Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-02-10
AN EXPERIENCE OF
THE go" CLUB.


name on the register at the Castle ho-
tel, Charles A. White, The Hoop
tongs Circus.
Hale, the night clerk, recognized the
name OF the big circus instantly, and
IN an effort to be courteous he said:
You will find a most congenial
bunch of fellows here, sir. There are
many theatrical men, as well as print
ers on the morning newspapers, com
mission men from South Water street,
and, in fact, men from various call
ings, who make the Castle their
home. This bunch is known as the
Thirty Club and, while it is an I'M
chartered organization, 1t meets here
at midnight to while away two or
three hours. Come down tonight,
sir, and ! shall be glad to make you
acquainted"
Mr.. White came down about half
past H. As the prosp >.tive member
stepped from the elevator Hale met
him and ushered him forward as he
said:
| Gentlemen of the Thirty Club, al
| low me to introduce Mr.. White of the
| 'Hooptongs Circus He is newcomer
and l have rendered him an invitation
to Join the Thirty Club"
When the conversation turned to the
circus business White told few anec-
dotes about circus life, and no doubt
would have told more had it not been
interrupted by Chin Wah, Chinaman,
who entered at this time.
Chin Wah wore a broad smile. White
was surprised to see all the members
of the Thirty Club" dig up their peck
etbooks and hand over the amount the
Chinaman asked from each one. Chin
| checked off the money as he got it and
was bowling himself out when Little,
the foot racer, who was always late at
the Thirty Club" came in. AS the
door closed White remarked upon the
whole proceeding as bit strange
"Since you mention it," said Crowell,
sit does seem bit strange. But there
is a touch OF human interest in that
| Chinaman's relation to the Thirty
| Club Three years ago Humphrey, the
| restaurant man, was going home one
| night when he found that Chinaman
sitting down on the sidewalk a block
or so from here. The Chinaman ex-
| planned that he had slipped on the ice
and strained his knee and that he
needed assistance to get home.
Humphrey was not able to lift him
| alone, so came here and found the
Thirty Club in session. When he ex-
planned what he wanted we adjourned
| the meeting and took the Chinaman to
his little laundry around the corner.
Weaver, the reporter. who knows
many Of the Chicago Chinese, volun-
| teered TO take note to his brother.
| Chin Wah handed him a slip of red
paper which bore lot of black marks,
and an hour later Weaver returned
with Chin's brother. The Chinaman
had ordered cab and he was delight
ed to find some of us heating bricks to
put on the sprained knee.
| Under the Thirty Club Chin Wah
got around all right, and ever since
that time he has done our laundry
work He Is on the square TO a PEN
ny. Not one OF us questions what he
demands II anyone in the Thirty
Club Is broke and wants 10 borrow
nve or ten he goes to Chin Wah. And
the best OF 1t is, Chin has never lost
cent that way. He has place just
around the corner"
| That's singular" remarked White.
at is seldom Chinaman will lend his
money"
| We'll, Chin is all right There is
not a man in the crowd but would
| fight for him if he had TO. You will
| find"
| But the sentence was never finished.
The air was rent with wild scream.
| Chin Wah fled past the hotel Close
behind was another Chinaman. He
held something in one hand, and he,
| too, was yelling. He was running
close second TO Chin Wah. Visions of
assassination by highbinders flashed
into the minds of the Thirty Club"
Without waiting for hat or overcoat
they fed TO the street TO man and
took up the chase. The second China
man could not STAY any friend of the
Thirty Club"
The usual crowd of night hawks who
roam near the Castle hotel joined in
the chase. Chin Wah ran three blocks
and then stopped. He was exhausted,
thought the crowd and had given up
the race for his life. The second Chi
naman ran up to Chin Wah and also
stopped. Then came the Thirty
Club" punched like Derby feld. They
L grabbed the second Chinamap and
forced him against the patrol box. Lit
tie had his arm in grip like wise.
lockwood pinned him against the
patrol box door. They were ready to
handle him without gloves when Chin
Wah broke In:
What's the mollo you. He my
bluther. He no hurt me-"
What are you running for?" Choir
used the crowd.