The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-30
VISIT TO CHINATOWN.
Members of the Thirteenth Take In
the Sights.


the Sights.
Staff Correspondence The st. Paul Globe.
SAN FRANCISCO. May 25.-The men OF the
Thirteenth have continued to ind more or
less entertainment since their arrival in San
Francisco, though they have had to do a
good deal of hard work, too. The officers say
it is easier to maintain discipline now than 1t
was at Camp Ramsey, because the men have
no relatives to visit them. AS long as the
men were at Ramsey it was impossible to
keep them under proper discipline. So the
DAYS are spent in work and the evenings in
pleasure.
The first thing the men wanted to do when
they arrived at Camp Merritt was to visit
Chinatown. and for several nights all who
could get passes cut of camp went to that far
famed section of the city They went in
parties of ten and fifteen and were shown the
sights by guides
The regular Chinatown guide is licensed by
the city and earns his living by escorting
Summing parties through the Oriental sec
ton Of the city.
party of officers visited Chinatown Tues
day night under the guidance Of John Will
liams. Williams is a character. He is
small. spare individual, with sharp features,
and he knows thoroughly every nook and
Granny of Chinatown. He was broker
the business of guiding people through the
slums for living
He las become so familiar with Chinese
life and character that he is as wei ac-
quainted with 1t as the Chinese themselves.
He has studied Chinese history and can reel
eff tradition and philosophy as glbly as any
5 follower of Confucius
The Chinese quarter is on the s,ope of one
of the numerous steep hills on which the city
is built. In fact it is the original site of the
city. and the buildings nearly all date back
to the old days. Williams guided his party
first to the joss house of the Ming Young as
ISOLATION, which is located at 25 Waverly
place. This joss house is said to be the finest
in the city and is filled with exquisitely
carved shrines and costly paraphernalia of
worship. A history is attached to every piece
in the temple. With keen eye to business
the Ming Young association has guardians at
the gate who insist upon visitors purchasing
piece of sandalwood or a package of sandal
wood punk, for which they charge two bits.
When the party had paid their respects to
all the Chinese gods and goddesses and devils
in the temple they visited number of the
Chinese stores and meat market and watched
the Cinnamon prepare their food in their own
peculiar way. They were not tempted to
purchase any of the delicacies spread before
them for camp mess.
Through narrow alleys filled with Cinnamon
the party proceeded to an opium joint in one
of the worst districts in the section The
guide entered first and the party was halted
moment. When the visitors were admitted
they found on a raised platform a hideous
looking Chinaman named Wong All Hing, who
is said to be the worst opium fend this side
of the Pacific. He has but one arm and il
is his boast that he does nothing but smoke
opium
He was just arranging himself to smoke
pipe when the party entered the room, and
there was suspicion in the minds of more
than one in the party that Wong All Hing Is
an exhibition smoker. He offered the pipe
to several of the visitors. but they declined
it with thanks.
When the visitors had seen all they wished