No. 255.
Mr. Chang Yen
Hoon to Mr. Bayard.
Chinese
Legation,
Washington, D.
C., March 3, 1888.
(Received March 5.)
Sir.: In the interview which I had the honor to
hold with you on the 29th ultimo, in response to your polite note of the
24th ultimo, you requested that I should send you a copy of the
statement of claims, which I left with you during the interview, with a
list of those which were based upon losses of uncollected debts.
[Page 391]
In compliance with your request I have great pleasure in transmitting the
accompanying statement, which I hope may be found to meet your
desires.
It will be noted that the statement includes a claim on account of the
twenty-eight lives lost at the Rock Springs riot in 1885. When the
estimate for property losses was sent to you with the note of my
predecessor of November 30, 1885, it was hoped that due punishment would
be inflicted upon the wicked men who so cruelly murdered the Chinese
subjects in that horrible affair, and thus their relatives would have
the satisfaction of knowing that some atonement had been made, and for
which punishment I have in my notes made repeated requests. But since
not a single one of the murderers has been punished, it seems highly
just that some compensation should be made to the families of the
unfortunate men, and I know so well your high sense of justice and
kindness of heart that I am satisfied you will recognize this claim as
well founded.
With this new opportunity, I repeat, etc.,
[Inclosure l.]
statement of claims.
I.—Property losses.
| In note of April 5, 1886: |
|
| Squak Valley, Washington Territory |
$535.65 |
| Coal Creek Mine, Washington Terrritory |
4,054.88 |
| Almy, Wyoming Territory |
6,064.70 |
| In note of August 11, 1886: |
|
| Anaconda, Montana Territory |
3,000.00 |
| In note of February 19, 1887: |
|
| Tacoma. Washington Territory— |
|
| Losses in the town |
106,919.60 |
| Losses in the vicinity |
7,530.65 |
| In note of February 19, 1887: |
|
| Settle, Washington Territory— |
|
| Losses as stated in inclosure accompanying note |
$143,851.87 |
|
| Deducting claims based upon uncollected debts, as per
statement attached hereto |
35,337.60 |
|
| There remains in the Seattle claim |
108,514.27 |
| In note of February 25, 1887: |
|
| Juneau, Alaska Territory. No detailed estimate of
losses yet filed. About 100 Chinese were expelled.
Estimating $100 each for property losses and expenses of
journey to San Francisco and elsewhere would amount
to |
10,000.00 |
| In note of February 15, 1886: |
|
| A statement of riots at Bloom field, Redding,
Boulder Creek, Eureka, and other towns in California,
involving murder, arson, robbery, and expulsion, but no
estimates. Also a statement that near 100,000 Chinese had
been driven from their homes. |
|
| Total of property losses, as estimated |
246,619.75 |
II.—Loss of lives.
| In note of November 30, 1885: |
|
| Rock Springs, Wyoming Territory. Number of lives lost in
riot, besides 16 wounded |
28 |
| In note of April 5. 1886: |
|
| Squak Valley, Washington Territory. Number of lives lost
(and 4 wounded) |
3 |
| Orofino, Idaho Territory. Number of lives lost |
5 |
| In note of August 11, 1886: |
|
| Anaconda, Montana Territory. Number of lives lost |
4 |
| In note of February 16, 1888: |
|
| Snake River, Oregon. Number of lives reported lost |
10 |
[Page 392]
If the Snake River murders are omitted, of which no accurate
information is yet received, there remain 40 lives of Chinese by
riots and violence for which no compensation has yet been made. If
the indemnity paid by Spain to the United States in the Virginius case is accepted, $2,500 as the
lowest sum, there would result a claim for $100,000. Add as above,
property losses, $246,619.75; grand total, $346,619.75.
[Inclosure 2.]
statement as to claims for uncollected
debts.
| These only appear in the Seattle claims (see note February
19, 1887). |
|
| The first on the list is the claim of Wa Chong & Co.
for $67,042.10. In examining the detailed items on file in
the Chinese legation there appears of this sum for
uncollected debts |
$17,042.14 |
| The others in the list as follows: |
|
| Tong yu Chong |
8,477.95 |
| Kwong Chong |
2,568.91 |
| OnTai |
2,797.25 |
| Hong Fong Low |
1,489.70 |
| Yeong Kee |
333.10 |
| Kow Kee |
428.55 |
| Sory Woh (total of this claim is $5,321.35. Deduct losses
in goods, $3.121.35) |
2,200.00 |
| Total for uncollected debts |
35,337.60 |
