Page:Anti Chinese Riots at Seattle.djvu/8

 Rifles and University Cadets, who maintained a line across the docks extending from Main Street to Washington Street.

The numbers of the disorderly element were increasing and there was every indication of trouble ahead. President Powell of the University had been mingling among the crowd and informed us that they were planning to take our guns away from us. The Guards had been expecting this and were prepared all the time for trouble.

After the “Queen” left, the remaining Chinese were ordered moved back to their quarters where they had been living and the Chinese were formed in column with baskets and bundles of all sizes which made them a clumsy lot to handle. In front was placed the Home Guards,—the Seattle Rifles and the University Cadets coming some 250 yards in the rear. The march began up Main Street. The Home Guards were well closed up as they had been cautioned to march that way.

Crowds of men were on the street, but they gave way. But on our left, on the North side of the street, they now lined up in better order, and as the head of the column reached Commercial St. and alongside the New England Hotel, at a signal the rioters sprang at the Guards and seized a number of their guns, which began to go off. The rioters instantly let go the guns and crowded back. They were surprised that the guns were loaded. One man was killed and four wounded. This seemed to have the desired effect on them. Immediately the Guards were formed across Commercial St. looking North. The Seattle Rifles and University Cadets formed on Main St. facing the docks, where there was a large crowd, a few men were faced to the South and East, thus forming a square at Commercial and Main Sts. The dense mobs were in the streets to the North and West. To the North as far as Yesler Way the street was packed full of raving, howling, angry men, threatening revenge on those who were interfering with their lawlessness. I selected Mr. C. H. Hanford and Mr. F. H. Whitworth and directed them to press the crowd back so as to keep an open space between our line and the front of the mob. Many of the mob were seen with arms. At the time of shooting, several shots were fired by the mob, one ball passing through the Sheriff’s coat, but none of our men were hurt. Back a distance a number of the leaders mounted boxes and by their fierce harangues tried to stir the mob to seek revenge. There was no order given to fire. The men understood their business and knew when to shoot.