Category Archives: Racism!

Story of Mormon Life.

STORY OF MORMON LIFE.


The Sad Experience of an English Woman Who Went Crazy After Her Husband took a Second Wife.


Between the two evils, Mormers [sic] and Chinamen, which are allowed the rights of suffrage in America, it is difficult to say which is the lesser. If the Chinamen are offensive, the Mormons are obnoxious and so on through the category. A most pitable [sic] case of Mormon cussedness, is shown in the following letter to the New York Sun, from the pen of a Salt Lake gentleman:

An honest-looking Englishman named Mower arrived here a few years ago with his wife and three small children, and settled at Brigham. The man was industrious, but he appeared to be something of a fanatic in religion. It was plain that the Saints had got a pretty firm hold on him. His wife was a fair-haired, rosey-cheeked little woman, and their children were delecate [sic] and attractive. The wife and mother went through the ceremony of joining the church after her arrival. The husband had been received into the fold before he left England. They got themselves a home, and appeared happy enough, until the husband, over-persuaded by an elder of the church, determined on taking another wife. The woman selected was a new arrival from Denmark who could not speak a word of English, and for whom it was the special desire of the church to get “anchored” here. Mower was the man who was expected to marry her, and marry her he did. His wife held out strenuously against the woman for some time, and refused to live under the same roof with her, but at least under the pleadings and threats of the dignataries [sic] of the Church and the representations of the husband as to his own poverty and inability to provide two homes, she consented. After that she began to appear like another woman. Her hair became silvery, her form wasted, and her eyes were bright and glittering. She wandered over the country a great deal with her little ones, and could be seen day after day on the roadsides with her little ones, caressing and weeping over them. Sometimes in pleasant weather she did not return to her home for days, and when she did she would have the children decked out in fantastic wreaths and flowers gathered by her own hands in the valleys. Her husband followed her, and tried to persuade her to return and be herself, but to no purpose. Then he locked her up or took the children away from her. She would find them again, and together they would return to the open country. All were subdued and sorrowful, and yet the childishness of the mother was just as pronounced as that of her children. She would run with them, kiss them, build little dams for them in the brooks, construct playhouses for them of stone, weave garlands, and deck herself and them. If they cried, she gathered them to her, and wept with them, and if they laughed she chided them.

Finally her mood changed, and, instead of delighting in rambles with the little ones, she became absorbed in a desire for vengeance. She would steal up stealthily to the house which was hers no longer, and make assaults on the woman who had usurped her place. Once she set fire to the premises and then fled. On another occasion she took her children and was absent so long that search was made for her. After three or four days she was found several miles from home, almost dead from hunger, and the children weak and emaciated from the same cause, and all crying bitterly. She had dug small holes in the ground, which she called their graves and the little ones were waiting with her for the last dread summons. Three men found difficulty in overpowering her, despite her weakened condition, and the entire party were then conveyed to town and cared for. The children went to their father and the woman was placed in the asylum at Provo, where she is now.

Culled from the October 3, 1885 issue of the Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls, Montana.

Indians.

Chico Courant (Chico, California)
Saturday, November 18, 1865

scalping

INDIANS. – It will be seen by extracts from a letter written by Mr. Nance, of this place, that the Indians are still committing their depredations about Humboldt. Nothing but extermination will prevent them from committing their depredations. It is a false notion of humanity to save the lives of these red devils. There should be no prisoners taken, but a general sacrifice made of the whole race. The are of no benefit to themselves or mankind, but like the rattlesnake live only to slay. Like the wild beast of prey shey [sic] are necessarily exterminated by the march of civilization. The tribes of Indians upon this Coast can no more be civilized than the jaugar [sic]. If necessary let there be a crusade, and every man that can carry and shoot a gun turn out and hunt the red devils to their holes and there bury them, leaving not a root or branch of them remaining, then we shall record no more massacres. 

From the collection of The Comtesse DeSpair

Caught the Devils

Chico Courant (Chico, California)
Saturday, December 9, 1865

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CAUGHT THE DEVILS. – The Humboldt Register gives an account of the routing of the gang, and killing of over fifty of the red devils who murdered Ballew on the Humboldt road.  According to the Register’s account, Lieut. Osmer is entitled to promotion, and his men to a medal each for their bravery and tact in ferreting out the Indians and wiping them out when found.  The Indians were found 100 miles north-west of Dun Glen, and did not discover the approach of the soldiers until within two miles of their camp.  Lieut. Osmer’s command, was, “Come on, boys!” and they pitched in without any “red tape,” and with an energy irresistible.  The Indians were well armed.  One soldier, named David O’Connell was killed, and two painfully wounded.  A portion of the plunder taken from Ballew’s wagon was recovered.  Lieut. Osmer and his command may redeem the character of the regular army for Indian hunters.  Pitch in and wipe out the last vestige of the red rascals.

From the collection of The Comtesse DeSpair

Indians

Chico Weekly Courant (Chico, California)
Saturday, November 18, 1865

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INDIANS. – It will be seen by extracts from a letter written by Mr. Nance, of this place, that the Indians are still committing their depredations about Humboldt.  Nothing but extermination will prevent them from committing their depredations.  It is a false notion of humanity to save the lives of these red devils.  There should be no prisoners taken, but a general sacrifice made of the whole race.  They are of no benefit to themselves or mankind, but like the rattlesnake live only to slay.  Like the wild beast of prey they are necessarily exterminated by the march of civilization.  The tribes of Indians upon this Coast can no more be civilized than the jaugar [sic].  If necessary let there be a crusade, and every man that can carry and shoot a gun turn out and hunt the red devils to their holes and there bury them, leaving not a root or branch of them remaining, then we shall record no more massacres.

From the collection of The Comtesse DeSpair

The Impending Massacre

Steele Scrapbook – September 30, 1885

THE IMPENDING MASSACRE.


Shall the Chinese be Slaughtered in Washington Territory as in Wyoming?

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30.—There is a growing feeling here that a Chinese massacre of great magnitude will surely result in Washington Territory at no late day, growing out of the recent labor meetings held in Seattle and other portions of the Territory. Your correspondent called on Gen. McKeever, who is acting Adjutant General in the absence of Gen. Drum, and asked him if the government had arranged to send troops to protect the Chinese in Seattle in case of a riot. Gen. McKeever said:

“Neither the president, the secretary of war, nor the general of the army can order troops unless the Governor of Washington Territory request it.”

“Are there available troops in the vicinity of Seattle?”

“Yes, the Fourteenth Infanty; now at Vancouver Barracks, can reach that place by rail in a very few hours.”

 


I was curious if anything had ever become of this, and Julie was kind enough to send the following link from Harper’s Weekly:
Anti-Chinese Riot At Seattle

Unceremoniously Stolen From Alf

Horrible State Of Affairs

Steele Scrapbook – September 16, 1885

HORRIBLE STATE OF AFFAIRS.


The Chinese in California Breeding Disease and Pestilence.

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., Sept. 16.–The discovery yesterday afternoon of the horrible practices of the Chinese in preparing the bones of their dead fellow countrymen for shipment to China, which have been carried on under the very nose of the city authorities, has created deep and intense excitement. The knowledge that such a mass of putrification was lying exposed in the very heart of the city while at the same time the drainage and sewers of the city are known to be in a filthy condition, has created a feeling of fear for the health of the city. After all the boxes containing the remains of the dead Chinamen had been removed to the Morgue, the carman was interviewed in regard to the matter. He stated that when he arrived at the cellar in which the bodies were stored, and in which putrified remains, which had still to be boiled, were lying, he set to work to break open the boxes. There was some sixty bodies in all. Each box contained a tin case, in which carefuly wrapped in oil cloths were a number of human bones. The smaller bones and long strips of skin were wrapped up in separate parcels and placed within the larger ones. On the outside of each box was a label bearing Chinese characters, giving the name of the dead persons within so that the remains could be identified by relatives in China. After having opened several of the boxes the Coroner concluded to seize the whole lot and remove them to the Morgue. Express wagons were called for the purpose. While the cases were being placed in the wagon, some of them rolled off and fell to the pavement, breaking open and exposing the contents. The crowd which had assembled upon hearing the cause of the excitement jumped on the bones, and in their indignation trod them under foot. The police quickly interposed, and the loading continued without further interruption. The remains were removed to the morgue.

Most of the boxes containing remains were, on examination, found to have come from cities in the interior of the State. The remains were shipped from there to San Francisco in common tea boxes. Those that come from the interior are boiled and prepared before shipment, so that no odor is perceptible on the route. Only those removed from San Francisco cemeteries have flesh still on them when brought for preparation to the cellar. It was the intention to have shipped all these on the steamer City of Pekin, which sails Saturday next. It is rumored that the Chinese Six Companies will bring an action against the coroner for the removal of the boxes and remains.

 


Unceremoniously Stolen From Alf

Fire In Chinatown

Chico Weekly Record, Chico, California – Saturday, December 25, 1897


 

FIRE IN CHINATOWN


Old Village on Flume Had a Close Call.

A fire broke out in the Northeast end of old Chinatown on Flume street yesterday morning and the fire department put it out before any serious damage was done by the flames. A portion of the roof was burned off of one of the buildings, but quick work on the part of the firemen prevented a spread of the flames. The firemen gave the Mongolians a drenching and used nearly enough water to float the whole town to the creek, beyond which it rightfully belongs.

 


From the collection of The Comtesse DeSpair.

Complaint Out For A Thieving Chinese

Chico Weekly Record, Chico, California – Saturday, December 25, 1897


 

 

COMPLAINT OUT FOR A THIEVING CHINESE


Has for Weeks Been Stealing Wood From a Chopper on the Morehead Farm.

M.P. Jones swore to a complaint yesterday charging a Chinaman, whose name was unknown to the complainant, with petit larceny.

It appears from Jones’ statement that he has been engaged in chopping wood on the Morehead ranch for W.J. O’Connor, and during five or six weeks past he has been noticing that the woodpile was diminishing. He had driven a Chinaman from the woodpile on one occasion, and last Sunday three men saw the Mongolian leaving the woodpile with a sack of wood. They gave chase and made him drop the wood.

The Chinaman is well known to the officers and Constable Chubbuck, who has the warrant, will probably place him under arrest this morning. The fellow lives in a a cabin near Chico creek west of the railroad.

 


And here’s a follow up from a few days later… 

Petit Larcenist Arrested.

Constable Chubbuck arrested the Chinaman yesterday against whom a complaint was sworn to before Justice March by M.P. Jones, charging him with stealing wood from the Morehead farm. The fellow will be arraigned before Justice March, and in the meantime will abide in the city prison, as he has no funds with which to secure his release.

 


What I find racist about this one is not the story itself, but the details, like referring to the man as a “Thieving Chinese”.

From the collection of The Comtesse DeSpair.