Year: 1870

AeCNOAI $tuSIlCGs


A species of civil dudgeon." or internal
disturbance took place among the Chinese
sojourners at the Millaudon plantation
commencing on Saturday, and terminat-
ing on Sunday night. The whole thing
would not equal an ordinary grog-shop
row and, Invested of an immensity of
Chinese gesticulation and fanfaronade, ap-
pears to have been very small potatoes
or rather, small cabbages, for it was in a
great degree about that desirable "fruit"
that the trouble began. John China
mans ardent desire to get the best in
bargain has already been noticed, and this
disposition to mend his grip is undoubted-
ly at the bottom of the whole affair. The
Cinnamon who are at work on the Millau-
don plantation were brought from. San
Francisco to New Orleans (under con-
tract) by MIR. F. w. Gardner, But it ap-
pears that certain San Francisco Chinese
merchant-Cum-W Wing-(we don't know
whether to style him mister or esquIre)
acted as broker IN the business, he con-
tracing with the Cinnamon, while Mr..
Gardner contracted with him. The con-
tract made is very specific; Cinnamon are
to work month of twenty six DAYS for
fourteen dollars in gold, and daily rations
OF two pounds of fresh meat, two pounds
OF rice, and one-third of an ounce of tea
the ration to be, at the option of the
Cmnese, commuted for twenty cents in
gold. The contract also provides that
they shall not work less than FIVE and a
half days per week, which would be twen-
ty-two days per month it being obvious
that if they contracted to do twenty-six
days work for fourteen dollars, a less num-
her Of HaUS uO11lH oil L, r
money. There appears to be little doubt
that the Chinese have been influenced bv
some of their own eountrymen who are
longer residents here, and who visited the
plantation at different times, and that
these Influences led to the misunders. and
ing, and to the demands made by them
subsequently to the making of their con-
tract. They appeared to think that in
this land flowing with milk and honey
they could get almost anything they chose
to ask. So, at the end of the first weeks
work, neighborly gardener brought to
the plantation bill for cabbages, melons,
&c, which, the gardener stated, had been
bought by the Chinese head man for the
use OF his countrymen. AS the men re-
celved their full wages and the full rations
agreed upon, the proprietor. Mr.. Merrill,
very naturally refused to do more than he
had contracted to do. The propriety of
this refusal is evident from the circum-
stance that the Chinese made a subsequent
demand OF lot of ground (ten acres)
whereon to grow cabbages and other vege-
tables and fruit they consumed, however,
to be paid for by the plantation When
firmly expostulated and reasoned with,
they seemed disposed to recede from the
demands they had made beyond what the
contract called for. But the working for
only five days and half seemed to be the
one item that troubled them, and it ap-
peared to be impossible for them to un-
derstand this IN proper light. They
somehow entertained the notion that,
while they got pay only for the five days
and half (the amount of time they work
ed), the Chinese contractor, Cum Wing,
got pay tor the half day necessary to COM
plete the six days, and put it N his own
pocket Hence there existed among them
feeling of distrust and dislike toward
Cum Wing. 1t Is proper to say that at
no stage of the disturbance did the China
men entertain the least feeling of dislike
or want Of confidence in Mr.. Merrill. On
the contrary, they admitted that he was a
good and upright gentleman, who was de-
sirous of doing everything in his power to
make them comfortable and to comply
with his agreement. Their sole ill-wiil
was against their own countryman, the
Chinese contractor, who, they supposed,
had represented the contract to be differ
ent from what it really was. And now
comes the denouement On Sunday ev-
enlng Cum-Wlng visited the plantation,
and was invited to dinner While sitting
at table number of Chinese were seen
approaching the house. Three or four of
their representative men came forward
and requested Cum Wing to go with them
to their quarters. Cum Wing declined to
do this whereupon the Chinese rushing
upon him forcibly seized him and carried
him to their quarters. No violence seems
to have been thought of against, or trou-
BILE with the white folks They had been
led, they thought, by Cum Wing to ex-
pect more than they were getting. They
seemed to think that by getting hold of
the person of the Chinese contractor they
could force him to accede to the terms
they proposed for themselves and then
that he, by turning a screw or Lulling a
string, or IN some other way, could cause
Mr. Merrill to accede to these terms,
whatever they might be. Several circam-
stances led to the conclusion that they
contemplated no violence, even to the lin
their opinion) janus-faced contractor -
However, the police were sent for, and
twenty-five men of the force, headed by
two sergeants, arrived at the place. They
at once released Cum Wing, and arrested
fourteen OF the Chinese who had been
most prominent in ferocious gesticulating
and posturing when Cum Wing was seized
on. The parties arrested We're locked up
IN what Is known on the plantation as the


servants room" 1t was only when a
demonstration was afterward made to res
cue the prisoners that a slight degree of
antagonism took place between the Chi
nese and the police The Chinese soon
became convinced that the policemen had
the strongest medicine" and quietly sub
mitted. Yesterday morning at 10 o'clock
the prisoners were released, upon a prom
lse made by the others that there should
be no more trouble, for they seemed now
to understand the true state of the case,
and the unreasonableness of the demands
they had been making Mr.. Merrill then
offered to make a new contract, but after
consultation among themselves the Chin
ese concluded that the original contract
would sufficiently answer the purpose and
perfectly secure their rights They agreed
to go to work (all hands, at once, but ON
account of the rainy day the labor was
postponed. and they will go to work this
morning. It is only right to these strang-
ers to say for them that they treated eve
ry one on the plantation with the utmost
courtesy the only exception being in re-
gard to Cum Wing They carry no arms,
and are by no means either ferocious or
bloodthirsty. As they said through their
interpreter, they did not come here to
fight; they contended only::for the right,
as they understood it. After all, the
whole affair was no more than what hap
pens every day in the year between par
ties each taking view of his own right
different from that taken by the other
contestant