The Siege of Tacoma: A City Divided by Hatred
While Seattleites marched through the rain to condemn Chinese residents, the city of Tacoma mobilized into an organized, exclusionary force that would soon see the forced removal of hundreds.
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.
The Seattle delegation arrived in Tacoma on the boats 'Queen City' and 'Lone Fisherman.' Despite the heavy rain, the street parade was immense, featuring between 150 and 200 torchbearers and numerous banners. The procession moved orderly from Pacific Avenue to the depot, and then to the Alpha Opera House, thronged by a crowd of 3,000 to 4,000 people. J.E. Davis called the meeting to order, and speakers, including Mrs. Kenwortby, Mayor Weisbach of Tacoma, and John Keane of Seattle, addressed the audience. John Keane particularly protested the action of inspectors who had refused to allow Seattleites to visit Tacoma on the schooner 'Loo.' James Wickersham of Tacoma advocated for boycotting Chinese employers and presented resolutions to make the anti-Chinese committee a permanent organization. By the end of the meeting, it was noted that only about 100 Chinese remained in the city, down from the previous population of 400 to 500, with many expected to leave the following day.
“The sentiment manifested plainly showed that a period had been reached when united action would have to be taken against further Chinese intrusion.”
This article documents the 1885 organized expulsion of Chinese residents from Tacoma, a shameful chapter in Pacific Northwest history. Today, this site—the Opera House district—is a hub of commerce and community, serving as a reminder of how quickly civic institutions can be weaponized against vulnerable populations during periods of economic anxiety.
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