Hatchet Men by Richard Dillon

Author:Richard Dillon [Dillon, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: California history, Chinese history, San Francisco Chinatown, Chinatown, Tongs, Tong Wars, Chinese-Americans, San Francisco history, (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
ISBN: 9781618090492
Publisher: The Write Thought
Published: 2012-05-29T06:00:00+00:00

When it was the journalist’s turn to take part in the ceremony he surrendered to his fastidiousness and surreptitiously dipped his finger into the bowl of oil first, covering his finger with the viscous fluid, and only then performed what he called the “disgusting operation” with the bowl of blood and vinegar. But he shouted as loudly as the rest, “I am thy blood brother!” and he was greeted with a loud “Ho!” (Good!) from his new tong brothers.

Led before the Grand Master, Williams was ordered to kowtow three times. This he did. Next, his personal courage was tested. He was made to walk between two lines of sword-bearing men. As he walked they dropped the sharp-bladed swords onto his shoulders. But as each blade fell it was skillfully turned at the last moment so that it was the flat of the blade which fell on his naked flesh.

The Grand Master then outlined the objects of the tong and prescribed on diet and deportment. He finished by saying:

Should a brother fall by the wayside, either through sickness or violence, it shall be your duty to assist him, both with your purse and your right hand. The sign of distress is clapping your hands three times above your head. Upon this manifestation you will hesitate and bold yourself in readiness to do battle with the coming enemy. Should the brother exclaim “Ah ga la!” [Strike him] do not proceed. Should he exclaim “Um ah!” [Do not strike] you must assist him in every means at your disposal. You must interpret each expression as the reverse of its actual meaning.

Know you that our Society is most potent and its brothers inhabit every corner of the globe. Where ever your steps may carry you, there you will also find the true heart and the strong arm of the Chee Kong tong. Bear also in mind that while the Chee Kong tong protects it also punishes, and should you prove traitorous to our cause your blood shall pollute the soil of the land. Be you where you may, the Chee Kong tong will find you out.

After hearing this warning, Williams and the other neophytes took oaths to observe these instructions, and in a grand finale swore, “Should I prove untrue to my promise, may my life be dashed out of my body as I now dash the blood from this bowl.” With that they raised bowls of chicken blood and hurled them to the floor where they shattered in hundreds of pieces. The ceremony was over as his prey collapsed without a sound on the landing Big Queue coolly walked down the stairs past the lazing bodyguards to disappear into the street crowd. This murder was followed by the Sam Yups boycotting all See Yup stores and products. Commerce in Chinatown was virtually paralyzed for a time, but eventually the embargo was lifted and the feud forgotten. It would be revived when Little Pete came to power in Chinatown.

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