Evening star., 1903-08-29
HIGHBINDERS.
Christianized Chinaman Tells of Ini-
tiation Methods.

From the Sa-- Francisco Newsletter
Few people, even in San Francisco, have a
correct idea of the Chinese highbnder and
the cause of the frequent wars in the Chi
nese quarter. The word highbinder is per-
maps, Iocalism, and it has no especial
meaning. 1t was applied by the police to
the societies of Chinese assassins because
they dld not know the names of the socie-
tes. According to the statements of
Chrlstlanlzed Chinese to one of the mission
teachers there are In this city several such
societies, with membership of from fifty
to perhaps two hundred each. They have
names indicating that they are bands of
brotherhood but the members are profess
slonaI aSSaSSlnS and will kill any one for
pay.
They are bound by oaths, like the car
ponarl OF Italy, and traitor meets death
at the hands of one of the members who
is selected by lot. The organizations differ
IN DETAIL but the main object of all is the
same-to rob and murder. The organization
OF one OF the largest highbinder societies in
the ChlneSe quarter is partly described by
this Chrstianized Chinaman. who was GER
talnly a member, but who said that his
cousin told him. They are a chief a sec
ond chlef, secretary an 'introducer'' and
elght SWordsmen. The candidate for admis-
sion unplats his queue indicating his alb
1ect submission to his superior officers
he IS then led into the room by the official
lntroducer, red robe is thrown over him
and he is required to kneel under an arch
of eight swords One of these swordsmen
places the blade of a sword upon the back
of candidates neck as an indication of his
tate II he betrays his associates. The chief,
dressed in red, sits on a small platform
which is draped in the same color and to
his right is the book containing the oaths
passwords and signs of the order 1t is said
lew years ago the police captured one of
these books and had it translated The So
clety then 3GOOta5 uI,
are number of oaths the principal one
plhdlng the members to obey the orders of
the society without question, and the rules
prescribe penalties for refusal
When the candidate is taking the oath
ms hnger is pierced with a needle and the
ploou drops into glass of wine held by
the member who stands sponsor for him
They both drink from this glass signifvine
that they are of the same society and of
the same blood relationship" The grips
ana passwords are then communicated to
MN, and he Is now fullfiedged highbinder
AN assassin for pay.
w hen the society receives a commission
to XIII man good hatchet man is select
ed to do the bloody work. Or if it is a war.
the society details number of it's best
shots. The blood money goes into the COM
mon fund and is used for the defense of
criminals, care of the wounded and pen
slohs II sent to the state prison. The sur
plus Is divided according to the rank and
services rendered. If a highbinder is killed
the society gives him large funeral sends
ms bones to China and pays his family a
small pension. society VIII not abandon
any OF its members in trouble, and will fee
a lawyer as long as it has a dollar or can
get funds by forced loans or threats of as
sassination.
These societies levy tribute upon mer-
chants, and if not paid robbery or perhaps
ASSASSINATION follows. They terrorize the
deprdVed women and collect from them
sums weekly; also from the owners of these
women If the owner refuses to be black
mailed they steal or forcibly take one of his
women and hold her for a reward or sell
her TO some other bagnio keeper Some
ufnes the bagnfo keeper hires a rival So
clety to protect his dens. Then there is war
between two highbinder societies
When one society invades the district of
another war is the result The rival
bands OF outlaws have the Chinese quarter
divided, and it Is violation of treaty to
piunder or murder in each others territory
The gaming houses also steady source
OF revenue, paying agreed sum weekly
TO be let alone The highbinder societies are
terror to the merchants, who would glad
ly see them driven out of the city Then
peace would reign in the Chinese nuarter