The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03
NO CHlNK THERE.
Force of Government Officials
WayIay Freight Car.
Come to Topeka From st Louis
for This Purpose.
ON TRAIL OF CHINESE
Expected to Find Them Secret
cd in a Car.
Reported That They We're Being
Struggled From Mexico.

Five big government officers from
| st. Louis and a detachment of Rock
Island railroad officials formed in
battle line and marched down in the
Rock Island yards this morning about
9 O'Clock. Besides the unnecessary
firearms in their hip pockets and the
| blazing stars under their coats the
| officials were armed with roll after
| roll of government red tape and per-
mits. The assistants among the Rock
Island officials carried the necessary
Rock Island tape" and war was de-
| clared.
All of the prominent United States
| authorities and immigration officers
were assembled for the purpose of
opening in due form and military
regularity an innocent looking red
freight car which stood in the lower
| local yards. 1t had been reported
| M Stly by the Kansas City Journal
that a car load of Chinese had been
struggled on a Rock Island car across
the borders by a custom officer who
had performed the deed for the small
sum of $500 head. This car had
been passed along from station to sta
ton but it was flying along under the
American flag, represented by govern
ment and custom seals and not man
dared to touch 1t. The presence of
the smuggled car was known all along
the line of the Rock Island and en-
gineers hauled it with a pride never
exceeded by a presidents special,
switchmen Kicked it around the
yards as they would a car of dyna-
mite and the small boy checkers"
placed their initials under the chalk
marks with the pride of a foreign
nobleman.
When it arrived in Topeka this
morning it was met by government
officers under the commandery of
Henry H. Moler, the head inspector
of the United States immigration SER
vice, who makes his headquarters in
st. Louis He was accompanied by
the official Chinese interpreter, Wing
Tung and a number of other officials
who were required to be present at
the ceremony.
This brass collared" regiment con-
stituted the reception line around the
freight car this morning and with an
opening prayer by officer Moler, the
official seal breakers were conducted
to the car doors by the pages among
the railroad officials. A fash of a
sealer, a jerk of the handle under the
precious government seal, and a strug-
gle for the pieces. Then a push pull,
haul and pound and the door, flew
open. The officers stood back with
drawn swords expecting to see a
battle line of the Chinks rush from
the opening and pounce upon the
brave defenders of the red white and
blue. But not a sound was heard
Then without any regard for his val
ued life and with nothing but re-
gard for his great country, the marshall
OF the day advanced to the door and
while his fellow officers stood aghast he
peered into the cold dark entrance.
Then another peer. Still no sound.
At this juncture the Chinese inter-
prefer spoke out in his native tongue
and with a rattle and a ping he cha1-
lenged the terrors within. Still silence
reigned. Not until after a prolonged
discussion and plan of advancement
did the immigration officers make an
other move and then they boosted a
railroad man, because he would know
the car, into the dark opening and the
result was awaited. A thorough search
and strict examination was made and
when the railroad man appeared at the
doorway he reported nothing doing. The
government officers supplemented his
search and gave out a similar verdict
nothing doing. Then the seals were ia
ken from the car, new ones replaced
way bills examined, numbers taken,
and the innocent car which had been
arrested on the charge of vagrancy was
released by the help of the kind and
considerate switch engine and given
orders to leave the city.
An after dinner party was held at
the Rock Island freight Office just af-
ter the investigation and for an hour
the railroad and government officials
compared notes and made out their re-
ports to their respective "heads." Ev-
cry move, every action, every word and
every experience was put into writing
and sent on to Washington where the
servants of Uncle Sam were awaiting
with anxiety the report sent from Sen
sational Kansas.
1t was believed by the ST. Louis Of
ficers that the story a myth. Mr..
Moler said that he placed the blame on
the newspaper reporters for the wild
goose chase. Then turning to a State
Journal reporter he said:
1T appreciate the fact that this will
make a good story for you but please, |
for Gods sake, use few of the facts
YOU get a hold Of If these newspaper
reporters would use at least one fact, !
a lot of this sensational stuff could
have a sign of a foundation"
It was of the opinion of the Off |
GERS that the action of the custom in
spector in Ell Paso in making such |
hasty request to the government was |
wrong He should have laid the car |
out and awaited further orders or |
taken the matter in his own hands |
and made an inspection. 1t is said |
that he claims to have heard the chat |