Primary Source Documents

An Anti-Chinese Riot in Los Angeles^*

In October 1871, Los Angeles exploded in an anti-Chinese riot. A dispute among rival Chinese clans over the ownership of a Chinese woman led to the death of one white citizen and the wounding of two others, a young Hispanic and a police officer. Marauding gangs of vigilantes entered "Chinatown" seeking revenge. Twenty-three Chinese died.

By this time, Chinatown, wholly surrounded, was in a state of siege. Mounted men came galloping from the country -- the vacquero was in his glory, and the cry was:
"Carajo la Chino!"

Among the Spaniards whose boldness and vigor attracted attention that night was Vasquez, afterward famous as a bandit, and Jesus Martinez, his chum and relative. Chief among the Americans, plying a Henry rifle until excessive labor clogged its mechanism, the writer observed a certain high official; and in the van of the fight, one of the city fathers -- a member of the City Council and a Wells Fargo official -- valiantly struck out from the shoulder. A young Israelite, heavy-framed and coarse-featured, and a German known as "Dutch Charley" were prominently active and cruel. "Crazy Johnson" seemed to represent all Ireland; while Jacques, a Frenchman, shirtless and hatless, and armed with a cleaver, reveled in the memory of Pont Neuf and the Sans Culottes. Jacques was the fire-fiend of the occasion -- time and again Chinatown was ablaze -- and Jacques with his cleaver was always found pictured in the glare.…

The condition of the Chinese had now become wretched indeed. The "Quarters," it will be remembered, were an old Spanish hacienda one story high, with an open courtyard in the center. Martinez and his companions, armed with axes as well as firearms, cut holes in the asphaltum roof, through which the cowering creatures below were shot in their hiding places or hunted from room to room out into the open courtyard, where death from the bullets of the roof was certain. Within or without, death was inevitable. The alternative was terrible. As each separate wretch, goaded from his covert, sought in his despair the open space, a volley from the roof brought him down; a chorus of yells telegraphed that fact to the surrounding mob, and the yells were answered by a hoarse roar of savage satisfaction.…

Close behind the boy [who had just been hung by the mob] followed the Chinese doctor; a man of extreme age, well known, and reputedly wealthy. The doctor begged piteously for his life, pleading in English and Spanish; but he might as well have pleaded with wolves. At last he attempted to bribe those who were hurrying him to his death. He offered $1,000 -- $2,000 -- $3,000 -- $5,000 -- $10,000 -- $15,000! But to no purpose. He was hanged, and his $15,000 spirited away none the less. At his death the old man wore a valuable diamond ring upon his left index finger, but when his corpse was cut down it was found that the left index finger had been wrenched from its socket, and the finger and ring were gone.

1		What is the ethnic complex of the marauding mob? How do you account for its diversity?
2		How do you suppose city officials reacted to the actions of the mob?
3		Why were the Chinese such easy prey?
4		The riot occurred in 1871; yet the excerpt is taken from an article that did not appear until 1886. How do you account for the disparity in dates? Where might you look to verify this account?
5		What attitudes might account for the extreme violence of the riot?