now" said Williams. Gin what Is
facetiously termed the Palace hotel. It is so
called because it has a courtyard like the
Palace"
A stencil Of opium rose and filled the dark
and wretched place. Every door was an en-
trance to an opium joint. ond crowds Of
Cinnamon were going in and out. They made
no objection to the presence Of the strangers
but nodded and saluted them pleasantly.
Williams entered dim den in q corner
ana told the officers to enter. In samll en-
closure lay Chinaman hitting the pipe.
Where is your cat?" asked Williams.
He come" said the Chinaman. and in a
moment large white cat sprang upon the
couch.
The chinaman fondled the animal and Will
l1ams explained that the cat was as great an
opium f1end as his master. The party would
have waited to see the cat hit the pipe, too,
but the Chinaman emitted a puff that actually
drove every man out of the place. and no
one had any desire to return and watch the
cat.
Williams next showed the party through the
building. which proved to be a labyrinth
Along narrow corridors that seemed to have
no end ana around unexpected turns and
TWISTS and up and down narrow and
steep stairways the officers followed him until
they were out of breath, and then of sud-
den they found themselves in the street and
gave thanks for breath of fresh air.
The neyt place of interest was narrow al
icy crowded with Cinnamon slouching along
along but good-humored and joking with each.
other Occasionally Chinese women would
pass through the place.
RMS Is Murderers' alley" Mr.. Williams
sald and he then detailed few of the muir
ders that have been committed there There
the Hlghbinders headquarters are situated
and Williams pointd at the door leading to it,
through which many an unfortunste Choina
man has gone to his doom. In the same alley
are number of gambling joints, and the
voices OF the gamblers inside could be plainly
heard.
Williams next led the party I'D a stairway
TO chinese lodge room, which was fitted up
If a manner similar to tina: Of any Iodgs
room in ST. Paul or Minneapolis The
furniture Oriental, but the arrangement
was the same as in all Masonic lodges
A Chinese theater in the vicinity was Wis
tied, but the party was not particularly i'm
pressed with the play and did not remain
long. Williams led them through several
more alleys, and then they emerged upon Du--
pont street, the principal thoroughfare of the
Chinese quarter. There they found a Chi
nese restaurant, the Bun Sun Low, which is
Famous the country over for it's Oriental
magnifcence. The decorations in this res
taurant are more elegant than those in the
Chinese teIrrle. The restaurant was visited
by Gen. Grant, President Hayes and by every
other notable American and European who
has come to the Pacific coast. The party or
dered tea, and with it was served a variety
OF Chinese sweetmeats and CONNECTIONS. While
the party was dining they were disturbed by.
loud cackling. and Williams explained that
those were the geese which the restaurant pro-
prietors keep On the roof ready for killing.
One OF the most curious objects in this
restaurant Is the safe. The establishment is
owned by eight partners, and each partner
has separate lock and key on the safe. The
safe door Is consequently ornamented with
eight locks strung In row, and when the safe
is to be opened every one of the eight part
ners must be present to open his lock. If
only seven are present the safe cannot be
opened. In this manner the partners guard
against being swindled by each other.
The officers witnessed many ether curious
sights in Chinatown and its vicinity that
night, and returned to camp satisfied that San
francisco is the warmest city west of the
Mississippi. Evan NJ. Jones.