The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-05-13
STORY OF QUE NAN.
A PlTIFUL ROMANCE OUT OF SAN
FRANCiSClo'S CHINATOWN.


so this is a free country" said an
English resident of San Francisco,
sententiously, to an American visitor
who had been dilating upon the beau
ties Of the American idea. But let
me tell you the history of one woman
in free America. You may doubt it,
but can substantiate it.
"a few years ago there was young
woman in Canton named, we will say,
Que Nan. She was especially attrac-
tive, even from the American stand
point One day she was approached
by Chinese woman, who said she had
a rich husband for her, and, to pass
by non-essentials, the girl was finally
intrusted to the woman's care, who
volunteered to take her to the rich
husband. When the destination was
reached the prospective bridegroom
was not to be found. but he had left
word for his bride-elect to follow him.
This was sufficient to place the girl
aboard an American-bound vessel. The
woman was a professional kidnapper,
and after receiving her pay she hand
ed over the victim to an agent, who
was delegated to carry the girl, with
others, to America.
"As the ship left port and finally
passed Japan the girl became SUSPECT
Gus and threatened to create great
outcry, but she was silenced by the
agent, who convinced her that it was
all right and that her husband was in
San Francisco. He then told her ex-
actly what to say when she passed the
Custom House officers to make them
| think that she was a native-born
citizen of America. She was informed
| that if the Americans thought she was
| not they would sell her as a slave and
condemn her to life of horror, not to
speak of the devils which might carr y
| her off. The girl was so terrified that
she obeyed implicitly, and when ex-
amined by the officers was readily
passed and permitted to go ashore.
Here Que Nan still expected to find her
husband. Instead, she was taken to a
room, when she was visited by vari-
GUS men and women, who, she was
told, were her husbands friends The
apartment was the famous Queen S
Room, or the public slave mart, which
was broken up by the police during
the past few years. One of the Wis
itors finally bid in the girl for $1,000.
All this, mind you," said the speaker,
knocking the ashes from his cigar, "in
free America
| "Her new owner announced himself
as her husband, but he soon threw her
into the hands of an unscrupulous
gang of criminals, and the girl finally
discovered that she had been kidnap-
ped in China, sold to a man who had
| imported her to lead the life of a slave
put up at public auction. so to speak,
and knocked down to the highest bid
der, or sold for 81 500 in gold This
is low price," added the Englishman
''I can quote you instances where the
market price has touched the three
thousand-dollar mark.
"The average girl, at this stage of SO
cunningly devised game would have
given up. But this one was made OF
sterner stuff. She made a vigorous
outcry, and, though thrown into a cell
lai and imprisoned, she finally sue
ceeded in making her escape, and one
day rushed into the street and into the
arms of an American policeman
screaming and crying.
"Highbinders who belonged to the
society which deals in slave women
rushed after her and endeavored to
carry her off. but the policeman car
ried the girl to haven of rest, in one
of the missions. where she was well
treated and found good home.
"The mission people desire to see all
such women married, and they finally
saw Que Nan happily married, to a
Chinaman; who was a very popular
steward on an American man-of-war
The wedding was celebrated with much
circumstance, and venture to say that
there was not an officer in the navy
yard who did not take a personal in
terest in the couple.
"Reing sailor, the husband, whom
we will call All Gong, was obliged tc
go on cruise, and the ship sailed fol
San Diego, Que Nap being left in San
Francisco. For some time all went
8 well. Que Nan had a good home, he1
husband had a large salary, and the
) match was supposed to be the happiest
possible.
'One day man went to Que Nan
and said that he was her husbands
| brother, and that Ah Gong had sent
some money to him for his wife, and
that if she would go with him shs
could obtain it, She went. received
the money, and ON her way home was
arrested for stealing the amount, an,
other Chinaman making the charge
She was taken to the police station, the
money found on her having private
marks, which the Chinaman identified
Now, continued the Englishman
if the woman had consented to go with
the Chinaman the charges would have
been Withdrawn, but she refused
, Finally the mission peopie interfered
! and with the testimony of American
: officers her release was procured, it be
! ing evident that she was the victim
of conspiracy, During the excite
I ment the supposed bFother-in=iaW, WhG
$ it turned out was man who had real
: iy bought her in the first place, ap
D peared, affecting much concern, anC
succeeded in inducing her to go will
5 hiH, The mission authorities urget
: her to return with them and remain