The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-05-09
CHINATOWN In San FRANCISCO.
Unknown Section in the Midst of a Populous City

None of the incidents connected
with the earthquake and devastating
fire in San Francisco interested me
more than the holocaust that took
place in Chinatown. For vcars this
locality has been a suspicious place to
the white population Of San Francisco.
Because it was such suspicious To-
cality there had been widespread OPP
position to Chi.csc Immigration. No.
body outside the shacks could tell
how many were lodged there, or what
they were doing. 1t was an unknown
ection in the midst Of populous
city. The most dreadful things were
suspicioned as to highbindcrs, who
were law unto themselves in dealing
With their own race of people. 1t has
been said thousand times that wo.
men and girls were imported from
China for the basest purposes, because
they were secreted somewhere in Chi
natown and subjected to the most
fearful degradation and sensual usos.
occasionally poor creature, stung to
Eashnes6 by her sufferings and impris-
onment, would escape Ber isilers and
the stories they told were horrifyiug.
Doubtless It was the scum that left
China TO seek work in Celifornie.
They had no respect for the women
before they came, aud, Of course, none
after they got here. A more degraded
existence cannot be imagined chan
that Of poor girl bought for vile
purpose and imprisoned for life, to
such o miserable fate.
Earthquakeo arc no respeoter of per.
sons-and FIRE will level million
aires palace ae we'll ns the begger's
hovel.
Tho early hour Of the day, when San
Francisco began to quake and tremble
uuderfoot, doubtless found scores OF
prisoners many feet under the earth.
Some persone, giving an account Of
the terrible scenes later on, said there
were found to be holes hundred feet
deep underground, with tunnels run.
ming in all directions, and dense smoke
oomiDg OUT Of tho holes On the top Of
the ground.
How many were caught like rats
and roasted to death may never be
counted or called for. Perhaps the
holes were not shaken down by the
earthquake, but tho 6rey furnace over
the holes would be quite enough to
cook and einder the last one Of che
poor prisoners when there was no vent
hole for escape. It seems utterly hor-
sibie 70 shipk about, but even In this
disaster IL is o pleasing recollection
that these poor prisoners will be re.
.leved Of the sad fate TO which they
had been condemned by their pur.
ehssers aud ceptoys, snd wete able 20
1ip out Of il aii.
II 10 also believed that death by
sufoeation IL quick and leos painful
than che effect Of: Eamss on conscious
<ypssSsQp.I, W. may hope .bsEs 10 . mer.
eiful Providsnes iA sash dlsastsss 90 !
Azeess te!l=e; veees!ee I'D saass!sss
Afes brought to people when uucou.
Acioushess intervenes and tho sufferer
dies before the agony ia intensified by
"A full knowledge Of the awful fate to
uhioh they are doomed.
II Chinamen own the soil in China
town 1t is right and just that they
should be given leave to rebuild or to
own or TO cell, but it is ques,ion Of
sanitation, decenoy and morality aB to
whether they should ever again ,up.
mel under The oity aud imprison human
beings In Can Francisco.
What will be foundsin those deep
holes when tho hre cools down and tho
ashes are raked amopg, We, Of course,
cannot tell, but the Imagination Of all
readers, when they read Of the burned
cut holes under Chinatown is obliged
to be active and full Of forebodings as
60 aceg'mulating horrors, when every