Chinese in Mendocino County by Lorraine Hee-Chorley

Author:Lorraine Hee-Chorley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing Inc.
Published: 2011-10-10T00:00:00+00:00

In January 1892, after union workers refused to dig deeper into the tunnel, the Union Lumber Company contracted Chinese laborers to dig the Noyo tunnel east of Fort Bragg by hand. The tunnel was built so the mill’s train could transport lumber over the hill to Willits to later be shipped out on the Northwestern Pacific Railroad. It would become the major shipping route of all manufactured lumber in the area. The newspaper reported that six men from Fort Bragg were indicted for beating these Chinese laborers and dropping them off at the north end of the Noyo River, telling them to just keep walking. The Chinese walked to Mendocino and were taken in by the community. As reported by the Advocate, they were brought back under protective custody of the Mendocino County sheriff the very next day by the order of a Superior Court judge. Although now a tourist attraction, this rail still delivers mail to inland residents along the lines. Today the Chinese are acknowledged as those who dug the tunnel the Skunk Train excursion ride uses, but nothing is said about what these Chinese laborers endured. Shown here is the Noyo tunnel upon completion. Note that only two Chinese persons are pictured. (Courtesy Robert Lee, Escola Collection.)

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