\doc\web\99\06\chinriot.txt


Seattle Metropolitan police museum


Anti-Chinese Riots


In the 1870's, large numbers of Chinese immigrants
came to Seattle to build the transcontinental railroad. Over the next 15 years, the Chinese population expanded to 3,276 and established a permanent residential and business community.


By 1885, labor agitation grew across the country as a result of prolonged business depression and the lax enforcement of the exclusion act of 1880 rrstricting the Chinese from entering the country. On Sept 25, 1885, an anti-Chinese Congress was held in Seattle (consisting of labor union groups and local community representatives) which proclaimed that the Chinese were here illegally and demanding they leave western washington.


Sheriff John Mcgraw soon became worried that Seattle's police chief and some of his officers were participating in the anti-Chinese agitation. As a precaution, 10 companies of federal troops were dispatched from Fort Vancouver to assisthe sheriff in maintaining order. The violence subsided briefly buyt on February 6, 1886, a mob moved in on Chinatown to forcibly evict the remaining Chinese. Sheriff McGraw quickly assembled and deputized 200 men who, with the help of the territorial militia ( home guard) attempted to protect the Chinese from harm.


During one attempt to rush the home guard militia, four men were shot, including the group's leader, Charles Stuart, who died the following day. During the shooting, governor Squire, followed by president Cleveland, declared martial law to quell the violence.




Harpewr's View


During the anti-Chinese riots, Harper's magazine reporters would often sketch the day's events on paperand submit the drawing for publication. The process was slow and current events was usually received in magazine form a month after the fact. These photos depict the Chinese being protected by the state  militia and the loading of Chinese on the boat for an unofficial attempt at deportation