Anti-Chinese Violence

The following are a collection of news reports of violence against Chinese residents of California. Many of these events were unprovoked. One notable event involved Yo Hing, who was well known in the community, and had several business dealings outside the Chinese community. The assassination attempt on Yo Hing was the precursor to the Chinese Massacre. 

 

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 2, Number 103, 1 May 1870
CHINAMAN SHOT-- Friday night a Chinaman was shot through the leg just below the knee, at a wash house at the lower end of Ni--er Alley. Accounts concerning the matter are conflicting. Some say that the shot was fired by a Mexican; others aver that the pistol was accidentally discharged while in the hands of another Celestial. — That the Chinaman was shot is the one thing positive.

Los Angeles Daily Star, Volume 1, Number 15, 17 June 1870
SHOOTING AFFAIR IN JULIAN CITY. -- On Sunday last, at Julian City, San Diego county, a Chinaman was shot by a man named James Trask, apparently without cause. Trask and the Chinaman met on horseback when the former rode up against him and nearly jostled him from his horse. The Chinaman then gave some resenting exclamation, when Trask drew a revolver and shot the horse of the Chinaman and afterwards the Chinaman himself, as the latter was fleeing for shelter to an adjacent stable. Some citizens then gave chase after Trask, but in a short distance he dismounted, and taking to the brush, made his escape after taking the chance of two shots fired after him. On Monday afternoon a posse of four with a warrant, started in pursuit and have not yet been heard from. Trask has a ranch a few miles from Julian, Rumor has it that he lately shot and killed a German some where south of Julian. The Chinaman was alive on Monday, though "there is little chance of his recovery.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 2, Number 176, 28 July 1870
KNOCKED DOWN. -- Last night a Chinaman was knocked down at the corner of Commercial and Los Angeles streets, by some person at present unknown.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 2, Number 201, 26 August 1870
CHASED AND CAUGHT. -- About one o'clock yesterday morning, officer Bryant discovered some men throwing stones into a Chinese house on Negro alley, who fled at the approach of the officer. Mr. Bryant gave chase and sounded his whistle for assistance, and chasing the offender from Negro alley into the plaza, from the plaza down Sanchez to Arcadia street, down Arcadia to Los Angeles, across Los Angeles to Aliso, and down Aliso to the neighborhood of Alameda street, where he overhauled and arrested the stone thrower just as officer Dye came to his assistance from the railroad depot, where he was on duty The chase was a long one and evinced no little pluck and endurance on the part of officer Bryant.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 2, Number 202, 27 August 1870
MAYOR'S COURT -- JUSTICE GRAY, PRESIDING. -- H. C. Bishop, who, under the influence of a bad quality of benzine, demolished a window in a Chinese house, on Los Angeles street, was yesterday morning fined three dollars, which he paid, and sloped forth from the lockup to breath the free air.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 2, Number 226, 24 September 1870
ASSAULT ON A CHINAMAN. -- A day or two since, Yo Hing, a Chinaman well known in Los Angeles as a cigar merchant, and as one of the leaders of one of the Chinese Companies in this city, visited the La Puente Rancho on business. Returning, he, with a companion, also a Chinaman, stopped at a hotel at El Monte and sought a moderate amount of the liquid refreshment imbibed alike by Caucasian and Mongolian. While waiting to be served, a man, white man, came in and sans ceremonie grappled a chair and unmercifully belabored Yo Hing and his companion. No arrests have been made at this writing.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 2, Number 251, 23 October 1870
SENTENCED. -- Yesterday, Justice Gray imposed upon Santiago Arguella, a fine of $10, with alternative of payment of five days in jail for striking a Chinaman in the face with a heavy whip.

Los Angeles Daily Star, Volume 1, Number 139, 10 November 1870
FINED. -- Garret Lynch was brought before Justice Gray yesterday, on a charge of maliciously and willfully running into and breaking the wagon of a Chinaman. He was tried and found guilty, and fined $12.

Los Angeles Daily Star, Volume 1, Number 145, 17 November 1870
INTERESTING. -- Yesterday evening about 5 o'clock, a sable son of Afrique's sunny clime bethought himself of exercising his prerogative as a citizen under the Fifteenth Amendment, and accosted the "coming man" -- John Chinaman who was going in the direction of the Pico House, with a bundle of clothes looking sufficiently large for a six-mule team to haul, with "git out ob de way,” and "gib a colored gemmen de sidewalk." John did not like thus to be so rudely accosted, and showing his dissatisfaction by throwing down his load, and planting a stunner on Cuffe's proboscis, which caused a copious flow of "claret." After this severe treatment, Cuffe piled into John in-good style and seemed to be getting the best of the fight, when some of the bystanders shouted "police;" which caused the combatants to separate, and each go his homeward way.

Los Angeles Daily Star, Volume 1, Number 161, 6 December 1870
ASSAULT AND BATTERY. -- Ah Tom filed in Justice Gray's Court yesterday a complaint alleging that William Jackson, a gentleman whose complexion "would add an approving hue of the rainbow", viz., black, and the celebrated African John Doe, who was alleged to be very "handy with his feet", had kicked him down, and kicked him after he was down, doing much injury to his feelings, which were described as being very tender (where he was kicked). A warrant was issued for the arrest of the kickers and kicked.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 2, Number 295, 14 December 1870
FIGHTING. Juan Alipaz and Ah Fy having a personal difference decided to settle it in a fisticuff bout. Ere the matter was settled, the two combatants were unceremoniously captured by a member of police force. Judge Gray fined them $5 each. The affair happened within the odoriferous confines of Negro alley.

Los Angeles Daily Star, Volume 1, Number 176, 23 December 1870
James Traininer, a sailor, was dangerously stabbed, last evening, by a Chinaman, whom he was annoying as he was passing by the Sailor's Home.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 3, Number 37, 14 February 1871
JOHN EXPERIMENTS SCIENCE. -- The itinerant philosophers who have set up an electricity shop at the junction of Main and Spring streets, lured a Chinaman into trying a shock, and gave him more than he bargained for, increasing the current until John found himself unable to let go his hold, and sever his connection with the battery, but remained gyrating a distorted leg in mid-air like a galvanized frog, whereupon he indulged in a torrent of invective in his own language; it afterwards occurring to him that he might be better understood in English, he expressed him tersely and to the point. "Dam-let go - two-bittee - two-bittee, me give two-bittee." Having been at length released, he exhibited the natural tendency to duplicity and bad faith by gathering his drapery about him and edging out of the crowd, with an expression of ineffable disgust on his countenance.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 3, Number 86, 12 April 1871
ARRESTED. -- Two Italians were arrested yesterday afternoon, one for assaulting a Chinese fellow-citizen, and the other for resisting his arrest and attempting a rescue. The mayor fined them five dollars apiece.

Los Angeles Daily Star, Volume 2, Number 286, 2 May 1871
ITEMS IN BRIEF.
A Chinaman working for Juanario Abila left his employer's house night before last to come up town. About ten steps from the door be was accosted by a Mexican who demanded his money or his life, and turning attempted to run back to the house, when the highwayman fired three shots at him, one striking him in the neck, one in the thigh and the last, passed over his bead and imbedded itself in the door. In to-morrow's Star we hope to chronicle the capture of the would be robber and murderer.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 3, Number 126, 28 May 1871
AFTER THE MONGOLS Pat Gleason dislikes Chinamen. A short time ago while he was a guest of Mr. Carpenter the Chinese cook at the jail gave him a curse in broken English. John's experations have rankled in Gleason’s mind over since and when he got out of prison he immediately went for the first Chinese he met, beating him severely. Justice Grey fined him, twenty dollars for his fun, but he preferred going back to his old quarters, vowing to wreak the rest of his vengeance on the offending race upon his liberation.

Los Angeles Daily Star, Volume 2, Number 309, 28 May 1871
ITEMS IN BRIEF.
Paddy H. Gleason, "a decent man" from the Emerald Isle, was brought before Justice Gray yesterday, charged with assaulting and beating a "Heathen Chinee;" he plead guilty to the charge, and when asked if there were any mitigating circumstances in the case, replied, that the last time be was in jail "for just doing nothing at all, at all" a Chinaman said that he was of canine origin on the mother's side, and as he would just as soon "bate" one as another, he surrounded a group of the "crathurs" in Negro Alley and was just getting his hand in, when policeman Bryant interfered. He was fined $25.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 3, Number 132, 4 June 1871
STATE NEWS
SAN FRANCISCO, JUNE 3.
Thomas O'Brian, who is charged with being the boy who gave the fatal blow to a Chinaman on Forth street one day this week, was arrested to-day. It is alleged that he struck him with a stuffed club, or sand bag, without the slightest provocation. The Coroner found two arteries in the brain broken, but no outward evidence of the blow.

Los Angeles Daily Star, Volume 3, Number 326, 15 June 1871
A poor Chinaman was lately attacked in San Francisco by a gang of boys, one of whom beat him so severely as to cause his death. An inquest was held, the fact of the beating clearly proved, who did it, and its consequences; yet a jury basely returned a verdict that the Chinaman came to his death from unknown causes. This speaks loudly for the intelligence or the integrity of the jury. An unimpeachable medical gentleman testified that the cause of death arose from the beating on the head, yet be was not believed, and the murderer was allowed to escape, for so far. Yet there is a probability that further steps may be taken in the matter, and the guilty party receive punishment equal to his offence. It is to be hoped the majesty of the law will be vindicated.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 3, Number 142, 16 June 1871
LIKE SAN FRANCISCO. -- A Chinawoman was yesterday passing along a street almost entirely appropriated to a person of her kind, when she was violently assailed with a shower of stones from a crowd of boys who bruised her severely and then turned the hose on her wounded body. She is nothing, but we are something; let all such brutalities be put down with the iron hand of the law. Then prohibit the landing of any Chinese female, and the cruel treatment of any Chinaman. Hereafter, we may be able to rid us of the pest entirely; not now.

Los Angeles Daily Star, Volume 3, Number 327, 16 June 1871
On yesterday a number of boys on the corner of Aliso and Los Angeles streets indulged in the unlawful luxury of applying a water-hose to a passing Chinawoman. The boys, however, beat an inglorious retreat, on seeing the Celestial assume a belligerent attitude, which was accomplished by hurling missiles at the unruly fanqui.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 3, Number 143, 17 June 1871
CHINA-HUNT. -- Some natives yesterday morning in Los Angeles street indulged in a grand China-hunt, with, however, but small result. Lariats were of no avail, John dodged so skillfully, and the friendly precincts of Negro Alley received the fugitives unharmed.

Los Angeles Daily Star, Volume 3, Number 328, 17 June 1871
Pacific Coast Dispatches
In the murder case of Harrington; who killed the Chinaman in San Francisco, and who was liberated by the jury, Judge Stanley promptly ordered him to be held to answer for murder in the second degree. This says the Chronicle:
Is a merited rebuke to the pusillanimous coroners jury who violated their oaths, to shield the prisoner, because the person killed was only a Chinaman, It is to be hoped that justice will be promptly administered in this case, and the rowdy and hoodlum elements understand that the law protects every human being in the community, regardless of color or race.
- - -
Three Chinamen were yesterday morning, at an early hour, attacked and beaten by a party of native serenaders on New Commercial street. The Chinamen, being in a minority, made themselves scarce as promptly as circumstances permitted. The act was a drunken freak.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 3, Number 147, 22 June 1871
Lawlessness
Nothing is more disgraceful to our civilization than the tendency towards rowdyism and lawlessness which appears to be manifesting itself in all quarters, the Hoodlum phase being the latest, but by no means the worst of its development. The Chinese in the metropolis seem to be made especial objects of attack by all who have any disposition to elevate cruelty to animals into a higher branch of science. No one can be more strenuously opposed to Chinese immigration than we; yet once landed they acquire the right to the protection of our laws, so long as they, on their part, abide by the requirements of these laws; and even where they fail, it is not by private hands that punishment should be meted out. It seems, from recent incidents, the last ending in homicide, that the authorities are inadequate to afford protection unless sustained by public opinion. Hence we think the universal voice of the people of the State should be raised in condemnation of barbarity, in whatever form it may appear, whether in inhuman treatment of a corpse, or beating a Chinaman in the streets, or even in meting out deserved punishment to the guilty. The sentiment of the press generally has been shown by the comments on each outrage as it has occurred, to agree with those we have stated above, and through the press speaks the public to strengthen and encourage its servants, the officers of the law.

Los Angeles Daily Star, Volume 3, Number 359, 25 July 1871
A white man, who "hit a Chinaman on the head because I wanted to," was taken in charge Sunday afternoon by officer Sands.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 3, Number 192, 15 August 1871
WAR OF RACES. -- A fight occurred in Negro Alley on Sunday between a Mexican boy and a Chinaman. The latter was about to regale himself on a watermelon which the former coveted and sought to confiscate - in other words, steal. John resisted and came out of the affair with a bruised head. The Mayor fined the young Mexican yesterday morning.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 3, Number 222, 19 September 1871
On Saturday night a party of roughs overtook a Chinaman on Main street, and one of them commenced to pelt the unoffending heathen with stones. John maintained a running fight until the odds grew too great for him, when he betook himself to flight.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 3, Number 239, 8 October 1871
WAR OF RACES. -- A colored boy named Rueben, moved by jealousy of the inferior race, made an assault yesterday upon one Ah Goff and subjected him for a time to severe lapidation. Ah plucked up the courage at last, turned on his pursuer and drove him back after beating him, and swearing fearfully in Chinese. Justice Gray could see nothing in the case and dismissed it.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 3, Number 247, 18 October 1871
SHOOTING AFFRAY.-- Between twelve and and(sic) one o'clock yesterday morning, a shooting affray took place on Celis' ranch on the southern out-skirts of the city. The affair is said to have been something after the following fashion: One of the farm hands of Mr. E. F. de Celis - A native Californian - returning home at the above hour, ordered the cook - a Chinaman - to get up and make him a cup of coffee. John declined to comply, pleading as an excuse the lateness of the hour. Such an excuse, however, was not satisfactory to the other, so "he went for that heathen Chinee." A lively chase then followed, when John getting cornered, is said to drawn a messenger of death and fired, shooting his pursuer in the hand. The Chinaman was brought before Justice Gray, charging him with having committed an assault with a deadly weapon. He now lies in jail awaiting trial. His case will come up when the wounded man is able to appear in court.

Massacre occurred October 24, 1871

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 3, Number 288, 6 December 1871
BEFORE JUSTICE GREY. -- Andy Sharkey, who was incarcerated for appearing on the public streets in an intoxicated condition and who also appeared before the Mayor, yesterday morning, to answer to that charge, was called upon later in the day, to appear before Justice Gray to answer the charge of having assaulted the jailer's cook -- a Chinaman. Not having done John much injury, he was liberated upon paying a nominal fine.

Los Angeles Daily Star, Volume 4, Number 91, 16 March 1872
Chinese Bargain.
A Chinaman who keeps a wash-house near the zanja on Alameda street has been practicing a rather sharp game here of late in his transactions with the parties of whom be buys wood. Chang Woo, generally bargains for a load of wood, which he compels the seller to throw from the wagon across the zanja near his shanty. After the wood is deposited on the other side of the bank; Chang always has a very bad habit of forgetting what he promised to pay for it within twenty-five to fifty cents of what he bargained to give. Chang knows that to re-handle the wood and throw it back across the zanja into the wagon would be at least four bits worth of labor (which is the amount be wants to make) beside the trouble of finding another customer. Chang has made many "four bits" by this operation, as one man in three would let the wood go at four bits less than the bargain before he would go to the trouble of throwing it back across the zanja, and then have the extra labor of picking it up and putting it into the wagon. But Chang lost his grip yesterday, and came to grief sooner than he expected, as he "caught a tartar" and caught one of the best thrashings that has been bestowed upon one so deserving for a long time.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 4, Number 89, 13 April 1872
The charge of assaulting a Chinawoman lodged against a native Californian at Trafford's Court, was dismissed yesterday; also the charge of assaulting Mrs. Morris by another native-Californian was likewise dismissed.

All articles and images Courtesy California Digital Newspaper Collection,
Center for Bibliographic Studies and Research,
University of California, Riverside.

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