USA > Washington > History of Washington; the rise and progress of an American state, Vol. IV > Part 24
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On the day following this " peaceable expulsion," as those who had planned and perpetrated it chose to call it, one of the most active promoters of the trouble wrote the governor as follows: "The Chinamen are no more in Tacoma, and the trouble over them is virtually at an end. Yesterday they were peaceably escorted out of town, and put upon the freight and passenger trains this morning, the price asked for a special train being too exorbitant.
"The twenty-five or thirty Chinamen who were permitted to remain a day for the purposes of packing and shipping
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store goods will leave tomorrow morning. . It affords me genuine delight to recall my assurances to you at Olympia and here, that the Chinese would be got out of Tacoma without any trouble, and point to the denouement in con- firmation. Those who predicted differently were partly swayed by their wishes, and greatly underrated the intelli- gence, character and resolution of the men who worked up the movement, and who were flippantly called 'rabble' by their moral and intellectual inferiors."
While this letter was being written, or soon thereafter, the superior moral and intellectual people referred to were burning the buildings lately occupied by the Chinamen on the water front, and two days later they burned the Chinese stores and residences built on ground leased from the North- ern Pacific Railroad Company, some of which appear to have still contained goods of considerable value.
No steps were taken to punish the men who had partici- pated in this riotous proceeding, and they would have been ineffectual had the attempt been made. This encouraged and emboldened the lawless, and turbulent element else- where, and forcible, heretofore called "peaceful" expulsions continued in the smaller towns of Pierce, King, Kitsap, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom Counties, until most of the Chinese were driven away.
While these proceedings were taking place in Tacoma, the governor was advised of what was going on by numerous telegrams from Chinese merchants and others, who appealed to him for assistance. But without the sheriff's support he could do nothing at the time, and it was now apparent, if it had not been so before, that the sheriff was in sympathy with the expulsionists. So far as Tacoma was concerned, all had been done that could be done, except to burn the
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buildings and goods that remained. But it was desirable, if possible, to prevent similar proceedings in other places, and the governor accordingly issued a proclamation warning all persons against participating in any riot or breach of the peace, and particularly against inciting others to riot, and calling upon all sheriffs and law-abiding citizens generally, to secure the Chinese against assault. The proclamation also contained an appeal to all good citizens to, "array your- selves on the side of the law. This is a time in the history of the territory for an intelligent, law-abiding and prosperous community, who love their country and their homes, who are blessed with the boundless resources of forest, field and mine, and who aspire to become a great and self-governing state, to assert their power of self-control and self-preservation, as against a spirit of lawlessness which is destructive alike to immigration, to labor and to capital. If you do not pro- tect yourselves you have only to look to the step beyond; which is, simply, the fate of Wyoming and the speedy inter- ference of the United States troops."
In Seattle the agitation had been carried on during Septem- ber and October as noisily as in Tacoma, but it did not have the secret or open encouragement of the sheriff as it had in Pierce County, and the law-abiding part of the community took a bolder stand in opposition to it. In order to show the lawless element that it would not be permitted to resort to violence without opposition, a public meeting was called, which was addressed by several speakers, all of whom favored the maintenance of the law, and the preservation of public order. C. H. Hanford, then assistant prosecuting attorney, after outlining the dangers of the situation, as he saw it, suggested that the most effective service law-abiding citizens could render at the time, would be by declaring their
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purpose to sustain the law, and by pledging themselves to sustain the sheriff in maintaining order. The response to this was prompt and most encouraging, as a large majority of those present rose to their feet and offered to be sworn in as deputies at once. Sheriff McGraw was present and accepted the service tendered. The oath was administered to several hundred resolute men, and the sheriff was then provided with a posse that he could rely upon as subject to his call when needed.
This meeting was held at the Opera house, and the law and order party was from that time forth known as "the Opera House Party." Its moral effect was good, but it did not put a stop to the work of the turbulent element. A grand jury was in session at the time, and in his charge to it Chief Justice Greene had carefully pointed out its duty with regard to persons who might be conspiring to violate the laws. The Chinese who were in this country were entitled to the protection of the laws, and all privileges and immuni- ties under them, equally with all white persons. This pro- tection was pledged to them by solemn treaty stipulations, and any combination whatever, for the purpose of depriving them of this protection, was conspiracy and punishable under the statute.
This charge was published, and was notice to the noisy element that its proceedings were likely to be inquired into if any violence was permitted. It also knew that the sheriff would not be unsupported in case he was required to act, and that he would act if there was need to do so, and this knowledge doubtless helped largely to restrain Seattle's committee of fifteen from immediately following the example set by the Tacoma committee.
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Another public meeting was held by the citizens' party on the evening of the day following the publication of the governor's proclamation, and although the call for it had been hastily issued, a large number of the most prominent resi- dents and business men of the city were present. Some of the principal agitators were also there and were listened to patiently. All were willing to have the Chinese go. A com- mittee had hastily drawn up a plan for getting rid of them, in a peaceful and lawful way, which it was hoped would be acceptable to everybody, but a majority of those present were resolved to prevent their expulsion by force if there should be need to do so. Several short but very forcible speeches were made by J. C. Haines, Judge Lewis, and by two speakers representing the turbulent element, who were loudly cheered by their sympathizers who were present. Judge Thomas Burke made the most impassioned speech of the evening. He had long been known as the friend of the oppressed against the oppressor, and up to this time he had been a general favorite among laboring people, whose cause he had invariably championed, when there had been occasion. But on this occasion they were not in sympathy with him, or fancied they were not. He declared himself as unalterably opposed to riot, at all times, and particularly at the present time when there was no need or cause for it. He would stand for the rule of law, and no other, at all times and in all places. He denounced the proceeding of the mob at Tacoma, and declared that he would rather live under the rule of the Autocrat of all the Russias, than under that of a dozen or twenty lawless men, who were the worst kind of tyrants.
This declaration was received with hisses and jeers by the noisy element present, and one of their leaders appealed to
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them to listen respectfully to what the judge had to say. This offer of assistance the judge resented, coming as it did from one who had scarcely been known to a dozen people in the city before the trouble began. "I need no one to inter- cede with a Seattle audience for me," he said. "I know these people, and they will hear me if they hate me. They have no reason to hate me, for I have always been their friend.
I am a free man and will preserve my liberty. The question is on the road to a solution, but in order to hasten it you cannot afford to violate the eternal laws of justice. The Chinese want to go, but don't like to be robbed or murdered. Let the working men of Seattle show to the world that the great principle of justice prevails here. Do not be unjust to a dog or a horse. The Chinamen are here under solemn treaty stipulations, but they are going. It is to our interest to see them go, but not to our interest, but just the opposite, to see one drop of innocent blood spilled, or a single breach of the law."
Before the meeting closed John Leary reported for the committee of which he was chairman, that the Chinese had agreed to go, and were preparing to do so, but that some of them had a large amount of property which they wished to dispose of, that of one firm being valued at $135,000, while the city owed another $30,000. These wanted to have time to dispose of what they had, and make their collections, and it ought to be granted. As he understood matters the opposition were willing that a reasonable time should be granted for this purpose.
It was hoped that this report, and the evidence given by the meeting that no one was opposing the removal of the Chinese by any lawful means, would pacify the excited ele- ment, and that quiet would soon be restored, but the hope
JOHN LEARY.
Born at St. Johns, New Brunswick, in 1836, and during his earlier years he was extensively engaged in the manufacture of lumber, and also a dealer in general merchandise at St. Johns. He came to the coast in 1869 and settled in Seattle. In 1871 he was admitted to the bar and was engaged in active practice until ISS3, when he retired. In 1884 he was mayor of the city. In 1872 he took a leading part in the explorations of the coal measures in King County, and in opening and developing some of its principal mines. During the remainder of his life he was actively connected with many of the most important enter- prises having for their object the development of Seattle and the State.
leary
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ILAHI NHOI
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stice. The Chiese y Teststedt dirmurdered.
king men of Seattle show to the world that the gre a principle of justice prevails here. Do not be unjust tom dig or s horse. The Chinamen are here under solemn Treany onikmions, but they are going. It is to our interest to ser them to. but not to our interest, but just the opposite, De se ve drop of innecent blood spilled, or a single breach of the Unv."
Before the wormne closed John Leary reported for the comusines of who b he way chairman, that the Chinese had agreed to go, or - preparing to do so, but that some of them biok & au tami of property while they wished th quốc ur, thuế để onx Gim Bome talused # 8135,000, while the eny owed mither Jj9,000. These wanted to have Thy to theapes HE what drey had, and make their collections, Andor Ou / Etownred. As he understood matters the opposition vore sadece that a reasonable time should be granted for this yop
Ind the evidence given by the meeriny thias no one s opposing the removal of the Chiar by any awful onim would pacify the excited ele- ment, and that gover mondd won be restored, but the hope
the feary
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was not realized. Judge Burke's speech, as it was reported from mouth to mouth, increased the excitement. The esti- mation in which he had been held by those whom he had so uniformly befriended was, for the time being, completely changed. He was no longer popular with the crowd; in- stead of praises, and expressions of confidence and esteem, the bitterest denunciations were heard. The peaceable part of the community felt alarmed for his safety, but he continued to go about his business as usual, and made no effort to answer his detractors.
During the next two days a home guard was organized under command of Captain George Kinnear, and Governor Squire was urgently advised by telegraph, to have a detach- ment of Federal troops sent to the city at the earliest moment. "Delay is criminal," said Sheriff McGraw; "Quickest action possible is necessary" was Judge Greene's dispatch, while Ex-Governor Ferry telegraphed, "In my opinion troops should be sent here instanter." Thus urged the governor sent equally urgent appeals to Washington, and on the 8th, five days after the Chinese had been driven out of Tacoma, General Gibbon arrived from Vancouver with three hundred and fifty soldiers, and took charge of the city. In the pre- sence of this force the riotous element quickly dispersed. The troops remained only nine days and then returned to their barracks on the Columbia.
For the time being the agitation seemed to be at an end. The city was as orderly as it had ever been. Excited crowds were nowhere seen on the streets, and the agitators had apparently given up the contest. It could hardly be claimed, in fact, that there was further need for a contest. China- men were no longer employed in the mills, mines, factories or by the railroad, and the number of house servants and
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common laborers had been greatly reduced. All this had been accomplished without violation of law, and all classes were seemingly satisfied.
During November fifteen of the most violent among the agitators were indicted, under the so-called Ku-Klux act, upon a charge of conspiracy to deprive the Chinamen of the equal protection of the laws. Their trial consumed eleven days. All the accused testified in their own defense, and avowed that no act of violence, breach of the peace or unlaw- ful act had been contemplated by them, and that none would have been committed or coutenanced. The contrary could not be proved and their acquittal followed.
But the excitement was not yet over. The committee of fifteen were envious of the work done by the Tacoma commit- tee apparently, and resolved if possible to emulate it. But the experience of some of their number with the law, and the certainty that Federal troops would be sent to suppress dis- order if any occurred, made them cautious. They accord- ingly worked more secretly and bided their time.
The opportunity they waited for seemed to have arrived on Saturday, February 6th, when the Steamer Queen of the Pacific was lying at her dock on the waterfront, preparing to sail for San Francisco on the following day. That evening a meeting was quietly held in a part of the city where the anti- Chinese sentiment was strongest, at which much was said about the unsanitary condition of the Chinese quarter, and the city ordinance requiring a certain fixed amount of air space in sleeping rooms, in proportion to the number of occupants. It was suggested that the committee of fifteen should inspect the Chinese houses on the following morning, and ascertain whether this ordinance was properly regarded. Of course none of those present cared how much or how
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little air space a sleeping Chinaman would be content with, nor did they care specially about the enforcement of the ordinance in Chinatown. If they had they would have ap- pealed to the constituted authorities to enforce it. What was wanted was a legal pretext for what they were about to do, and this was fixed upon.
Accordingly on the following morning early the committee, followed by a large number of their supporters, went to the Chinese quarter with wagons, and while some of them made inquiries at each house about the number of cubic feet of air per occupant they furnished, others invaded the premises and carried the goods they contained to the wagons. The Chinamen made no attempt at resistance-they knew it would be useless to do so. The police did nothing to stop what was going on, but rather gave it countenance by making no protest when demands were made upon the Chinamen to open their doors.
As soon as Sheriff McGraw was apprised of what was going on he hurried to the scene of action and commanded the crowd to disperse, but it only laughed and jeered at him and continued its work. He summoned a few of the by- standers, whom he knew and thought he could rely upon, to his assistance, and with their help attempted to put a stop to the work of eviction, but the crowd was too numerous and too determined for his small posse, and as soon as he stopped work at one place it was begun at another. Finally the fire bells were rung as a signal to the home guards to assemble, and they soon appeared, followed a little later by the two companies of local militia.
But before this force could be assembled and effectively used about three hundred and fifty Chinamen, and their effects, had been driven or carried to the ocean dock, where
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an immense crowd had assembled, some of whom opposed and some encouraged the eviction. Here proceedings were checked for a time by the refusal of the captain to receive any Chinamen on board unless their fares were paid. This was seemingly an unlooked for difficulty, but hats were passed and a collection taken up by which nearly a hundred were provided with tickets, and they were allowed to go on board.
While this was going on inquiry had been made among the frightened Chinamen by a few men who were determined that the law should not be violated, if it were possible to prevent it, and it was ascertained that while many of them were willing to leave, some did not wish to do so, and on their application a writ of habeas corpus was issued by Judge Greene, and served on the captain, commanding him to bring the Chinamen on his ship into court next morning at 8 o'clock, for a hearing.
All proceedings were thus checked temporarily. The difficulty now was to protect the Chinamen from violence and prevent a riot, and this promised to be no easy matter. The streets were filled with excited people, large numbers of whom had hurried to town from all parts of the surrounding country, as the news had spread that the war on the Chinese had begun again. Among these were many turbulent characters who had no interest in the welfare of the city, and would have been glad to see it at the mercy of a mob. These were all opposed to the Chinese, and joined loudly in denounc- ing the officers of the law and all others who were not encouraging riotous proceedings.
Toward evening matters quieted down considerably. The streets were patrolled by the militia, and the soldiers not on duty were held at their several quarters ready for service. The authorities spent the night in preparing to resist any
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violence on the morrow. Governor Squire telegraphed to General Gibbon that a serious conflict between the civil . authorities and the mob was probable, and requested that troops be sent at once from Port Townsend. But the general could not act without authority from Washington and so replied. A message was then sent to the president, fully advising him as to the troubled condition of affairs and urging prompt intervention. Judge Greene also telegraphed the president that in his opinion the occasion was one requiring the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, and a declara- tion of martial law. If the governor could enforce martial law, which he doubted, the situation might be controlled by the courts and the militia without bloodshed, and without the aid of the regular army. The case was one that required "the sudden supervention of a strong governmental power."
About midnight an attempt was made to put some Chinese on a train, which was to leave at 4 a. m. and run them off to Portland, but the train was guarded by the military, and was sent out ahead of time. About the same time a com- pany of Home Guards was sent to the dock, where an anti- Chinese committee was watching the Chinamen, and drove them away. Members of the guard were stationed at all the approaches to the dock to prevent a return of the agita- tors, and after that all was peaceable till morning.
During the night warrants had been prepared for some of the ringleaders and eight of them were arrested next morning and taken to jail. A prompt hearing was given them, bail was furnished and they were released.
Then at 8 o'clock Sheriff McGraw, with an escort of the Home Guards and the two militia companies, brought the Chinamen, eight-five in number, into court, which was then held in the old city hall, at Third Avenue and Yesler Way.
1
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The agitators were taken by surprise, and the crowd in the streets and about the courthouse, at first was not very large, but it steadily increased, and the streets about the building were soon thronged with an angry mob, but no attempts at interference were made, as the crowd was held back from the courthouse by armed guards.
Arrived in the court room Judge Greene explained to the Chinamen that while the people wished them to go, they were, under the law, entitled to remain if they wished to do so, and they would be protected in doing so. Each Chinaman was then asked by name, whether he wished to go or remain, and all but sixteen of the eighty-five declared that they wished to go. This closed the inquiry and the party was escorted back to the ship by the sheriff's guard. The trip was made without serious incident, and when the dock was reached all that wished to do so went on board, their fare having been paid by the subscription, but when 196 had been received Capt. Alexander announced that he could not legally take any more. This left about 100 on the dock, whose fares had been collected and who wished to go. After consider- able discussion it was agreed that they should be taken by the next steamer, but as this would not sail for several days, and as the Chinamen could not be held on the dock mean- time, it was resolved to escort them back to the quarters from which they had been driven the day previous.
This was certain to be both a difficult and dangerous undertaking. The sheriff had only the Home Guards, a small company numbering not more than forty men, and a smaller company of cadets from the university to assist him, but putting the guards in advance and the cadets in rear, with the trembling celestials between them, the return march was begun up Main Street toward First Avenue. The
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street was thronged but not crowded, but it soon became apparent that the crowd was assembling from all directions. It was not generally known, nor was it possible to make it known, that an arrangement had been made to send the people under guard, out of the city by the next steamer, and that they were only being returned to their quarters tempora- rily, because there was no other place where they could stay. The crowd seemed to think they were being returned to the place from which it had driven them, to remain there. Con- sequently as the march proceeded the crowd rapidly became larger and uglier. When First Avenue was reached it was found to be packed with an excited multitude for several squares in either direction. Main Street beyond it was equally crowded. All were shouting and many were in a state bordering on frenzy.
By the time the advance of the guards had reached the middle of First Avenue, it was necessary to push this howling mass from their front, in order to advance, and at the East line of the street some of the crowd pressed through the line and turned the Chinamen back, but the cadets were behind them, preventing their retreat, and so they could only march around in a circle like so many frightened sheep. It was impossible to move them forward, and so a halt was called and a line of guards formed across the streets, making a sort of square within which were the Chinese who were now so thoroughly frightened as to be helpless. There were several old soldiers among the guards, who had seen danger before, and all acted with great coolness. At the order given their guns were loaded with ball cartridges, but no demonstration was made about using them. Sheriff McGraw marched up and down in front of the line, commanding the crowd to dis- perse, and warning everybody not to interfere with the officers
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of the law in the discharge of their sworn duty, but the crowd only jeered at and defied him. Some of the noisier members now urged the other to make a rush on the guards and disarm them, but a mob is not easily moved to united action until success is certain. Then it becomes furiously bold. It was so in this case. It was not until the guards had held their position for some seconds-perhaps minutes, that a few of the bolder members of the mob gained courage to make something like a rush. Even then it was not a united effort, made all along the line, but furtive attacks made in only one or two places. One of the first of these was directed at E. M. Carr, afterwards brigadier general of militia, but then only a private in the Home Guard. It was a most unfortunate selection for those who made it, for Carr was stoutly built and as courageous as strong. He disposed of one or two of the first who approached him, with his fist, but when others joined in the attack he clubbed his rifle and laid the nearest rioter at full length along the street. This discouraged others in the neighborhood and for a time Carr was left alone.
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