The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-01


~. federal authorities In Seattle are
about satisfied that an underground rail-
80 established by Chinese engaged In
&. husIness OF smuggling their unregis-
go countrymen into the United States
100 through this city. There is every
kk.xsss,ton that the hundreds OF Chinese
,ara~s,s raptured by the customs officers
~ deported 10 china each year from the
n-<sdr coast are landed on British soil.
s..,,v~,ed across the Canadian border and
,shsn 10 various cities and towns in the
usst by precisely the same method that
runaway negro slaves were assisted In
,t1lr Night from the Southern plantations
Il he free soil OF Canada by Northern
.hctitionists In ante-beilum days.
vsar]y ali the Chinese struggled across
~ border from Victoria and Vancouver.
- customs officers say. make their way
4, foot from Blaine to this city and even
further souih, and travel by night In or
~ 10 avoid the Chinese inspectors who
~ employed By the government to watch
n. trains coming south from the inter-
national boundary.
IN this city and Tacoma and more rare
4 A. smaller cities north OF Seattle. the
chinese who are smuggling themselves
"A take steamers and go to Olympia. from
which place. the officers who have inves-
:Isated the matter say they again take
IA the Hdrt' road and walk 10 the Co
!smsa river. where they board steamers
a. email way ports and go TO Portland.
Once In Portland the struggled Chinese.
Ma matter how green" he may be. Is
rafe. That city Is the Mecca OF the Chi
nese IN the Northwest and the main dis
,rihniine point for Chinese labor. All the
rannerifs Of the Puget sound and the Co
lumbia river are supplied with help by
Portland Chinese firms which. II Is al
legged directly or indirectly aid Chinese
who are not entitled to remain In this
tauntry under the Geary act to come here
uader forged certificates of registration.
OF late years thriving business has
een done In the forgery OF these certif-
cafes In every case a genuine certificate
Il used. being altered to suit the indi-
yidual taking II. In some cases where the
chirese 10 whom the certificate was
issued and the new owner are alike IN per-
sonAl appearance. the certificate is not
altered at nil. The Chinese call the GER
tincaie ''ehowchee and each celestial
guards his paper with jealous care.
Deputy Marshal Stringer, of this city.
obtained proof Of the existence OF the un-
defgfound railroad last week by the ar
rest of two Chinese for being unlawfully
IN the country The nnlucky Mcngoians
we're found on board OF the steamer Multi
nofnah AZ she Was about 10 sail from her
dock In this city They were absolutely
unable TO speak a word ~ English and
even looked blank when Strnger shouted
'eh0w-chee" repeatedly and indicated by
signs that he wished 10 see their ccrtiH-
rates
AZ the time stringer was on his way to
NfSeiis island with number Of Chinese
fcfTers destined for the United States
rsnitentiary. hut delayed his departure
nng enough TO search the two Oriental
tAyelefs and arrest them upon finding
nem ~ Possession OF forged certificates
Through an interpreter he learned that
hcy were bound for Olympia and had
come from Victoria.
10th Chinese we're sWnddiei with cloth
px One wore six suits with a rough
eoAt and pair Of averalis for outer gar
mfn's, IN nearly every case, 81 is said.
he smugp.ed Chinese are found wearing
many suits Of clothing Ii Is claimed Inv
soine that coming from a warmer eli
mat and being forced in order to avoid
suspicion TO travel by night, they burden
themselves with clothes to keep out the
sold Others believe that tho travellers
a'spense with trunks and valises hy nut.
nnE Their entire waidrohea on their backs
There u also a possibility that the super
nueus clothing Is worn for the purpose
% smusEling II into this country
United states Attorney Gay. during the
~ ~. w months has done a great deal 10
wy the smuggling OF Chinese by prose-
vuink Tor fofIerY all Chinese caught in
.hs country under forged certificates. He
nss obtained number Of convictions in
sueh cases Until recently smuggled Chi.
sese Mere merely depOrted whether having
aeftsd certificates or none at all