CHINESE AT COOKTOWN.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 596, 17 May 1876, Page 3

CHINESE AT COOKTOWN.

A Cooktown correspondent of the Brisbane Courier , April 18tb, remarks that “ the Chinese have kept the town alive in sensational business during the last few days One of that interesting race committed suicide by hanging himself at the hospital, and to day another shot a countryman in the most deliberate and business-like manner imaginable. The shooting affair was a remarkable one. A Celestial landing here from Hong Kong some months ago put up at the hostelry of Mr Jemmy Ah Foo, who keeps a public house of a not very reputable character at the Chinese quarter of the town. According to his own account, he was was gambled out of all his money except a £5 note at Mr Ah Foo’s hostelry, and with that sum intended to leave for the diggings, and owe the landlord for two weeks’ board that was unpaid. But to this the latter appeals to have demurred, and, assisted by some of his countrymen, set upon the unfortunate immigrant and took from him the £5 note, from which he helped himself to what was owing and returned the change. John vowed vengeance. ‘Me go alongee Palmer,’ he said, ‘ and come back and shootee you by’n bye.’ And sure enough he came back shortly, pistol in hand, and found Jemmy Ah Foo deep in the mysteries of pastrymaking. To let fly straight for the region of the heart was the work of a moment, but Jemmy started in the nick of time, and the bullet instead of passing through his body glanced from his rib and passed under his skin, almost round to the other side, the powder even burning the body, but still the injury inflicted was not dangerous. The other at once gave himself up to the police, but according to his own utterances the unfinished work is yet to be completed after he has paid the penalty of the law for what he has already done.”