The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-14
CHI INESE HIGH BI ND ERS.
SECRET SOCIETIES FORMLb ron
MURDER M BLACK Van.
Onshoots In San Francisco and New York
of an Organization IN Chinn inltia-
ton of the Hnt'h"t hoy Signs aud
Ords High sounding Names.


aKood deal about the Chinese On The Pacific Coast
"The Hop s ny and the Suey Sing longs al San
Francisco have declared War, and you will see
that the war will spread and there will be trouble
In all the Ch,natuuuS. There's been only une
killing 70 far in San Francisco, but there may
be more. Did you ever think III III There are
On this coast, say 5000 Cinnamon, and every
one VI them is governed not by the nilcd States
but by their own society rules. Wien n china
man gets a grudgc against a man he gees Ia a
professional murderer and hires him Ia Kill the
man. II you should want 10 get rid 81 some one
these societies would do 1t tor you with despatch
II the Chinanan has one fad moro than another
II is for secret societies. The average american
believes these societies g. be hrne, olent organ
~izations, but the majority are formed to defeat
the ends Of justice and enable the members to
commit a variety Of crimes without danger Of
punishment. Americans call the members high.
binders. but the Chinese call the ,rgani7ali, rs
Ratchet societies and the members hatche, boys
which well describes them.
The history Of the haichet ~ highbinG,r 50
Cieties in America goes back to a lot Of political
refugees, who came 10 this country some years
ago after an attempt to overthrow the Govern
ment in China. There are many societies, but
the grand head IS The Triad Society in China,
which crops up nov aud then. II any plan is
discovered against tie reignins house ia China
you may be sure thatit can be traced 0the Triad.
The Triad, which refers to Earth. Heaven aud
Man, was first heard uf in This country Ia 1888
when a society was started in San Francisco,
apparently for benevolent purposes with the
high sounding name uf Chez kung Tong which
means the Chamber Of High Justice. In New
York there is a branch which goes by tue name
Of icc Hing Ocy Wr the Society "i Righteous
Brethren All the brethren are by no means
righteous The cl,ic! object Of the society is IT,
even up old scores and every member iakrs an
oath never to rest until the wrongs II The Triad
are aveugcd.
For a long time the police detective and stu.
dents OF chinese puzzled over this Triad. They
knew there was some connection between the
wars and murders in Caliiuru!a and The Triad.
butt was Impossible 10 ierret II out until one day.
In making a raid on one Of The longs 81 societies
The police found some books and papers, one Of
wmch proved 10 BE- the secret ritual. ,r book oi
rules. for the guidance Of members, and gave
a. well the cnurc hislor, Of the association Tn,
was quickly translated aud IT Ia, becu used
against them ever since. You can imoy.nr what
a sensation was ere a,rd among he Chinese when
il was known that the \mericans had IT, sup
pose some on. was t. find the secrets - Mns,ury
and publish them to the wuld' Well, ii was NE
same with t.e Chinese, though Ia their case g."
exposure MAS Of a series Of crimes and not the
secrets u a bcnevolen society.
The initiation II UOyicrS into the Tuad ~ y
terrible ordeal, and ma! y fal. 70 SIS On account
ot the fear they feel AT what they see. They are
AIKEN L. IA gorgeous room crowI,d with Ciriuusly
dressed men. fully am,d. At ole End vi the
Apa stands an altar. covered with gold
and bass, with siraugr fo'ms # dragons, aud
with images Of the five monks who are SUPPOSED
10 be ur founders 81 thr terrible sDctiy From
ihis room, sitting with luu usy, he u,oAlyto.
escorted by a guard, approaches tie fr-t gat"
lie is here lhrrarrrd with n fearful death II h.
exposes anything regarding the ccrcmory and
IT is explained To- HIM that d; is Inc duty Of every
m, mter to Hill a Ua.tur lie Low receives the
password, changes his clothes and apr,.r, IN
the costume IL the Mag dynasty. lie wears
q garb Il five CulofS. about HIS waist j. a white
girdlr, while u red clulh IL bou'd about his head.
He is now led 10 tbs srcuHd gate. crawling through
un his hands and knees. whii" duIrAs 81 swu.ds
clash in q cleaning arch above him he is then
led to the throne where SITS the grand mogul ot
the society. the Ah Ma, before whom The novice
ptostrates himself ard swcafS 10 accept IN" twenty.
one regulations, ts,h candidate holds out -
ihk'l, "hiA ~ IfiN'h WIN q NllNtl weapon Inc
a needle. \ drop II blood from each candidate
falls into a vine cup. 1nd the numbers then dnuk
OF NE cup 10 SHOW ihat irom low cd. - blood lt.
lauonshlp exists amu!g thin. \ Number II
forms afr gone Though h. SOM" II which would
lot bear publlCatlun, and Ia, L,uphy ,e swrarS
To IelouL.o all h. relatives and rccosnl2c no
authority but the Ma Ma, TIN, dom h. brcum, f,
a member Oi tn Hung famll! No. Is nov taken
10 NE third gate, NnrIt hr receives all the sr,ftt
IS gone through. thu lew ment'r finally running
me gauntlet Il the old ncmbc's who. II ihcy
recognize HIM H. having ever worked against
ID" society, have lh" night 10 ,likc hIm down.
Some norices are nearly killed IN this u.dral.
and those suspected of bong MauchU SPECS are
killed, but, as a rule, though we'll oraIcn, thr
novice stands the ordeal and becomes a full
member nf = society THAI "ltlucs ihr Nafa
They have ~ many sIgus aud secret word,
mat 1t IS dlllrull 10 Keep track OF them Once
| was an Interpreter IN the courts u San Francisco
aud ! know many Of them from studying this
secret ntual. As all example. at what appears
TO b, all Innocent TIA parS the dishes or cups
VIII be 50 set that Ih?y tell n story TO raru NJ, NJ Drg.
me cups may he placed ~ a position To spell the
lame hung, or = membcr may Civ a GlsnHl To-
another by III" way he nolds ms cup ii you
arc dHnkIng tG ,hlth a lOt 81 ChI.anru and So
some drink by taking the edge 81 he cup between
The thumb and ~" iirst fnGctS, you can wage
that they belong 10 the Chcc kung, as thai Is
lhur secret sign. II in Walking through u crowd
you 'etl a lhumb and two fingers pressed steadily
against you! you may know that II is a Ratchet
BOY 81 the ! &c Hing throwing cut the three
rornered Sal sign. II you return II h." thinks
You are membcr audli OH waited aid m putuug
a mau out 81 the way he wound feel hlmS'lI
Obliged to h,l you. II ihr;r il , fight Ia the strtt
you want TO go for III" men who hayc their queues
twisted from lett Ia right, aud You will 'aId n
We. Hung man every nn'.
In the secret rtual diAcJvcrrd was long series
81 words iElCndOd To deceive. Thus, II y mem
her was ordered To- Kill a certain Policeman he
WAS told 10 wash The body OF So and go \ rife
was known as a big Jog. 4 revolver As u puppy;
poSder and lead az dog feed. The chinese aIc
very clever and they seek to give the impression
That their society with its signs and pa sswurds
IL like our Masonry; and when the ntuAl was DIS
covered they said that u wGs an ancient book 81
ages ago; but tho society Of today has absolutely
nothing in common with Masonry, as any honest
Chinaman will tell You, being a band Of outlaws
hat houflshes by murder. blackmail and other
crmos, ana Is com posed IN america Of outlaws
the society works IN America, some years ago
the Rev. j. j.. Gardiner Of Nictoud began a war
fare against the sale Of Chinese women. and made
himself 80 offensive 10 the Chinese that the local
branches Of the Chez kung Tong decided To kill
him, and one Lum Hip vas appointed TO do the
deed. But tho clergyman had friends among thr
Chinese and The tables were turned. The would
found a small arsenal Including armor, knives
and reviewers, showing that he Was a Professional
murderer and had probably put many n man out
VI the way. The most interesting discovery,
however, Was II letter taken from the mans
pocket being nothing less lhau his Instructions
IRON. the Victoria society, showing that he was a
regularly enlisted soldier IN the army Of The society.
Here's a copy Of the letter, which is a curiosity: !
The letter read as fellows
TO Lum Hip, .SOid RED Soldier;
III is well known that plans aud schemes OF
government are the work Of the learned holders
~ the seal; while 10 oppose foes, fight battles.
and plant Arm government, is thu work Of tho
Ia Il.-. -. -..l- III a. 400 l