CHAPTER XXxXll.

Tuer TAcoMA TROUBLE and Exopus.—‘‘ Straightforward statement signed hy
prominent citizens,""—[Which will apply as well to the exodus of the

Chinese at Seattle. |

‘ LvasmucH as many, acting on misinformation or actuated by male-
volence, have taken it in hand to assiduously misrepresent the facts con-
cerning the exodus of the Chinese from Tacoma, on the 3d of November,
1885, itis deemed advisable to place the facts as they exist before the
public. There was no insurrection, no mob seized the reins of govern-
ment or attempted to control the administration of the law, there was
no violence offered to the person, or damaye done to the property of a
single Chinamen, the people did not force open the doors or seize upon
or destroy the effects of the Chinamen, there was not a club, ax, knix,
gun, pistol or weapon seen or known to have been in the possession of
any of the parties who waited upon the Chinamen, their goods were
not thrown into the street, they were not driven out to an open prairie,
or left without shelter, there was not a Chinaman that died or that was
struck, not a single drop of Chinese blood was shed, not a single China-
man could show a bruise received from a white man,........ There was
no nois: or excitement; no harsh or cruel] troatment was manifested
toward the intruding people. Many of thom ‘ade their acquaintances
on the committee and in the crowd a friendly good-bye. So quiet was
it that many of the citizens did not know of the exodus until they read
of it in the city papers. During the day there was but one man seen
that was under the influence of liquor, and he was closely guarded.
On the morning of November 3d, the citizens assembled, organized
themselves into a committee and started for the various Chinese dens,
where the Committee of Fifteen, formally appointed by the public, ap-
peared and notified the inmates thereof that the time allotted for their
departure had arrived, and that the committee would aid them if they
wished to leave the city. The Chinamen, with few exceptions, began im-
mediately to pack their goods. A guard was placed over their places to

see that no one molested them, ‘Te “s# were furnished them without cost,
and their goods were trinsp: ‘ed to the nearest depot outside of the city.
A committee of citi with them and procured shelter for them for
the night. Food i wunce was sen fo them by the citizens. Every
kindness that the ci stances would permit of was shown them by all,

The social necessity thu’ requived their departure was not allowed to in-
terfere with the dictates of hi manity. To every Chinaman whose business
was such that he could not go, time was given. To those to whom any one
was indebted, every assistance that was possible was piven, to collect or get
their accounts secured. Some five weeks previous to their departure, a

(528)

ment signed by
exodus of the

sated by male-
the facts con-
Ll of November,
xist before the
eins of govern-
law, there was
e property of a
rs or seize Upon
elub, ax, knin,
he possession of
heir goods were
an open prairie,
died or that was
xt a single China-
teeketunt There was
; was manifested
ir acquaintances
e. So quiet was
s until they read
it one man seen
bsely guarded.
mbled, organized
lus Chinese dens,
y the public, ap-
allotted for their
aid them if they
tions, began im-
r their places to
em without cost,
tside of the city.
lter for them for
citizens. Every
pwn them by all,
bt allowed to in-
n whose business
to whom any one
n, to collect or get
heir departure, 4

Tue Tacoma Exopvs. 529

peaceable solution of the question was sought, and agreement was made to
pay the Chinamen for their immovables, They agreed to accept $2,500
and depart, but when the final arrangements were being completed, they
took a sudden change and refused to negotiate further, saying, that if
their property was destroyed they could get damages from the United
States Government.”

[And I noticed that September 24, 1888, a masonic senator “ offered
an amendment appropriating $276,000! for indemnity for outrages on
Chinese in the Territories; agreed to, the bill was then passed.”’

But the outraged white citizens have no recourse ; their ‘truth and
justice is buried, and fraud and guile succeed.”’]

“The Chinese houses in Tacoma were all the abodes of social sins,
opium dens and gambling holes. The burnt district consisted of a scant
half acre on the tide flats. In this small space, in low, compact huts, with
secret passage-ways in every direction, lived over 400 Chinamen,
with fifty-two hogs, and chickens and ducks unnumbered. Here were
stores, washhouses and restaurants ; here were many women, and only one
of whom had the dignity of being a wife. The origin of the fire in China-
town is unknown. Chinamen stated to various persons that they did not
care for their property, for if it was destroyed the [masonic] Chinese
Consul at Washington would make the Government pay them for it. That
the United States Government would reimburse them for whatever was
lost was a universal belief among them. The fire occurred two days sub-
sequent to their departure. Their goods and effects were nearly all gone;
the remnants were ready to leave on the morning train. The old shells
and dens were not worth $1,000, and the place where they stood was held
on sufferance. The health officer had inspected the place and wronounced
it the vilest spot he had ever examined used as a human habitation.

The parties indicted are all men of property, character, and social
worth. Of them three are merchants, three journalists, two retail butchers,
six carpenters and builders, three blacksmiths, one draughtsman, two
plumbers, one photographer, one brickmason, one shoe manufacturer, one
farmer, one moulder, one boat builder, one civil engineer, and one lawyer.
They include the Mayor of Tacoma, two of the city council, the Probate
Judge of Pierce county, the Chief of the Fire Department, and the Presi-
dent of the Young Men’s Christian Association. All but two have families,
and represent sixty-four children and eleven grandchildren. All of them
are citizens, sixteen native-born, Eleven served in the United States
army during the late war. These men simply carried out the wishes cf
nine-tenths of the people of Tacoma.

Peewee meme meee eee emer err eee ree ee eee ee tere eee eee eer ee ee eereeeeeeeeeeer

[No Chinese have since resided in Tacoma, which would have been
the case with Seattle and the other places, but for the discrimination in
favor of the Chinese over native citizens by masonic officials—their breth-
ren, i i such men be trusted. |