The Greeley tribune., 1905-02-23
WIERD SCENE
DEATH OF CHINAMAN WIT
MESSED BY O'CONNOR
Plenty of Fireworks to Scare
Away The "Devil'-The
Funeral was Held
Tuesday

Last Saturday when c. j. O'Con-
nor of the Oasis hotel was in Denver
he had an experience that has fallen
to but very few white men, at least
in Colorado. He was witness to
the death Of Chinaman, and the
Chinese ceremonials upon such an
occasion. So weird and ucanny were
the things that he saw, that MIR.
O'Connor says they will stay in his
memory as long as he lives.
Mr.. O'Connor called on a little
matter of business upon q. Hung, an
Americanized Chinaman, who may
be remembered as a resident OF
Greeley for some time. While talk
ing to Mr.. Hung Mr.. O'COnnor heard
the groans of person back of par
tition and to his inquiry was in
formed that it was cousin of Mr..
Hung who was dying from quick
consumption.
In the name, WI Kvong, Mr..
.O'Connor recognized Chinaman
with whom he was also we'll ac-
quainted, and asked If he might step
in and see the sick man. Being
granted permission he was soon along
side of Kvong who was lying upon
pallet, without pillow or covering,
breathing out his last few minutes.
Mr.. O'Connor returned to the office
and asked If nothing could be done
to relieve the poor mans suffering.
He was answered, He no good, him
die soon" Next Mr.. O'Connor
appealed to Mrs. Hung, and she
stated that they had called in two
American physicians during the
morning, but all that could be done
was to make the poor man as COM
Portable as possible as he could not
live more than day or so at the
most. Mr.. O'Connor again returned
to the sick man and finding some
rags in the room placed them under
his head, for which the poor man
looked his gratitude-he could no
longer speak. Again the self-ap-
pointed nurse visited the office and
tried to secure some cold water with
which to bathe the sufferers head.
This was denied him, so he went
back empty handed.
AS he reached the sick mans side
again that party was just making a
few last gasps, and Mr.. O'Connor
called Mrs. Hung, who gave a
startled little Cry when she saw the
end had come. At this it just fairly
rained Cinnamon. From every niche
and corner they swarmed forth and
commenced their wailings. Some
started certain kind of fire works,
and others burned joss sticks, while
all kept up the most wierd incanta
tion and song. All this, with the
drawn and haggard face of the dead
man, with his claw-like fingers sur
mounted by finger nails an inch
long, made one of the widest scenes
that the imagination of man could
picture.
In the midst of the scene MIR.
Hung came to Mr.. 0'Connor and told
him in a low voice that he had bet
ter go out in the other room. To
this he assented, but simply
slipped back to a corner and watched
the excitement, dodging the fire
that was flying all about the room.
Finally particularly old man, with
three burning joss sticks between
the fingers of each hand did some
kind of a Chinese dance about ::the
room, chasing imaginary devils out
of every corner, and the room seemed
to be cleared to the satisfaction of
all. Then MO 'Connor retired to
the front part of Q. Hung's establish
ment and waited there for about an
hour, while the wailing continued
unabated.