OCR Text |
Show j OPIUM RAID. ; Five Chinamen Bagged by the Police. The police made a raid on a Chinese opium den last nighL For a month past, the officers have had their eye on these holes, and ascertained ascer-tained that in only one of them were any white persons allowed to enter and smoke. During thia time plans bave been laying for the purpose of making a raid, which would bo astonish the Celestials and be so tflective that it wonld break up the practice, at least so far as allowing white persons to go in ia concerned; little, if Hoy hopes, ever being entertained en-tertained of breaking up the dens which are visited exclusively by Chinamen. The raid would probably bave been made Booner, but for the ravings of the Tribune man, tbe eSect of whose articles was to make a good deal of talk on the streets, and to put the Chinese on their guard. However, as Boon as the matter had quieted down a little, the subject was revived, and the raid executed. It bad been the intention to make the haul on Tuesday night, but circumstances being unfavorable it was postponed. At 11 o'clock last night Police Officers Phillips and Smith, gained an entrance into the only house in wbicb white persons are allowed to smoke. This is the three story building in tbe first alley running ofl Commercial street to tbe left, and is owned and conducted by Ah Coon, and three Chinamen were arrested in it, and a umber of pipes, a lamp and an opium box, and other utensils cap tured. Quan Lung, the. keeper ol another jlace, waa also nabbed,, together to-gether with pipes, a lamp, a tray and other articles, and a fifth Chinaman. Ah Coon is also arrested and against him, as the keeper of the house which white persooB visit, the evidence ie believed to be pretty strong, as there are two cases against him. It is thought the cases will bold good, and that two ol tboe arreated the keepers will at least be proven guilty, and maybe two others. The pipes and other articles arti-cles seised, will doubtless be confiscated. confis-cated. The Chinese quarters were all excitement ex-citement in consequence of the raid, und many of them were jabbering away with remarkable velocity. Others who are semi-oivilired, at least as regards language, laughed at the idea of tbe charge olicking, and one in particular said the arrest was a fraud; that no one waa smoking in the house, and that nothing could be proven against them. It may, bow-ever bow-ever asloniih them to-morrow, to know what proof bas been obtained. Two of the Chinamen gave bail for their appearance at 12 o'clock today, to-day, and tbe others spent the night in jail. If this raid holds good, , a white person will experience a great deal of difficulty in gaining access hereafter. |