Amador ledger., 1901-07-19
CHINATOWN AGAIN
Attempt Made tosBlow Up
a Building.
Such Proceedings are Denounced by
All Good Citizens, who Hope the
Perpetrators be Caught.

The slum berlpg residents OF jackson
were startled about one o'clock Thurs
day morning by loud explosion, ac-
companied by the sound of falling tim
bers. 1t proved to be q dastardly
effort to blow up frame building that
was in process of erection on the site of
the lately destroyed Chinatown. 1t
was being built by the Chinese store
keeper, who at the time OF the explo-
sion was absent in San Francisco.
Since the fire there has been consider
able talk about the Chinese rebuilding.
Some steps were made toward buying
the lots, but these came TO naught.
Nevertheless, there was strong feel
ing manifested against the upbuilding
of another Chinatown on the main
business street, and tho great bulk Of
the property. holders would have sane
toned any legal methods TO avert such
a calamity. a few days ago, a frame
building-a fac silnile of tho old
structures--was commenced in the very
center of the Chinese area of the burn
ed district. To get gid of this, and
probably to scare them from further
efforts to rebuild, the dynamite plot
was devised and execut ed. 1t was so
bungliugly done, however, as to almost
totally fail of its purpose. Four sticks
of giant powder were selected as the
instruments of destruction. The build
ing stood several feet from the ground.
a stick of powder was placed on the
floor at each corner. The one at the
north cast corner exploded, and caused
the racket that startled the town. 1t
blew a hole about one by three feet in
flooring, and shattered one of the floor
ing joists somewhat, also loosened a
number of the boards on the sides, but
left the building practically intact.
The sides of the building we're all up,
but no roof on. The other three sticks
of powder failed to explode. and there
by the complete collapse of the
structure was avoided. Two of the
caps, however, went off. The party or
parties who undertook this dangerous
business, had evidently got nervous,
and fed after simply firing the long
fuses, without waiting long enough to
insure an explosion. AS it was the
shock of the explosion blew out the
glass in the windows across the street
Miss Gass's millinery establishment,
and the undertaking parlors-which
had previously been cracked by the
heat of the fire. Nearly every nail
driven in the dynamited building was
loosened.
This midnight ,attack upon property
by means OF dynamite is condemned on
all sides. The Chinese interested have
been sending messages to San Fran
cisco about the affair. It is reported
that the matter will be laid before the
Chinese consul in San Francisco, with
the view OF taking action to obtain re-.
dress. While there is good deal of
idle talk going o. .1e cannot hear of
anything definl5e being accomplished
in fastening this crime upon the guilty
parties. 1t is freely mooted around
that the circumstances are such that
it would not require extraordinary de-
tective skill to get to the bottom OF
this business. The dynamite process
of getting rid Of real or imaginary ills
cannot be countenanced in an intelli-
gent community. The hand that fired
the bomb against Chinese property to-
day, will have little regard for other
property. In any event, the China
mans pDperty is entitled to the same
protection of law as the white mans
domicile.
1t is rumored that detectives in the
employ Of the Chinese are to be sent
here to ferret ont this plot. Let them
come, and If they come, we hope the
citizens, for the reputation OF the town,
will render all the assistance they can
in getting to the bedrock of this crime.