The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1898-02-15
STORY OF QUE NAN.
A PITlFUL ROMANCE OUT OF SAN
FRANClSCOS CHINATOWN.


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 1t,
but can substantiate 1t.
"A few years ago there was a 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
intrusied to the womans care, who
volunteered to take her to the rich
husband When the destination was
reached the prospective bridegroom
was not to be found. bit 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 10 carry the girl, With
others, to America
"As the ship left port and finally
passed Japan the girl became suspici-
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 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 carry
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 heI
husband. Instead, she Wss taken to
room when she was visited by yari
Gus men and women, who, she was
told, were her husbands friends. Tht
apartment was the famous Queens
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 hat
imported her to lead the life of slave
put up at public auction, so to speak
and knocked down to the highest bid.
der, or sold for $1,000 in gold. This
is low price" added the Engishman
Il can quote you instances where the
market price has touched the three.
thousand-dollar mark.
"The average girl, at this stage of sc
cunningly DEVISED a game would have
given up. But this one was made OF
sterner stuff. She made a vigorous
cutlery, and, though thrown into a eel.
lai and imprisoned, she finally sue.
ceeded in making Ter escape, and one
day rushed into the street and into tht
arms of an American policeman
screaming and crying.
"Highbinders who belonged to the
society which deals in slave women
rushed after her and endeavored te
carry hsr off. but the policeman car.
ried the girl to a haven of rest, in one
of the missions, where she was well
treated and found a good home.
THE mission psople desire to see all
such women married and they finally
saw Que Nan happily married. to
Chinaman who was 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.
Being a sailor, the husband, whom
we will call All G ing, was obliged to
go on a cruise, and the ship sailed for
San Diego, Que Nan being left in San
Francisco. For some time all went
well. Que Nan he'd good home, her
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
sotAe money to him for his wife, and
that If she would go with him she
could obtain 1t, She went, received
the money, and on her way home was
arrested for stealing the amount, an.
'othe4s GhiHamanA making the charge.
She was taken to the police station, the
money found on her having private
marks, which the Chinaman identified,
continued the Englishman,
If the woman had consented to go witt,
the ChinGrnah the charges would have
been withdrawn, but she refused,
Finally the mission people irterfcred
and, with the testimony of American
ofIifers her release was procured, it be.
ing evident, that she was the victim
]. of 2 conspiracy. During the excite
nen.t,th4e supposed ,brother-ln 1law, who
lit tcgEsd out was a. man who had real
. jBL Bought her in, the first place. ap-
peaPed, affecting mitch concern, and
succeeded in inducing her to go with
him. The mission authorities urged
her to return with them and remain
5s4rtil, her husband came back, but she
was so confident that the man was her
| Brother-ih-law that she insisted on ac.
h Gcepting his invitation and going to his