The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-02-04
CHINESE NAVAL RESERVE.
Philadelphia Has Novel Addition
to Uncle Sans Fight
ing Forces.

Philadelphia boasts of the honor OF
maintaining a naval reserve composed
Of Cinnamon. With the exception of
the officers-and even several of these
are followers Of Confucius-the entire
body of jackies wear pigtai!s. The nu
cleus of this novel addition 10 Uncle
Sans fighting forces attracted no lit
tie attention during the recent peace
jubilee celebration in the Quaker city.
Rev. Frederick Poole, who conducts
the Chinese mission in Philadelphia
Chinatown, is the father of this patri-
otto project. He enlisted the aid of
Lee Toy, and that meant instant sue.
cess. For Lee Toy is the mayor of Chi
natown, and what he says goes.
Race street, between Ninth and
Tenth. is the center of Chinese popula-
ton in Philadelphia. The mission is al
No. 929 Race street. Here Mr.. Poole
has labored for several years in an
Acknowledged vineyard, redolent of
opium and chopped suey. He has grad
ually won the confidence of his neigh
bors, and, with the aid of Mayor Lee
Toy, has accomplished good results.
He is even more respected than George
Luton, the big special" attached to
the Sixth district police station, and
that is saying great deal.
In his efforts to organize the
"Dewey Chinese naval reserve of Phil
adelphia" Mr.. Poole was aided by Will
liam Careless, his right-hand man;
Eng Chang, the missions official in
terpreter, and Lee Toy. When the
scheme was first preached there was
tremendous excitement in the Chinese
quarters, from cellar to stop side
The following officers were chosen:
Lieutenant commander, Frederick;
Poole; lieutenant paymaster, Lee Toy;
lieutenant, junior grade, William H.
Bateman; ensign. William Careless;
surgeon. A. G. Bakes; first gunner's
mate, William Lee York; first boat
SWANS mate, Harry Lee Yup; cox
SWANS, Wong Kee, Wong Ho, Harry
Wong and Wong John; color sergeant.
Eng Chang.
The prestige of Lee Toys name had
much to do with the scramble to en-
roll. Although Americanized to the
extent of having sacrificed his queue,
Chinatown's mayor has great hold
upon his subjects. He dresses in Amer
lean clothes, and only on state occa-
sions does he don the flowing robes Of
the Celestial empire.
When Lii Hung Chang visited Phiia-
delphia on his American tour Lee Toy
was very much in evidence, acting as
member of the reception committee as
the representative of Chinatown. Then
what metamorphosis was there! His
black suit of broadcloth and patent
leather shoes were exchanged for
silken robe and sandals. But the most
uriant pigtail hung down his back.
much to the amazement of his Celes
tial followers. A diplomat is Lee Toy.
AT the time of the peace jubilee the
organization was in raw state. Now
it is thoroughly organized. One even
ing recently AZ enthusiastic Cinnamon
enrolled themselves. and since then
every laundryman in Philadelphia has
been filled with martial ardor. Collars
and cuffs remain unlaundered. and even
fantan has lost its allurement.
The questions of uniforms, equip
ment and drilling quarters have been
thoroughly gone into. with successful
results. The full quota of oriental
jackies will be armed and equipped at
once. Subscription lists have been
started and arrangements made for
drilling the section every Monday night
at the old Second regiment armory.
The men viii have two sets of Uniform
the regulation white and biue-anl
will be armed with carbines, cutlasses
and knives and equipped with lam
yards. haversacks and canteens.
With the exception of the American
officers not single member of the
Dewey naval reserve is citizen of the
United States. Yet everyone is eager
to $50 fghtee for stalls and stlipes."
N. Y. Herald.