The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-06
MASSACRBD IN AMERICA
Killing OF Cinnamon at Labor
Outbreak in Wyoming.
An Active Crusade Led by White
Men Against Employment of the
Heather in the Union Pacific Coal
Mines-an Incident That Led to
the Passage of the Exclusion Act.

the Passage of the Exclusion Act.
While the people of the civilized world
are looking with horror upon the slaugh-
ter of foreigners in Pekin and other parts
of the Manchu territory, it may be well
to recall the time in the United States, not
so very long ago, when the fat went forth
in the Western country that THE Chinese
must CO." Denis Kearney, the leader of
the "Workingman's Party" which had for
one of its fundamental propositions opposi-
tion to the. Chinese. began preaching his
doctrines on the sand-lots of San Francisco
in 1877. The crisis did not come, however,
until in September of 1885, when the Chin
ese massacre of Rock Springs. Wyoming,
on the Union Pacific Railway. stirred the
Government to action to protect the Chin
ese. and led to the passage Of the Chinese
exclusion act in 1883.
The Rock Springs trouble had its incep-
tion in an effort of the miners engaged in
the coal mines of the Union Pacific Railway
Company at that place to dictate terms
upon which the coal should be mined.
That was in November of 1875. The COM
pany's superintendent, now President
Clark, of the Union Pacific. refused to
grant the demand Of % per cent increase
in wages Instead. he made a contract for
the employment OF Chinese laborers, who
were given the same wages as had been
paid before to the white laborers. Within
sixty days 500 Cinnamon were at work in
the Rock Springs mines Gradually many
of the white men went back to work, pnt'l
ten years later there were 800 Cinnamon
and $50 white men. Then came the out
break.
From the columns of the "Kock Springs
independent the local paper, published
on September 5. 1885, the following ac
count OF the massacre is taken. AS it was
from paper which opposed the introduc-
tion of the Chinese, it must be considered
a faithful one.
Outbreak of the Trouble.
On Wednesday, September ., all the
Chinese in Rock Springs to the number
of eco were driven out of camp by the
long-suffering miners. The true story of
their expulsion is as follows:
The feeling against them has been get
ting stronger all summer. The fact that
the white men had been turned off the
sections, and hundreds OF white men were
seeking in vain for work. while the Chinese
were being shipped in by the carload and
given work strengthened the feeling
against them. It needed but little TO in
cite this feeling into an active crusade
against them and shat little came Wednes-
day morning at o'clock All the entries
at No. were stopped the first OF the
month and Mr.. Evans, the foreman,
marked of a number OF rooms in the
entries. In No. 3 entry eight Cinnamon
were working. and four rooms were
marked off for them. In No. 10 Mr..
Whitehouse and Mr.. Jenkins were working,
and Evans told them they could have
rooms in that entry or in No. IL or ..
They chose No. 5. and when they went to
work Tuesday. Dave Brookman, who was
acting as pit boss in Mr.. Francis absence,
told them to take the first rooms marked
of He supposed the Cinnamon had be-
gun work on their rooms and that White
house and Jenkins could take the next
rooms beyond them. But as the two first
rooms Of the entry had not been COM
menced. Whitehouse took one, not know
ing that they had been given 20 the
Cinnamon.
He went uptown in the afternoon and
in his absence the two Cinnamon came in
and went TO work in the room Whitehouse
had started Wednesday morning, when
whitehouse came TO work two Cinnamon
were in possession OF what he considered
his room He ordered them out but they
wouldn't leave what they thought was
their room. High words followed. Their
blows. The Chinese from other rooms
came rushing in, as did the whites, and a
fight ensusd with picks, shovels drills.
and needles for weapons The Cinnamon
were worsted four of them being badly
wounded. one OF whom has since died. A
number of white men were severely bruis-
ed and Cut. An attempt was made TO set
tie the matter. but the men were excited
and bound 10 go out. They accordingly
came ont. armed themselves with rifles,
shotguns. and reviewers TO protect them
selves from the Chinese, they said, and
started uptown. After coming through
Chinatown, they left their guns behind
them and marched down the front street
and dispersed about noon.
Gathering for the Attack.
In the mean time all was excitement in
Chinatown. The flag was hoisted as a
warning. and the Cinnamon gathered to
their quarters from all parts of the town,
being gently urged by chunks of coal and
brickbats from crowd OF boys. After
dinner ali the saloons were closed and
majority OF the men from all the mines
gathered in the streets. Most of them had
firearms, although knives, hatchets, and
clubs were in the hands OF some. 1t was
finally decided that John must go. then
and there; and the small army OF sixty or
seventy armed men. with as many more
stragglers. went down the track toward
Chinatown On the way they routed out
q number OF Chinese section men, who fed
for Chinatown, followed by a few stray
shots When the crowd got as far as No.
3 switch they sent forward a committee
of three to warn the Cinnamon to leave
IN an hour. Word was sent back that they
would go, and very soon there was a run
ming to and fro and gathering of bundles,
that showed that John was preparing to
move out. But the men grew impatient.
They thought that John was too slow In
getting out and might be preparing to
defend his position. In about half an hour
an advance was made on the enemy's
works. with much shooting and shouting.
The hint was sufficient. Without offering
any resistance the Cinnamon snatched up
whatever they could lay their hands on
and started east on the run. Some were
barehesded and barefooted others carried
a small bundle in a handkerchief. while
number had rolls of bedding They fed
like flock OF frightened sheep, scram-
bling and tumbling down the steep banks
of Bitter Greek. then through the sage
brush. and over the railroad and up into
the hills east of Burning Mountain Some
of the men were engaged in searching the
houses and driving out the stray Cinnamon
who were in hiding while others followed
up th+ retreating Cinnamon, encouraging
their digit with showers of bullets fired
over their heads.
Fired the Chinese stores
All Of the stores in town were closed. and
men. women. and children were cut watch
ing the hurried exit OF John Chinaman,