The Washington times., 1911-03-22
immigration Agent Says
Struggled CelestiaIS Have
Been Hidden.
SEARCH OF LAUNDRY
FAILS TO FIND THEM
Elders Deny knowledge of Their
Observation-Disclosures
Continues.

That Lee Wang and Lee King, the
two Chinese boys believed to have been
smuggled into this country through the
port of San Francisco, have been spr-
tied out of Washington by the adoption
of the underground railway tactics OF
slavery days, Is the belief of immigra-
tion authorities, who, as officials for
the Department of Commerce and Labor,
this morning attempted to cause their
arrest.
At noon today it was reported at the
immigration offices that hope of arrest
ing the twelve-year-old boys had been
abandoned because the Chinese Of this
city, apparently, had adopted an ''end-
less chain" arrangement to spirit them
away.
One of the boys was located at the
laundry of Ying Lung, l2O7 II street
northeast, early this morning, but when
the place was entered with a policeman
a few minutes later the boy could no,
be found. A search beneath the Coun-
ters and of every conceivable hiding
place failed TO disclose the missing lad 5
whereabouts.
Hind Lung said he had been taken to
his father at 325 Pennsylvania avenue
northwest, and attempts were made to
locate him there and at number 323
but the Chinese there said they did not
Enow the boy, and that his father did
lot live there.
Hing Lung processes profound ign0-
rance. when confronted with the asser-
ton that the two boys were Smuggled
into this country. He says that only
one Of the boys named worked for hirl
80 his laundry.
Law Onficer A. w. Parker, Of the
Naturalization and immigration BT-
there are two.
Carefully Guarded.
Speaking CT the manner of tie
Chinese in getting The boys out of reach
Of The law. he said they would be so
carefully guarded that there would be
no possibility of getting a hold OF them.
Premature publicity, he said. hindered
the Government agents in their work.
According 10 the advice received by
'hr immigration authorities, the boys
paid Sl.eOD to gain admittanCe TO this
country. If such is the case. the au-
thuritics say that fact is prima factC
evi'enCe they paid to be smuggled into
the United States. The Government fee
is 81 a head.
When the immigration authorities
here took uD the investigation, an eS-
;ablishcd precedent was ignored. it be-
ing realized that immediate action was
imperative II the two boys were TO bc
apprch"nded. Ordinarily all 0nYestlEa-
Iinn for this district Is done by the Bal
timCre office, only reports to that office
being made f. ON here.
Before hopes of making the arrests
authority Of Assistant Secretary BenJa-
min Cable, of the Department of Com
mcrCe and Labor, made a statement out
lining the steps that had been taken.
Hard to Detect.
"Our investigation started early this
morning. said Mr.. Parker. IF we ind
rcasrn to believe these boys have been
brought into this country unIawfully ar
rests will follow. 1t Is not unusual for
Chinese to bring their native country
men into this country under the guiSe of
students or as minor sons of merchants.
Some small Chinese boys are even
brought in under the seats of cars, or
carried over the line in box cars. once
here, they are put to work in laundries
or in restaurants. If we should get
these two boys We will endeavOr to iden-
Jify them by the records in the depart
mcnt."
II it * impossible TO identify them in
this way il will pC known that the Chi
nose wer" not smUgCled in under some
preteTt, hut we're brought into the Coun-
tIv secretly.
Trouble which arose over the proposed
sale of the Quenes cut from the head of
the two twelve-year-OId Chinese boys is
said TO have heen the means OF attract
ing the Immigration officers attention
10 their presence in this country 1t is
said the uncle for whom the boys are
working tried 10 get them to sell their
UHcncs. but they, being loyal to the tra
ditiOns Of their native land, protested, |
and finally refused outright.