Midnight Blast at a Chinese Laundry
A loud explosion near South Sixth and Washington Street sends Seattle police on a frantic manhunt for a mysterious bomber.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A heavy detonation in the vicinity of South Sixth and Washington street, at 2:30 this morning, caused a sudden exodus from the police headquarters, and before the echo had died away, two detectives and a half dozen police officers were on the chase for the cause of the excitement. Many were of the opinion that a safe had been cracked in one of the banks, but at last accounts it was regarded as nearly certain that a large Chinese bomb had been exploded in one of the Washington street laundries. Detective Ruferts interviewed the Mongolians and examined their cribs, but, as usual in such cases, they professed ignorance.
“Detective Ruferts interviewed the Mongolians and examined their cribs, but, as usual in such cases, they professed ignorance.”
This incident captures the climate of fear and xenophobia targeting Seattle’s Chinese community during a period of intense exclusionist agitation. The casual reference to 'Mongolians' and the investigation of their 'cribs' reflects the dehumanizing language often used by the press of the time to justify state violence and community harassment.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.