Through the span of the Chinese Exclusion Act, 118 savage massacres occurred. The Rock Springs Massacre of 1885 in Wyoming was one of the most horrific occurrences. Twenty three white miners brutally attacked a group of three Chinese miners, killing one of them. Over the next few hours, seventy nine houses were destroyed and twenty eight more Chinese died. Additionally, ten Chinese were murdered by seven white men in the Snake River Massacre in Oregon in 1887.
'Were any of the white men engaged in this butchery Americans?' basked the reporter.
'Americans!' exclaimed Colonel Bee, as if struck by a thunderbolt. 'Americans! Don't disgrace your
country by asking such a question as that. Thank God, no! Most of them were laborers brought from Europe by the Union Pacific company to operate the mines. Cornwall and Wales furnished the major share. Brutes who have lived underground from boyhood were the assassins. Low-browed, square-jawed, ignorant and villainously visaged men, men whom you would fear to meet on a crowded street even if you were armed on both hips. Clubs and rocks aided the murderers, for when they found a wounded and helpless Chinaman, they dashed out his brains with the clubs or crushed in his skull with rocks. While the men were shooting the Chinese and firing cabins, the women were looting the vacated dwellings. There are, I should think about four hundred white men in the settlement. The women are bold and rude, and if a soldier strays away from camp the women stone him and howl at him until he is glad to beat a retreat.' "
-Daily Astorian (Astoria, Oregon), October 8, 1885, page 3
It is not to be questioned that the system of cheap Chinese labor importation is an evil of menacing portent which calls imperatively for restriction, but inhuman brutality will not remedy the evil. |
This effort, however, proved ineffective, and the crowd resorted to smashing windows and doors, thus breaking their way in. On their entry the Chinamen below fled to the second floor and attic story of the building pursued and assailed by the mob. |
The Chinese riot, which occurred in Martinez on the night of April 26th, and which resulted in the reported death of one Chinaman and severe injury of several others, has suddenly assumed proportions of national and international importance. The riot was unprovoked and unjustifiable. A number of Italians and others, incited by individuals who themselves remained at a safe distance from the disgraceful scene, burst open the doors of the old Dutil building on the corner of Main and Mill streets, took forcible possession, and ejected the Chinese by whom it was occupied. Several pistol shots were fired, as number of Chinese were hurled or compelled to jump from the window, and night was made hideous with the discordant yells of the mob and their victims."
-"The Chinese Riot" July 1, 1885 Contra Costa Gazette
The whole number with arms and who committed the murders did not exceed over sixty men. A large number were on the ground who had no arms. |
As soon as we reached Rock Springs we ordered the remains of those Chinese killed in the riot to be disinterred and examined. We had fourteen coffins dug up, on opening which we found some bodies entire some parts of bodies, the bones of separate bodies, and promiscuous heaps of bones; and we also dug up the remains of one without a coffin. Inquiring of the coroner at Rock Springs, he stated that since the 31 of September he had examined and interred nineteen persons, and I found that the Union Pacific Railroad Company had interred the remains of two. Besides five entire bodies, the remains of eight others were recognizable, while the bones of eight others were found wrapped up in separate bundles."
-"The executive documents of the House of Representatives for the second session of the forty-ninth Congress", 1886-1887, Foreign relations to the United States, page 126
Chinese were driven out of Nicholas, Satter County, by a mob last night. We sent the following dispatch to the governor: |
The grievances of white miners addicted to have led to the riot are favoritism of the Chinese against white men by pit bosses and officials of the coal company. Of this I have no personal knowledge, except that one boss, McBride was discharged from the employment of the coal company it having been proven that he sold rooms.
--"The executive documents of the House of Representatives for the second session of the forty-ninth Congress", 1886-1887, Foreign relations to the United States, page 115
Was here on the 21 day of September, 1885, the day of the attack upon the Chinese. As the cause of the massacre, I know of no grievances of any kind. On the part of the white miners there had been symptoms of discontent for some months previous of this trouble. I think the whole origin of the trouble is based upon the fact that Chinese miners were employed, and that no successful strike could be ordered as long no Chinese were employed, and they never would join in a strike. |
Why Mr. Reporter, I assure you upon my honor that I did not find a single one of the people of Rock Springs who spoke of the murders as wrong o wicked. Perhaps they did not dare to. But even those who did say the affair was unfortunate and to be regretted, added that they could not help rejoicing when they saw the Chinese fleeing for their lives from their burning cabins. Would you expect in such a community that there would be say indictment found against a white man who might murder a China man?
-"The executive documents of the House of Representatives for the second session of the forty-ninth Congress", 1886-1887, Foreign relations to the United States, page 126
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I have received a communication from Mr. Wong, Chinese Consul-General at San Francisco, in which he complains that some Chinese fish dealers in the town of Martinez, about thirty-five miles south of San Francisco, were on the night of the 26th of April last maliciously attacked by a mob who, surrounding the houses of the Chinese, forced their way in by breaking open the doors, when they proceeded to rob and destroy the property of the occupants. The Chinese occupants were flung down from the windows of the upper stories ad eight of them received injuries and one has since died of his wounds.
-"Tsu Shan Pang to Mr. Frelinghuysen", Chinese Legation, Washington, May 29, 1882