not know them again. All wore
woolen shirts. They did not come
for money. They searched the house
first and then fired their pistols. They
got 4 or 5 dollars from the bodies
of the dead men. They came
close with their pistols and hold
the men down on the bed,
and then they fired at the Chinese.
Ah Shung
Sworn and Subscribed before me this
15th day of March A.D. 1877
A. Hallet J.P.
Acting as coroner
Christian Lemm, Sworn:
My Name is Christian Lemm,
I reside at the Lemm Ranch, near
Chico, Butte County, California, and
I am a farmer.
The Chinese at the camp on
my ranch are employed by me.
There were six men in their camp.
They have been at work about
five to six weeks. The Chinese are good
orderly men and I do not know
that they have had any quarrel or
difficulty with any body. There has
been no competition for the work
that the Chinese were doing. Last
night Ah Lin came and told me
about the affray, and said five
white men had killed 5 Chinese.
I think Ah Lin then went to Chico
at about 10 o’clock at night.
I did not hear of any person traveling about that night.
Ch. Lemm
Sworn and subscribed before me, this
15th day of March A.D. 1877
A. Hallet
Justice of the Peace
Acting as Coroner
Inquisition on the bodies
Of
Ah Mo. Ah Lee. Ah Su
And Ah Ow. Chinese
Before A. Hallet J.P.
Acting as Coroner
Filed March 16 1877
John R. Rothison
Clerk
Note:
The Chinese victim’s names vary between the coroner’s inquest record, Clerk Rothison’s filing of the inquest record and Newspaper accounts.
On the day of the Coroner’s Inquest, 15 March, 1877, the murders were first solved by a Cherokee woman in her 40s who lived in Chico Township, Mrs. Palmantier.
CHAPTER TWELVE
REACTION TO MASSACRE
John Bidwell’s success in life had been a combination of fortunate factors. He had good parents, a good upbringing and good education. He had timed life right, the pioneering of America was at its peak and wealth could be found through hard work and good timing, Bidwell was a tireless worker for others and for himself. Bidwell was lucky. Just being in California when gold was discovered was fortunate timing that made him rich easy. Bidwell had worked for Sutter and was paid to travel the entire Sacramento Valley and surrounding mountains. When he found Chico he found a sleepy town of Spanish origin that was more valuable than gold. Land that produced abundant food and had more water than needed meant that the growing country would have good quality food at a good price. Chico provided a cornucopia of food from its fertile soil and clean, abundant water.
On Wednesday March 14, 1877, John Bidwell had a terrible long day making funeral arrangements and sending notifications about his friend and long term house guest, William Stevenson. Bidwell could not have thought things could grow worse.
Around midnight, after Ben True had been told of the murders the towns folk who were awake at that hour started to stir with the story of the murders. Of course drunken bar flies will always exaggerate what they heard but there were sober men about town at that hour as well. A friend of John Bidwell heard the news of the murders and called upon Bidwell at that normally abnormal hour. He knew Bidwell would wish to know of something this terrible happening in his town. Bidwell thanked the man but knew that he could do nothing at this time. Bidwell would have his friends’ funeral the next day but now he had another task, trying to deal with this barbarism in his town and bringing the butchers to justice. He tried to sleep, knowing he needed his strength the next day which would be very long and draining. He could not sleep, going over in his mind on what steps to take to end the violence once and for all. Bidwell was already thinking of a citizens committee and rewards to capture the butchers. He finally decided to just stay up and prepare for the coming day. He hoped that it was not true or had been exaggerated. No one who built and loved a town such as Chico Township wanted blight such as this as the town’s reputation.
Bidwell went to his diary and added an entry for 14 March, 1877. Bidwell’s diary entry for Wednesday 14 March 1877 had started with the description of Bright, Beautiful day. The weather had been sunny and warm on the 14th but humanity was at its darkest. Bidwell entered in his diary:” 6 Chinamen shot-3 killed and two wounded.
On 15 March, 1877, John Bidwell was immersed in the funeral and the sad loss of his friend, William D. Stevenson. He of course discussed the murders during the day but his focus was on his friend, Mr. Stevenson. He noted in his diary that the day was bright and beautiful. Reverend John Carrington preached the sermon. Mr. Stevenson’s pallbearers’, Bidwell identified as Mr. Graves, Mr. Hibbard, Mr. Heath, Mr. Broyles, Mr. Steward and Mr. McCormick. The sad event of the funeral helped Mr. Stevenson’s friends resolve his death and memorialize his life. Now these men had to go on with their lives and businesses. Life is for the living and the dead are simply a ghostly memory, now at peace.
William Duryee Stevenson died four months short of his twenty second birthday. John Bidwell purchased a headstone for his friend which still stands in the Chico cemetery and seems impervious to the 141years it has stood there. On William Stevenson’s headstone, Bidwell had a beautiful inscription placed to his young friend: “Sacred to the memory of William Duryee Stevenson who was born July 11, 1855 in Morristown N. J. and fell asleep in Jesus at Chico March 13, 1877, And I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:20”.
After the funeral was over, Bidwell gathered with several of the men attending the funeral and the conversation switched from the memory of William Stevenson, to the murders of the Chinamen.
He opened the conversation with the knowledge that there were in fact four murdered Chinamen by this time, the fourth having died during the Coroner’s inquest. The fifth severely wounded man, Ah Shung was not expected to live, having been shot in the chest, above his collarbone and the bullet traveling through his body to his back in the right shoulder area.
Several of the men said they were worried about how these murders would affect business in Chico and how damaging it was for Chico and the County. Bidwell reminded them that they were right to consider the massacre’s effect on the community reputation but that we should be as outraged by the murders as we would were they white men who were killed. He pointed out that they should not stray from the primary purpose of justice and not the bottom line as to its effect on our pocket books.
Bidwell said that an aggressive investigation and prosecution was needed to accomplish both goals, justice for the murdered and vindication for the community. He reminded the men that these Chinese were here at our request to labor and assist building a state and a nation and that they had mothers and fathers as any of us do, their only difference was of a cultural nature. The consensus among the men was to form a committee and to offer lucrative rewards that would guarantee someone would give up the killers.
As the men headed out of the cemetery one of the pallbearers remained with John Bidwell. Bidwell asked Marshal Steward, J.I. Steward, the City Marshal of Chico Township, what was his opinion on this matter? Steward responded, well General Bidwell, I think you are going in the right direction and rewards will assist in the detection of the killers greatly. I must warn you though that the Order of Caucasians is already raising hell about this matter saying that it was rival Chinese labor who committed the murders, Highbinders brought in from San Francisco, Steward added. That’s asinine, Bidwell responded, the two living victims would never hide the fact it was Chinamen instead of whites. My god what kind of fools are these Order of Caucasians?
Steward agreed but added, you just need to be aware of what’s coming from these men, General, they will try to muddy the waters as much as possible, they will not succeed, just make things more difficult for the investigation. Yes, Bidwell responded, I will be in contact with some of the local citizens and get to work on posting rewards as soon as possible, we will put a stop to the Orders reign of terror. With this they said goodbye and departed.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
TRIGGERNOMICS
On the evening of the 15th, the day of William Stevenson’s funeral John Bidwell received more bad news in the form of a letter. A letter that stunned Bidwell that made him feel as though he had been sucker punched in the stomach. The letter he received set in motion Bidwell’s own self preservation instinct. It was far time he told himself to weaponize his empire, his home and his ranch hands, to be prepared for all out war in Chico Township against the arsonists and murderers. Bidwell was an intelligent man but also a practical common sense man. He knew that evil men who shoot down unarmed and defenseless Chinese woodcutters were capable of extreme violence and any threat made by them must be taken very seriously.
Bidwell began forming his plan of action immediately after he read the letter which he believed was from the killers. Bidwell thought was the prevention of further violence if possible. He knew that the men who shot the Chinese woodcutters were bullies, cowardly shooters only capable of shooting someone who was unarmed. Bidwell knew that cowards were easily intimidated and would back down if they were at any disadvantage. Bidwell decided that what he needed to prevent or end the coward’s reign of terror was superior gunmanship, firearms that took away the advantage in a gunfight and only equaled one another if the opposition was similarly armed. Bidwell knew just where he could get his hands on this superior gunmanship. Men of this time were very familiar with the advantages in firearms technology that had occurred in the past 50 years. Certain guns had major advantages over others and Bidwell wanted all the advantage a wealthy man could afford and Bidwell could afford the best. Men of this time called this advantage trigger-nomics for the mathematical advantage it gave the owner of these types of guns.
Bidwell thought things through and then read the infuriating letter once more:
“To Gen. Bidwell-Sir: you are given notice hereby to discharge your Mongolian help within ten days from date, or suffer the consequences. Let this be enough.
Committee. March fifteenth
Bidwell was still in shock every time he read it over and over. He had helped build Chico Township and he employed many people in the community, the native inhabitants: the Mechoopda, whites and Chinese. He produced large quantities of food for the community, California and the nation. He could not get over the feeling of anguish he felt from someone telling him that he must fire his Chinese laborers.
He then turned to the positive of this letter, if there could be any. Alright you bastards he thought, you may write all the childish threatening letters you wish to but you have only sealed your fate for I will use all my wealth and power to pursue you to the ends of the earth and see you hanged.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
FOUR FUNERALS AT CHICO CEMETERY
The four murdered men were taken to the morgue at Hallet and Loy’s undertakers after the Coroner’s Inquest on 15 March, 1877. On 16 March, 1877, the four victims of the massacre were taken to the Chico Cemetery and buried in the Chinese section. There were some white citizens in attendance and some of the local Chinese leaders attended as well. A representative of the Nin Yung Company, whom they worked for, was present. After their burial, their graves were marked with a simple wooden marker. A marker which, like the men below it melted back into the soil from which we come.
In the 1890s many of the Chinese buried in the Chinese section of Chico Cemetery were disinterred and sent back to the country of their birth to rest forever in their homeland. Many were not taken back to China and remain in the Chico Cemetery to this day, most of their graves are are unmarked and unknown.
Ah Lee, Ah Gow , Ah In who died together and Ah Quen who held onto life until the Ides of March, as long as his devastated body could last, were all buried together. Their remains probably still reside in the Chinese section of the Cemetery. Many of the men who helped bring their killers to justice, John Bidwell, Andrews Hallet, James Hegan and Ben (Ah Ben) True, share the Chico Cemetery with them. These men are in good company with the four innocent men who came to America to make better lives for themselves and for their families back in their homeland of China.
Perhaps someday the victims of the Chico Massacre will be disinterred and their bodies, easily identified by the gunshot wounds to their heads, they could then be identified and a proper marker as a testament to their short lives and violent ending could be placed on their graves that we should not forget them.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
TWO DAYS PAST MURDER
The local newspapers were frantically reporting the murders. They needed to keep the locals informed but also knew that six men shot, four men dead, was national news and their small town weekly newspapers would be quoted by many national powerhouse newspapers. The Weekly Butte Record of 24 March 1877 published considerable information about the Chico Massacre. Rewards were flowing into the investigation to hasten the arrest of the killers. Bidwell and the Citizens Committee posted a generous reward along with many other people:
New this week.
$2000 reward!
At a meeting of the executive committee appointed by the citizens of Chico and vicinity held Saturday, March 17, the undersigned were authorized to offer a reward of $2000 for the apprehension and conviction of those engaged in the massacre of China men near Chico, on the 14th INST., And in accordance with said authority do hereby offer a reward of $2000 as follows: $500 for the conviction of the first party, and $300 each for the conviction of the remaining five suppose it to have engaged in the perpetration of the crime.
August H. Chapman, chairman.; G. W. Dorn, secretary.; ATTEST: John Bidwell.
$500 reward! The board of fire underwriters of San Francisco hereby offer a reward of $500, for the arrest within six months from date and conviction, of any person or persons guilty of arson within the limits of Butte County.
George C. Boardman, chairman of arson committee.
$500 reward! Owing to the recent attempts at incendiarism we, the undersigned, respective owners of the property in Chico known as old and new Chinatown, hereby offer a reward of $500! United States gold coin, for the arrest and conviction of any party attempting the destruction of said property by fire.
C. M. White, J. C. Noonan, Chico, March 14, 1877.
Reward!
Whereas, at or near the town of Chico, on the night of the 14th instant, four China men were brutally murdered and two others were seriously wounded, by some persons unknown, and yet at large. Now therefore, I, William Irwin, Governor of the State of California, do hereby offer a reward for the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators of the said crime, to be paid as follows:
$500 for the first arrest and conviction, and $200 for each subsequent arrest and conviction. Done at the city of Sacramento this, 17th day of March, 1877.
William Irwin, Gov.
Additional reward.
The Alta of yesterday says: that our people are determined to punish the scoundrels who in cold blood murdered the five inoffensive China men near Chico, and vindicate the fair name of California, is evidenced by the fact that yesterday our bankers, merchants, and insurance managers, sent Col. BEE the sum of $1000 in gold" to aid in the arrest and punishment of the Chico murderers; and if necessary to that end they will double or quadruple the sum sent."
Sheriff William Schneider was running for the reelection was this coming September, just 7 months from the date of his notice, in an apparent public relations and reelection ploy, agreed to waive the rewards, should he solve the murder and arson cases, which he did not.
Notice. The undersigned, Sheriff of Butte County, will waive all claim to reward offered for the apprehension and conviction of the murderers of the Chinese recently near Chico, except for expenses necessarily incurred, in favor of anyone who will give information that may lead to their arrest and conviction. The name of the informant will be kept secret, and he will be free from prosecution. The necessary information can be given to Deputy Sheriff Hagan, at Chico or to William Schneider, Sheriff, Butte County, at Oroville.
The weekly Butte Record made mention of Schneiders notice:
Take notice.
Read the ad of Sheriff Schneider in today's paper. He offers to waive all claim to the rewards offered for the murderers of the Chinese in favor of anyone who will give information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of the criminals with the extra $1000 received yesterday by Col. bee, the informant can pocket $5250.
The Butte Record also published the threatening letters made against Chinatown Constable Ben True and Col. Bee, who was assisting the Chinese Labor Companies of San Francisco.
The Butte Record said:
Ben True, Chico Cal.
If the mysterious stranger was still in town, we would think that she was at the bottom of all this letter writing. Last night Mr. True, on going to the post office, found another letter for him, this time postmarked San Francisco. Its contents were as follows:
San Francisco, March 19. Ben true: – you and your friends are making damn fools of yourselves in regard to the damn Chinese, for this is only the beginning. We started it in your camp and now for Frisco. We are well organized, and you can't touch us, for we have men on the bench and of the bench, so look out for your scalp if you please for I am after it. As for the parties that did the praiseworthy act, I remain yours truly. You can't find is so good by China MAN, for we will exterminate them. The number 5000 sworn by the blood of the heart, your China men destroyer. And you beware for you may drop suddenly. Fix all your affairs.
At the bottom of the letter are two diagrams, one of which is not understood, the other represents a coffin. The letter is copied exactly.
The Record went on to state:
“It seems that people elsewhere are in the receipt of letters threatening dire destruction if they do not case their attempts to ferret out the perpetrators of the recent Chinese murders near this place. The following is said to have been received by Col. F. A. BEE, of San Francisco, who represented the Chinese in the investigation held by the committee on Chinese immigration in San Francisco last fall:
Col. F. A. BEE, city – dear Sir: the 11 of 708 have you marked. You had better not have sent your $500 to Chico. The China men have got to leave the country, and that little affair in Butte County was only a preliminary. Take my advice and leave the state in 30 days, or you will be killed. All of you Corrine for the coolies against whites here are marked. " 708."
The Weekly Butte Record commented:
“We had almost arrived at the conclusion that these letters were considerable of a humbug, and that the writers thereof were indulging in merriment at the consternation they created, if they have created any. This would seem to indicate that there is some kind of an organization engaged in the atrocious crimes of murder and arson, and do not hesitate to threaten those who may be engaged in efforts to detect them. Of one thing the perpetrators of the crime may rest assured, and that is that their insolence will not secure them from detection and punishment. Crimes like this cannot be suffered to pass without punishment. If the organization committing these crimes is as extensive as they state, they will still be brought to justice, for a majority of the people of the state are in favor of law and order, and will assist in eradicating crime from our midst. This" 708" may be an organization, and it may be a humbug. Whatever it is, it will find it difficult to uphold the commission of a crime that ought to shock the sensibility of a nation less civilized than the Chinese themselves.”
The weekly Butte Record had its thoughts in logic and the views of the day but their comment on punishment would prove to be questionable in a few years in the near future.
The Butte Record was also full of various commentary on the Chinese Question and the Chico massacre by Newspapers, some as far away as New York.
The New York Times of the 19th says:
" There is no special significance to be attached to the so-called massacre of Chinese in California, except so far as it shows that a lawless element exists in the white population in the interior of the state. The crime is supposed to have been committed as a warning to the people who employ Chinese labor. In this particular case a number of Chinese were working for a much less price than white laborers would accept, but the white laborers had been offered higher prices than those paid to the China men. Men of the latter sort, not willing to work themselves, are commonly the most noisy of those who decry low wages and Pauper labor, and these murderous rioters have heard so much about the right of the laboring man to dictate terms to his employer, that they undoubtedly feel justified in killing a few men by way of enforcing that right. The California papers seem to be very anxious to have the Chinese question settled peaceably. The Chico assassins thought to hasten matters. Public opinion in California is not educated up to the point of Chinese extermination, but it is evident that the brutal class, whose doings are now denounced in public meetings, are only following out legitimate teachings of some of the better educated demagogues who have discussed the question from the stump." Would it not be well, until it is ascertained who the murderers are, for papers to cease declaring that it was white men? There are different companies of Chinese in the state, and they have no more regard for the lives of members of opposing companies, then white men have for the life of a mad dog. The atrocity of the crime has something very heathenish about it. Besides, the Chinese were losing ground in this vicinity, and the slaughter of a few of the lower class in order to create a feeling in their favor, is entirely consistent with Chinese reasoning and policy. The fact that it seems impossible to obtain the least clue to the perpetrators of the crime, is leading to the general belief that it was perpetrated by opposing Chinese.”
The New York Times editor from the comfort and sanctity of his office made a foolish case that the murderers of the Chinese woodcutters were Chinese highbinders. With two living witnesses there would be no incentive to lie about the who of the massacre and shift the blame to white men. The New York Times was quickly to be proven wrong, the New York Times Editor should have just waited a few days.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THE BUZZ OF THE NEWSPAPER PRESSES AND THE CHINESE QUESTION
Most of the local newspapers at the time of the Massacre were weekly. The murders occurred on the 14th and they were only confirmed the morning of the 15th. The local papers next weekly date for publication was 16 March, 1877 and the newspapers were abuzz with information about the murders, the Chinese