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Show pages From The Past ft I 1 -. PORT DUCHESNE brought many enterprises and activities into the Basin. Pictured above is the Fort Duchesne Band. Chinese laundryman comes to Fort Duchesne in 1889 Sing, a Chinese immigrant, '..3e to Fort Duchesne in 18S9, three rtirs after the Fort was established, aiterprising Oriental, though he sival1 hardly a word of English, ; Untied a "primitive laundry" on : bank of the Uintah River near the i t His laundry was greatly s smnized by the two troops of cavalry , f-d the company of infantry " eaWished at Fort Duchesne at that 1 -e As his business expanded he iined a supply of chinaware which be sold to the wives of the officers and 3 ie settlers of Uintah Basin. The English language proved ' c'ECult for him to master, and there " it some words the command of ' rich he never did obtain. The Indian rage. however, was completely s'.ered by him. In their tongue he ? add converse with great efficiency, i 1 Aa enterprising pair of troopers ted a room in the hotel at Fort Ijchesne and opened up a poker game. Sxg Sing became a master artist at ie ume, and his earnings flourished. 5135 said he could hold four aces and irZ hold a straight face. After he had xanulated sufficient capital, he iced a restaurant at the fort. It rwl to be very profitable, and he s'Xerabletoset up a little store. He mad to annex the Indian trade along ri the soldiers. By fair dealing and rss? he won their entire patronage. 'A 5e had become so popular with the v ::iins that when several white -srs. resenting his competition, had z removed from the reservation, the ::ns refused to have anything to do r'j them. Before long their Eblishment strangely burned down, irhen established a new store just f je reservation. Tsn he announced he would put up a n?oc the strip away from the center, iris laughed at by his competitors riwere in the merchantile business sihcd licenses to do business with the :ci3. Fairness, right prices, and esledge of human nature soon won i'ia a place no one ever could down. Sirw trade from every section of the "sa especiaLly after the opening of Preservation n 1905. His reputation Ji'.egrity grew, as did his business. & his enterprise grew, additional was needed. Wong Sing began tione addition after another onto s store. Wong first started his business, might everyone was as honest as elf. A number of residents, ner, thought it was funny to trick 3- William Tenbroek, who had a src and a saloon on the opposite side J 4e military reserve, was a good rl of Wong's and told of one iat. A family who lived down v-ti Randlett would drive up to his s and tell him they were on their r!;toWong'sand askif they could buy ashing for him. He would give them of goods he wanted and the money for them. Then they would buy iMds for him, charge them to their account and pocket the money. 5ere that much ahead as they did staid to pay Wong. After a few .fflces of this nature, Wong is point of view toward his jmen and purchasers paid cash J few cases where Wong was -niced of their responsibility paid 'thirty days. C -Tf his establishment in the 6 antile business, Sing-which was If name-soon learned that he 6 "f and soldiers loved the 6 nil mufflers, shawls, and robes Wj dgfredsilk and fantastically r lord was his bond- His credit y "''on of the nation was the ig method of accounting was a "- to all. One day an adding machine salesman came by and wanted to sell him an adding machine, but Sing stated he could beat the machine. A long list of additions in figures were given to them simultaneously; the adding machine came out second. Sing never forgot a friend and would stand by one through thick and thin. He was a staunch friend of the late L.W. Curry, and it is stated that his was the first Christian rites Sing ever attended. Wong Sing had been suffering from rheumatism and sent for his son, Wong Wing. When Wing came to the port at San Francisco, he was refused admittance by the immigration authorities, Wong Sing brought his case to his friend William H. Siddoway, who telegraphed Senator Reed Smoot. Smoot, through his knowledge of the romantic Chinese merchant, convinced the authorities in Washington things were as reported. In a short time Wong Wing was on the way to meet his father and help him bear the burden of his extensive business. For many years Wong distributed calendars to his customers and friends. The Indian motif was always carried out in the calendar. By 1927 Wong's business was really booming. During this period he employed eight clerks, operated a furniture store, a general merchandise store, a meat market, became the agent for machinery, and was dispursing agent for other firms. Wong was respected by all men and his reputation for honesty was undisputed. His personal checks were accepted as cash at the U.S. post office. Post Master Wilson at Fort Duchesne related the fact that six to nine hundred dollars taken in at regular intervals was exchanged to Wong Sing for his personal check and the Federal Post Office in Salt Lake City never refused to accept it as cash. In 1934, Wong Sing was killed in an automobile accident on his way to Salt Lake City for supplies and medical attention. Wong Wing, son of Wong Sing, was notified and arrived in Park City that afternoon to make arrangement for the body. His body was taken to Denver for cremation. There were no funeral services as the Chinese are averse to such rites and prefer to bear their grief alone. Sing had conducted welfare work in a practical manner among the Indians and assisted them in their business transactions. The Salt Lake .Tribune headlines stated Indians mourn the Death of Wong Sing Pioneer Fort Duchesne. The business of Wong Sing was continued by his son, Wong C. Wing. The last store still remains on Highway 40 and is now operated by Brothersons. He walked in his father's shoes and had a large business and many friends. His wife, Jenny, was a special lady. During the Second World War in the 1940's, many things were hard to buy, but Wing had connections all over the country. If he liked you, he would find what you wanted somewhere. He would say "No, I don't have it, but I have it next time." The next time you were there it was there. I remember one instance when my father, Victor Kan-en, a rancher needed a 30-30 rifle. You could not get guns at that time, but we got one "next time." If you have any information on old blacksmith shops, the strip, saloons, horse races, or other history items, please contact me at the Uintah County Library or at my home. Information for this article was taken from: Utah Historical Quarterly, FaU 1964 by Thomas G. Alexander and Leonard J. Arlington; Reed Morrill 1934 Thesis: Vernal Express Microfilm. |