MOB RULE IN DENVER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 21, 25 January 1881, Page 4

MOB RULE IN DENVER.

The Times' (Locdon) corresponded vritirjg from Denver, Colorado, Nov. 1, says: — Such a Sunday as that of yesterday has never been Been in Denver since the foundation of the ctiy. The earlier part of the day was spent by the rabblp, in planning an attack upon the 200 Cbioaaieu who earn a living 86 laundry men. During the afternoon and evening the city was at (he mercy of a drunken and infuriated mob, I have not seen bo daetardly aud vioiouß a set of raßcula gathered together sinca the days when tho Com« munards of Piiris declared war against the persona who were both peeceatle and Respectable. The proceedings weve net unexpecMl. It was evident for seveml days back thut (he posiiioo of the Chinomsn in Denver had become precarious. They ate lifted by the idler and more lawless citiz-ne, b<.c»<-8: they work nt low wagee, ere weli-coa-ducted, end are industrious in the extreme. Gentlemen from Irelund who have made t\ i 8 country their home re. gard the inoffensive Chiaamsu as oar* taio of their countryman regard Knilorde. 'ihe organ in Denver of that Demoeraiio party whereof the Irish American Fenians are active members has lately been goading tho poorer class to atlatk and expel the Chinamen, who wash the clotbea of richer people. On Saturday night the Democrats had a grand procession in which Btv^rtil hundred torch-bearers murched, acd in "which many devices were carried bearing l\ c inscription, " The Chinese u>uai go." The spectators appeared to up prove the sentiment and experienced citizens predicted that there would be bloody work soon. Many Chinamen who looked on as the procession moved along the streets did not, seem apprehensive of the result. They little knew what was in store for them. The outbreak began between 2 and 3 o'clock on Sunday. I was not awarn of what had occurred until between 5 and 6in the evening. I had epeot the afternoon ot a gentleman's house some distance from the scene of rioting, and though tidings were brooght that fighting was going on elsewhere, this was regarded us an exaggeration. However, on the way to my hotel I found that the report was perfectly correct. The Btreets were filled with a surging, y filing crowd, which was too sirong for the police to control. I heard that the mayor and city authorities were then Bitting, and that they bad elected General D. J. Cook as chief of the polioe, with power to swear in special constables. As soon as this became known several hundred law-abiding, citizens took the oath to help the authorities in maintaining order. They were not able to do much. The riotera were estimated at 3000, and they grew more bold under cover of the darkness. The fear was that, not content with sacking the houses in which'tbe Chinamen dwelt and carried on their business, they would set nY to them, and that the fire would spread over the city. At an earlier hour, as I learnt from eye-witnesses, the services of the fire brigade had been called into requisition to disperse the mob. After sn ineffectual appeal had been made by the major and sheriff to keep the peace, the firemen were ordered to turn the water on the people. This had a temporary effect. Many persons who bad turned out. at the sound of the firebell, find who had no intention of aiding the rioters, were drenched with' water, tnd were put out of humour in consequence. Bricks were hurled ai the firemen, and one "of them was struck down with a gash in hia head. Threats were made that the hose would be cut, aud eventually the firemerj desisted from their efforts to cool the excitement. When the riot was at its height the police aa<* special con^ables directed tbeir efforts to prvb the Chinamen by currying tbem off to prison. I* was reported that roacy were kill* d, but, as I wiite, I understand that there were only two lives lost. However, several had narrow escapes from the jaws of death; they were rescued after baying been beaten till life was almost extinct. A large number received) wounds which may yet prove fatal i Fleeing for their lives, tie miserable objects of mob violence endangered the safety of those whose protection fhey sought. Happily, thfre was no lack of; persons ready to open ibeir doors to the fugitives, to guard them till the police were able to escort them toi prison. Happily, also, some of r tbp least reputable citizens dietinguiphe^ themselves by showing a bumanp and courageous spirit. One of them,, named Jim Mooo, is a gom-Bter who recently had a fight with the police, and who bears a character which is vot to be envied. I learn that he opposed sinple-banded a portion of the mob which waß attacking a dwelling Ib, which a Chinaman had sought refuse. FaciDg the crowd, he demanded in very strong language what they, wanted; No reepoDse being made he added, • ' This Chinaman does my washing atd is an inoffensive man, and you shan't touch him, not a — — — one of you " This speech beiog enforced by the mute eloquence of a levelled revolver, the crowd turned abruptly away, b?iog afraid, according to the slang phrosp common in this country, " to face the music." Early in the morning the tumult ceased. By that time all the Chinese who were not secreted bad. been lodged in g&ol. They numbered about 150, among whom there were eight women and a child. The streets •were patrolled till daybreak by sixty special guards, who had agreed upon a signal with the fire-bell, which would aummon 500 to their aid at a moment's notice. Early in the morning I visited the scene of destruction. Not a house in which a Chinaman bad lived wbb left intact; All the furniture in the booses was smashed and all the cootents of any value had disappeared. The chief, if not the only, business of the Chinamen is to take in weening. The rioters who yelled that the Chinese must go eeem to have had a fancy for the fine linen of others ; they carried off all that they could find, Hence, many citizens of Denver will suffer in their wardrobe for the lawlessness of their fellows. Not the least discreditable fact was. (bat many negroes were pmoug tbe rioters and were loud in

declaring death to the Chinamen. The negroes might have used their hardlywon privilege as free citizens to be more merciful to those persons who were in the plight which was once the lot of tbeir race in this country. It is thought (hat the bloodshed is not at an end, and that when the Chinese leave the gaol, which is tbeir asylum, the attack upon tbem will recommence. A. proclamation has been issued by the Mayor to the effect that a serious riot bnving occurred in Denver, and tho lives nnd properties of the citizens being regarded as in danger, "All the saloons and drinking houses in the ciiy be and remain closed until 6 o'clock on Wednesday raornin-r, November 3rd" Moreover, the Sheriff of the county has published in to-doy'a pppers a notice headed — ct Attention, citizens! " and running thus, "I request that 500 good Bnd responsible citizens come to my ofßce this (Monday) morning, at ten o'clock, to arrange for the protection of the city." I do not doubt that these measures will prove effectual now that the mischief has been done. I should be glad if I could add that there is a prospect of tho Chinamen remaining unmolested hereafter. They are in this country under the protection of a solemn and unreßcinded treaty. If citizens in the United States were to he treated in China aa Chinamen ore treated in the United States there would be a demand for reparation under threat of war. I have conversed with many persons, and £ have found but few who advocate full justice to, and fair play to the Chiuese. There are many who lament aud condemn yesterday's cruel proceedings, but who express their desire that the Chinamen should be got rid of quietly. It seems that a young man of this city who K arced to emoke opium recently died, and it is argued (hat as the Chinese are opium smokers, they have no right to live in end cor» rupt a civilized community. A good many persons die here from drinking too much whisky, yet the purveyors of whisky are not denied the protection of the law. If the opium dens be as bad as they are depicted let them be closed. But the Chinamen might smoke themselves to death, and teach while citizens to do co also if they were not competitors in the labor market with lees thrifty and hardworking men. Public opinion throughout the United States requires the same education respecting Chinese which it has respecting negroes. "With the scenes which I witnessed yesterday still vivid before my eyes, I cannot help thinking how bitter a sarcasm does the conduct of the riotouß citizens of Denver pass upon the preamble to the immortal declaration of Independence. I shall, perhaps surprise few persons if I add that the old story of the wolf and the lamb has been verified by the experience of yesterday. I have repeatedly heard it alleged that the Chinese were wrong-doers, and that they originated the riot.