Anatomy of Los Angeles in 1871

 Gas Lights

The first five street lights were installed in 1869. However, in 1871 the city had been without lights for six months due to a conflict between the City Council and the Gas company. The street lights eventually returned on September 1, under a month-to-month deal, while the city negotiated a long term contract. The Gas Company agreed to light the lamps in “the dark of the moon and at all other times as to connect with the light of the moon." On the night of the Chinese Massacre, the moon was waxing in a gibbous phase, so there’s a strong probability the lights were off. Regardless, the street lights were sparsely located at that time. A picture taken in 1875 shows a gas lamp on the Southwest corner of Arcadia and Los Angeles streets, and another on the East side of Los Angeles between Commercial and Aliso. None are visible on Negro Alley. Other photographs from that era show a lamp near Wollweber’s Apothecary, and another near Pico House. We also know from news reports that there were at least two on Spring street.

Los Angeles c. 1870 - from a model created in 1931
Image courtesy USC Digital Library

Streets

The streets in 1871 were unpaved, the sewers routinely overflowed, and zanja breaks were a weekly occurrence. Streets were damaged during moderate rain. Grading and other street maintenance was performed by chain gangs made up of citizens who could not afford to pay city fines. These fines were usually for public drunkenness, with the “Indian” population being over-represented.

There were only two street signs in the city, and the city had just started numbering houses the year before. Sidewalks and awnings were installed by individual property owners.

Transportation

The most economical mode of transportation in 1871 was the horse. However, horses were expensive; roughly half the cost of a small house. Stages were available for trips inland, while hacks were available for local trips. The Los Angeles & San Pedro Railroad connected with the port. And Schooners and Steamers ran along the coast, carrying passengers and cargo.

The Citizens

The population of the city of Los Angeles in 1870 was 5,728; 35% were foreign born. Los Angeles County population was 15,309. Many different ethnicities were represented. Some of the labels used to describe the citizenry were: “American”, Californian, Chinese, English, French, German, “Indian”, Irish, Mexican, and Spanish.

There were 172 Chinese living in the city, and another 62 living elsewhere in the county. The adult population of Los Angeles was 65% Male. This disparity was even more pronounced in the Chinese population. A majority of the Chinese lived in the area around Negro Alley, however, Chinese also lived on Aliso, Commercial, Grasshopper (Figueroa), Los Angeles, Main, and Requena streets. Chinatown mainly consisted of two buildings; the Coronel Adobe and the Beaudry building. The Coronel Adobe was primarily where the Nin Yung company resided. The Beaudry building was mainly where the Hong Chow company resided.

Buildings and Businesses

Los Angeles was growing. New buildings were being constructed at a rapid pace. The Pico House opened in June 1870 on Main street, across from the Plaza. In 1871 the Temple building and Downey building were both constructed at the intersection of Main, Spring, and Temple. And the foundation for St. Vibiana’s was started in June.

Prudent Beaudry was one of the most prolific property owners in Los Angeles. He developed several housing tracts, built, and rented many houses. He initially rented the units in his Los Angeles street building separately. But shortly before the riot, he rented the whole property to a man belonging to the Nin Yung company who raised the rent on occupants belonging to the Hong Chow company. This added to the existing tension between the companies.

Coronel Adobe
Image courtesy USC Digital Library

The Coronel Adobe was an old mud-brick style building at the Northwest corner of Arcadia street and Negro Alley. It had been partitioned into smaller units which were rented to Chinese businesses. Doctor Gene Tong occupied the corner store, where he lived and worked. The property had a large courtyard behind the building that was used for cooking, eating, and as a corral. Antonio Coronel had plans to replace the Adobe with a three story brick building, however the city would eventually condemn the property for the extension of Los Angeles street.

Thomas Gates’ Saloon was on Arcadia street, in a building owned by Felix Signoret. This was prior to the construction of the Signoret Building that would be built across from the Pico House. Gates purchased the Saloon from C. C. Higby one month before the riot. Higby’s (Gates’) was less than 300 feet from Beaudry’s building, where the shooting affray started on October 24.

Los Angeles Street, Caswell & Ellis on left, Coronel Adobe Center
Image courtesy USC Digital Library

Caswell and Ellis was a General Store located at the Southwest corner of Arcadia and Los Angeles streets. The store was across Arcadia street from Sam Yuen’s store in the Coronel Adobe, and it was across Los Angeles street from Beaudry's building. Caswell and Ellis is where many of the witnesses gathered during the riot on the night of the massacre. The store would eventually relocate to the Downey building.

Griffith, Lynch and Co. Lumber Yard (AKA Tomlinson's Corral)
Image courtesy USC Digital Library

Griffith, Lynch & Company were a lumber supply business. They had a factory near the train depot for milling wood. And they used a corral on Temple street as a lumber yard. The corral previously belonged to J. J. Tomlinson. The old corral had a sliding gate with a sturdy crossbeam that was about 12 feet high. The crossbeam was used as a gallows on multiple occasions. Charles Wilkins was hanged there in 1863, as well as Michel Lachenais in December 1870.

Goller's Wagon Shop
Image courtesy USC Digital Library

John Goller operated a wagon and carriage manufacturing business on Los Angeles street, between Commercial and Requina streets. Goller had a building on each side of Los Angeles street, but the main operation, and Goller’s residence, was on the West side. There were constantly wagons and carriages parked in the street in front of Goller’s shop; sometimes to the point of impeding traffic.
 

The Jail was between Spring and New High streets, on property owned jointly by the city and county. The property was surrounded on three sides by a 20-foot tall wood plank fence. The forth side was a row of adobe buildings that housed the jailer, the Marshal’s office, the city council room, and the city records vault. The jail was a two story brick and stone building, about 1,800 square feet in size. The lower floor was used for the city jail, and the upper floor was the county jail. The jailer was a man named Frank Carpenter, and a Chinese man named Ah Sum was the jail cook. One month before the riot, a story in the Daily Star reported the jail had at that time 32 prisoners.

The Law
James Burns was the elected Sheriff of Los Angeles County.  Frank Baker was appointed City Marshal after William Warren was killed. Los Angeles had six police officers: Jesus Bilderrain, Bud Bryant, George Gard, Emil Harris, Esteban Sanchez, and Billy Sands.  Bilderrain and Bryant were mounted on fleet horses. In addition to these, there were three constables Robert Hester, Richard Kerren, and Jose Redona.  William Gray and John Trafford were both Justice of the Peace. Ygnacio Sepulveda was County Judge. And Murray Morrison was Judge of the 17th Judicial District Court.

Sing Yu
Marshal William Warren
The Torture of Sing Yu
The Carriage Event
False Accusations
The Abduction of Yut Ho
Commentaries on Chinese Prostitution
The Anatomy of Los Angeles in 1871
The Affray
The Chinese Massacre of 1871
The Aftermath
Analysis
Anti-Chinese Rhetoric
Anti-Chinese Violence
Anti-Chinese Sentiment In Advertising