The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-27

on the 6HGEL EOTntTHs where private
tips as to the approaching dates, etc,
were announced in ambiguous terms
which conveyed exact information to
the initiated. but left a very different
impression on the unsuspecting public
and the police. For instance, yellow
Legs will be in the market on the 10Th
Of the moon" OF Spotted Backs will be
for sale ora the goth" cotnld refer equally
well TO Canton ducks and feathered
games for the kitchen or TO a coming
prize-fight in the secret cellar.
Inspector Wallace of the Hong Kong
Police was sitting quietly in his Office
overlooking the blue waters of the har-
Dor, when the boy on duty appeared
at the door with the card OF the Rev.
Herbert Smalltree of the Union Mis-
sion and after presenting it to his
Chief. was told TO show the visitor in.
Mr.. Inspector" began the Mission
airy, after he had accepted the proffered
seat and had declined the equally cour-
teously proffered cigar. II come to see
you this afternoon. because my con-
science bids me do so. I have hesitated
for some time. because dislike to stir
up any trouble-especbally with the
Police Department for which 1 have
the greatest respect-but feel that the
time has now come when 1t is my re-
| ligious duty, both as a Christian man
and resident Of this community, to
report to you that a very serious breach
of the law is going on continually here,
right under you very eyes and without
any apparent effort being made by the
authorities to stop It"
"Indeedl Well. that is rather a
serious charge against us. Mr.. Small
I 7 n f1,s
SIR"
Il refer to prize fighting, Mr. wal
lace, and prize-hghting Of the most de-
grading and brutal kind. 1 spoke to
my friend Lord Dubbins OF Aberdeen
who, as you perhaps know. Is visiting
| in the Colony-about it yesterday and
he promised to bring it to the attention
| of Government House, when he called
there to-day"
IT am sorry that you did not report
it to me. sir, before you allowed 1t to
reach the ears OF the Governor, because
it may make serious and quite nnnec-
essary complications. Tell me now
exactly the facts as you know them,
being very particular. please, about
names and places. Just when and
where did this 'prize-fight', as you call
1t, take place? You have made a charge
against this department now, sir
continued the Inspector in a much more
serious tone. II demand that you pro-
duce your proofs and make 1t good. or
else apologize for It and withdraw IT."
That is just the trouble, SIR" replied
| the Rev. Smalltree, I'VE do not know
the exact place or even the exact date"
You do not know the place nor the
date?"
Unfortunately not. sir: all we know
! is that the fight took pIace--and that a
number Of similar ones have taken
place recent1y-and that up to the pres
ent time not a single line has appeared
in the public papers of any attempt on
the part of the police to arrest the par
| Elephants or to stop it,
I'VE do not publish all the transac-
tons Of the Department in the public
| papers. you know, until we think It wise
and expedient to do so. Publicity of
this kind sometimes acts as a very
| serious bar to getting justice done in
the case. Where do you imagine these
fights take placer"
| We'll. sir, when my attention was
first called to them, I thought they
probably took place in some native en-
/ closure Just outside the international
boundary but now am quite certain
that they are being carried on in some
secret spot right here in the Colony"
quite impossiblei Utterly absurd
sir!" exclaimed the Inspector as he
brought his closed fist down with an
emphatic blow upon the office table.
| There isn't a secret hiding place on
all the Island Of Hong Kong that could
possibly hold a crowd gathered for a
prize-fight. I know they have their
little 'rabbit-tunnels' as I call them,
where they burrow under the ground
and dig out a little hole for two OF
three to gamble in-we smoke 'em out
OF these every now and then-but the
idea Of their having a regular arena
hidden away somewhere IS quite impos-
sfble. repeat It sir, quite intpossibIei
But what Is your evidence-that's what
I want to get at-produce it. II you
have any"
The evidence. sir. is Of a hearsay
| nature"
~Ahi That's just what I supposed:
some foolish native story. I'll warrant %
Wait moment, please; the evidence
is, say. OF a hearsay nature. but Of a
kind that I have implicit confidence
| IN"
We'll out with It, then; who con-
cocted the yarn"
1T is no yarn at an, Mr.. Inspector, "
replied the Missionary slowly and very
seriously. at is the testimony OF a tried
and trusted assistant Of mine, whom I
would trust as soon as I would the
oldest European in the Colony"
well, what's the tale?"
! Listen Coming down from Canton
on the night boat last week, he occu-
pied a cabin next to two travellers who
kept up a running conversation until
after midnight, and the PARTITION being
fun OF cracks. he couldn't help over
hearing a good deal that they said"
Housekeeping as usual My gTa-
cious. the curiosity Of this people!"
We'll. sir, you know Europeans
sometimes have a little curiosity them
selves; but to proceed. he kept hearing
phrases nike these: They certainly
fought like demons The place was
packed with their supporters; They
were cfnched IN a death grip; They
sSsuaI1y had to pun them apart; etc.
Sto. Now. II that doesn't indicate fight
! ing Of the most brutal kind, what