The Seizure of the Steamer Fairy
Federal authorities seize a vessel accused of smuggling eight Chinese laborers into Puget Sound.
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.
In the United States district court for the district of Washington, Northern division. The United States of America vs. a small steamer of about seven tons burden, named Fairy, her engines, boilers, tackle, apparel, and furniture. Be it remembered that on this 5th day of March, 1894, before the Honorable C. H. Hanford, judge of the said court, comes William H. Brinker, United States attorney for the district of Washington, and in the name and on behalf of the United States, as well as of J. Saunders, the collector of customs for the collection district of Puget Sound, propounds and gives the judge to understand that on the 21st day of February, 1894, in the said collection district and on waters navigable from the sea by vessels of ten or more tons burden, the said collector did seize a certain small steamer of about seven tons burden, named Fairy, as forfeited to the United States. It is alleged that on the 21st day of February, 1894, the master of said vessel, whose name is unknown, did knowingly and unlawfully bring within the United States into the collection district of Puget Sound eight certain Chinese laborers, in violation of the acts of congress relating to Chinese immigration. By reason whereof, the said vessel, her engines, boilers, tackle, apparel, and furniture have become forfeited to the United States. The trial of said cause is fixed for the 29th day of March, 1894, at the city of Seattle.
“Did then and there attempt to land and cause to be landed in said district of Washington from a certain foreign port, to wit: Victoria, eight certain Chinese laborers.”
This 1894 case reflects the federal government's aggressive enforcement of the Chinese Exclusion Act, which had effectively banned Chinese laborers from entering the country. The seizure of the 'Fairy' highlights the intense maritime surveillance and anti-immigrant policy that defined the era's regional politics, long before Seattle became the diverse city it is today.
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