CHAPTER XXXiIll.

Story of the Captain of the QUEEN as to the Seattle exodus.—97 Chinamen in
court,—‘* The Government is strong and will protect the Masons.”

Tur captain said, that ‘‘the first intimation he had of any disorder in
Seattle was about 7 o’clock on Sunday morning, when wagons and carts
and everything that would carry freight came rumbling down to the wharf,
accompanied by a few Chinese attendants, and at once proceeded to un-
load. Soon after the Captain started up-town, and on his way met a large
crowd of citizens, who accosted him with the remark that ‘the Chinese
must go, and on his steamer, too.’

At that time the uprising element comprised at least 3000 people, and
the entire city seemed to be subject to their control. There were no threats
to speak of, nor tendency toward mob violence—simply a determined up-
rising that might result in something serious, if its purpose was impeded.

That it was the general desire of the citizens of Seattle, that the
Chinese should go, and that the entire city was in sympathy with the up-
rising was apparent from the fact that as soon as he announced that none
could go on his steamer unless his fare was paid, money began to accumu-
late in the hands of a certain committee, and in less than fifteen minutes
the fares of 171 Chinese had been paid, the money obviously coming from
the purses of the wealthier classes.

The ‘Queen’ did not sail at her appointed time. On Monday the first
lot of Chinese who were driven to the dock, 87 in number, were demanded
on a writ of habeas corpus to appear in court and state whether or not
they were willing to go. [They having influence at court that citizens
have no.|] Seventy-one replied affirmatively and were returned, and
afterwards 100 more were taken on board, although in no instance until
each had acknowledged that it was his desire to leave. Could
have taken a large number in addition, had it not been that he was re-
stricted by law as to the number of steerage passengers,

Those who were left were coralled with their baggage in a large ware-
house on the dock. As long as he remained in the town, there was no
violence whatever, only the intense determination, which seemed to in-
crease with each hour and was attended with great excitement. Just a
short time after he sailed out of the harbor, however, he heard the crack
of rifles, and knew then that the worst had come.”

[How the Government will protect Masonic Chinamen, when even
home-building American citizens cannot even get a hearing against the
gang. |

‘* All the Chinese on board the ship were escorted to the court-house
by the sheriff and his posse. The Chinese in the warehouse also came
along, but they remained outside the building during the trial. [Which
(630)

17 Chinamen in
Masons.”

any disorder in
agons and carts
ywn to the wharf,
roceeded to un-
way met a large
hat ‘the Chinese

3000 people, and
‘e were no threats
a determined up-
ge was impeded.

Seattle, that the
athy with the up-
1ounced that none
began to accumt-
an fifteen minutes
ously coming from

h Monday the first
pr, were demanded
late whether or not
burt that citizens
bye returned, and
1 no instance until
o leave. Could
n that he was re-

ve in a large ware-
own, there was no
ch seemed to in-
citement. Just 4
| heard the crack

amen, when even
sparing against the

o the court-house
rehouse also came
he trial. [Which

Tue SEATTLE Exopvs. 531

proved that they needed no protection fron violence in the streets.| United
States prosecuting attorney appeared for the Chinamen.

After getting the names of the 97 Chinamen, the Judge had Lue King
sworn in as interpreter [what does a Chinese Mason or highbinder care for
an oath ?] and through him spoke as follows:

‘Lue King tell them that the court has been told that they are con-
fined on board the steamship ‘Queen of the Pacific’ against their will. The
court is willing, if they desire, that they shall go as passengers, but no
man or set of men has a right to compel them to go. So, if they wish to
stay, they must let the court know it now. I will have the name of each
man called separately, and let him tell whether he wants to go or stay.
Tell them, not to be afraid to speak what is in their hearts. The Govern-
ment is strong and will protect them. Tell them, that as their names are
called all those who are willing to keep their tickets and go to California
must express a willingness to do so, and all who want to give up their
tickets and stay here must say so.’

Sixteen expressed a desire to stay, and 71 a willingness to go. They
were all escorted back to the wharf, and those who had expressed a will-
inguess to go were placed upon the ship. A great many of those whose
baggage was on the wharf went back to the dock and expressed a willing-
ness to go, provided transportation was furnished them.”

[Native citizens, when ‘‘ objectionable,” have to get out the best way
they can, and no foolishness. |

* *
*

‘* About 10 o’clock a report came to the ears of Sheriff [Mason], that
the Shore Line train was to be captured and the Chinamen left on the
Ocean Dock were to be placed on it and taken to Tacoma, A sufficient
sum of money had been raised to buy tickets on the cars to Tacoma, The
Sheriff notified the R. R. Company that it would be held responsible for
any damages resulting from the carrying off of the Chinese | Masons] unlaw-
fully and against their will, [when hundreds of white men had been driven
out ‘unlawfully and against their will,’] and to avoid any trouble that
might grow out of ‘such an act.’ And to prevent the train being seized,
they placed on the engine a double crew and started the train out ahead of
time, A short time before the train left (1.80 o’clock Monday morning),
the Sheriff detailed a posse of deputies to guard the Ocean Dock, and not
allow any one to pass on or off the wharf during the night without a
special permit. ‘The Chinamen who were in the warehouse, about 215
strong, spread their blankets and stretched cut for the night, after their
supper, furnished by those in charge of them.”

* *
*

[Meanwhile the Governor, who was in town and opposing the exodus,
sent the following dispatch to Washington:]

‘‘Immense mob forcing Chinese to leave Seattle, Civil authorities
arming posse comitatus to protect them. Serious conflict probable. I re-

532 THE SEATTLE Exopvs.

spectfully request that United States troops be immediately sent to
Seattle.”

[There was no conflict at Tacoma, and there was no danger of any
conflict here, unless done by the ‘‘ White Chinamen,” so as to justify the
call for troops and thus prevent the exodus of their brethren, an: also put
coin in their pockets, as will be seen further on.

A lot of deputy sheriffs and deputy marshals and militia had been
sworn in for to conflict, and a lot of the leading citizens, including a lady,
arrested and jailed on a charge of riot, though never convicted.

Still the people had not been aggravated to a conflict, and withou’
** conflict” or troops, the Chinese, with the exception of six, were to be
gone by the next boat. |

* *
*

‘‘The captain came to the office and stated that he had 196 on board,
or all that he was allowed by law to carry with the other passengers, The
matter was talked over between the representatives of the anti-Chinese
movement and Sheriff [Mason] and some of his aids, and it was mutually
agreed between them that the Chinamen still on the wharf, all of whom,
with the exception of sic, had expressed a willingness to go, but were unabie
to leave by the ‘Queen,’ should be allowed to remain in town until the
going out of the ‘Elder,’ unless they saw fit to leave sooner.”

‘‘The ‘Queen’ cast off her lines, and the people on the wharf shook
hands and congratulated each other over what they supposed was a happy
ending of the very exciting and unpleasant controversy which had been
going on for so long, [Yet without any ‘conflict.’]

The Chinaman on the wharf, with the exception of the few who want-
ed to remain, were much disappointed when the steamer left without
them, and it was with reluctance that they picked up their baggage to re-
turn to their houses,”

$$

ately sent to

danger of any
; to justify the
n, ani also put

ilitia had been
sluding a lady,
sted.

and withou 4
six, were to be

d 196 on board,
assengers, The
the anti-Chinese
it was mutually
ivf, all of whom,
but were unabie
n town until the
er.”

the wharf shook
osed was a happy
y which had been

1e few who want-
mer left without
ir baggage to re-