The Chinese Driven Out. / The Chinese Exodus.

Bismarck Weekly Tribune, Bismarck, 1885-11-06, p.1

Dateline: TACOMA, W. T., Nov. 4. / WASHINGTON, Nov. 5.

Summary

Two adjacent wire items reporting the violent expulsion of Chinese residents from Tacoma, Washington Territory, on 3 November 1885. The first ("The Chinese Driven Out") describes the action — by 5pm, Tacoma citizens had marched the Chinese alongside drays loaded with their effects to Lakeview, one mile south; 197 Chinese reached Lakeview at 7pm. The second ("The Chinese Exodus") reports that the Governor of Washington Territory telegraphed Secretary Lamar, was informed order had been imperfectly preserved but no one seriously injured, issued a proclamation appealing for order, and was telegraphed back by the President via Lamar approving the proclamation.

Narrative

On November 4th, several hundred citizens of Tacoma, Washington Territory, marched through the city and forced approximately 197 Chinese residents to pack their belongings and relocate to Lakeview, a mile south of town, with the Chinese merchants given until morning to follow. The governor of Washington Territory reported the expulsion to Secretary Lamar and telegraphed local Tacoma authorities about maintaining order, receiving word that no one had been seriously injured. After the Chinese in the territory appealed to the governor for protection and a gubernatorial proclamation was issued, President Cleveland's administration approved the proclamation and directed the governor to use all means at his command to prevent further trouble.

“many hundred citizens congregated in the morning, marching in an orderly manner along the streets to the Chinese houses, ordering the occupants to pack their goods and leave”
“The Chinese in the territory have made an urgent appeal to the governor for protection”
“directing him to use all means at his command to prevent further trouble”

AI-generated (claude-sonnet-4-6). Verify against the transcription before quoting.

Also mentioned

Secretary Lamar · federal_secretary_addressed
L. Q. C. Lamar, US Secretary of the Interior 1885–88.
The governor of Washington territory · telegraphing_governor
Watson C. Squire, Governor of Washington Territory 1884–87. Named only by office.

Places

Tacoma, Washington Territory (primary)
Washington Territory (secondary)

Themes

Source type

news_item, wire_item

Transcription

transcription: complete · confidence high

# Transcription — Bismarck Weekly Tribune, 1885-11-06, p.1 **Source**: Bismarck Weekly Tribune (Bismarck, Dakota Territory), Friday 6 November 1885, p.1. **Status**: Partial — two items only. **Method**: This page carries a dense column of separate wire items. The two items transcribed below — "The Chinese Driven Out" and "The Chinese Exodus" — are the items the user's filename references. Other items on the page (Kansas, Virginia, The Party Felicitated, Tom Cannon in Minneapolis, Work to be Pushed, The Hennepin Canal, etc.) are logged in page_metadata.yaml as peripheral_items. --- **The Chinese Driven Out.** TACOMA, W. T., Nov. 4. — Yesterday being the time set for the Chinese to leave, many hundred citizens congregated in the morning, marching in an orderly manner along the streets to the Chinese houses, ordering the occupants to pack their goods and leave. The order was complied with. By 5 o'clock, p.m., all the effects were packed and loaded on drays and the Chinese marched alongside the wagons, en route to Lakeview, one mile south of here. The Chinese merchants were given time till morning to pack their goods. One hundred and ninety-seven Chinese reached Lakeview at 7 p.m., and camped in the vacant houses. It is not known whether or not they will go to Portland, but they probably will. Many are walking south on the railroad track. The citizens sent out last night provisions enough to last till morning. --- **The Chinese Exodus.** WASHINGTON, Nov. 5. — The governor of Washington territory yesterday telegraphed Secretary Lamar that the citizens of Tacoma had expelled about 200 Chinese from the city limits. The governor then telegraphed the local authorities of Tacoma, asking if they could preserve order. He was informed that while order had not been perfectly preserved, no one had been seriously injured. The Chinese in the territory have made an urgent appeal to the governor for protection, and a gubernatorial proclamation has been issued calling upon all citizens to assist in the preservation of order. This action was reported to-day to Secretary Lamar, and, after a conference with the president, a telegram was sent to the governor of Washington territory approving the issuance of his proclamation, and directing him to use all means at his command to prevent further trouble.

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