Brutal Murder on the Columbia
A Chinese miner is found murdered near the Columbia River, sparking a manhunt for his countryman who coveted his gold dust.
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.
Word was brought to this city the other day of the murder of a Chinaman who had been successfully mining along the Columbia River for some months past. He had succeeded in accumulating several hundred dollars worth of dust, which aroused the cupidity of a countryman and led to the murder, which was of the most brutal character, the victim being hacked to pieces with some dull weapon. After the crime, the murderer fled, but was overtaken by an Indian and forced to surrender. Under a strong guard, he was escorted to Pasco, it being the impression that the murder was committed within the limits of Franklin County. The murdered man was the cousin of Wong, a well-known Chinese resident of Yakima.
“the murder, which was of the most brutal character, the victim being hacked to pieces with some dull weapon.”
This report highlights the dangerous lives led by Chinese laborers in the 1890s, who were often excluded from legal protections and subject to both systemic racism and isolated violence. It serves as a stark reminder of the exclusion era in Washington history.
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