Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-04-15
Chinese; Native Montanan,
Has Seen Stirring Times

An elderly Chinese, who was
born in Virginia City " years ago
and who has lived his entire life
within an era bounded by Virginia
City, Dillon and Butte, is conval-
escing in the Silver Bow county
hospital. Jou Jung is one of the
imperturbable Orientals who has
lived alone from boyhood and yet
has not known loneliness. He seems
to consider his life an uneventful
one but for two or three personal
events-eventS which stand out in
sharp relief In his memory which has
not been dimmed with the passing Of
years.
He was born NOV. %, 1852, in the
recollection was Of his mothers death
when he was six years old. His father
died soon after and the Asiatic youth
was left alone but for a few Chinese
friends.
When he was IS years old he started
earning his own living. He recalls he
and another Chinese youth we're re-
quired to saw lots Of wood from great
big pieces, cut them up and stack
work for two children who were al
lowed no SurceaSe from unsympathetic
white masters and they had to work
long hours.
Next Job I'm Kitchen
His next job was In the kitchen. The
job paid only So or SO week" awfully
poor wages" he said without resent
ment.
A tong war broke out in 1882. Jou
Jung does not know what started it.
He does not know, even, which tongs
were warning. It Is not that he cannot
remember, he simply wasn't told. His
green" and being an oriental respectful
Of his elders, he didn't inquire further.
He was advised to leave Virginia City
for his safety.
Jou Jung Travelled only so far as to
be out OF the sphere of warning tongs.
It was a small camp about five miles
or so out of Virginia City. He stayed
there q few months and then went
to Dillon. There was no town there
then. He lived on a small tract of land
IN an improvised shelter. 1t afforded
him only the bare necessities Of life.
He went there because he had visited
the area briefly several times before
and liked It,"
After some time he returned to vir-
ginia City, hoping to make fortune
In placer mining. He, as many other
Chinese In the mining business, found
no riches, only enough to live. Some
times that pretty poor"
Finds Haven IN Dillon
He gave up mining and In the nine
ties returned to Dillon. There he found
q haven from the uncertainty and vag-
aries OF life in Virginia City. He be-
came a truck gardener
OF his life In Virginia City there
was not much which he considered out
standing. He Witnessed none Of the
events for which Virginia City is his
toricaIly famed. He heard Of the hang
ines of road agents, he heard Of shoot
fnQs. of tong wars; he saw Virginia
City grow from mining camp OF
about 500 into q fair sized CITY, but
only his mothers death and the tong
wars remain In his memory as events
Of importance.
money and he spent 1t for awhile.
"Too much" he said, In referring to
his spending. There was gambling
and games for Chinese all the time"
He does not say when he stopped visit
ing other Chinese, but he mentions
living much 10 himself for some time,
and saving money-money winch ne
hid away Ia his home.
Robbed Several Times
Between 1915 and 1919 there came
a series OF events the memory q Wnlcn
stirred him out Of his CAIN 90 was
robbed several times, two OF Snree
times bv lad men who beat ms, hit
me about tho head and knoc&@o me
10 floor. Th@y tonk es.0uo ons sszn@.