U.S. Army Protects Chinese Miners Amid Tensions in Wyoming

ROCK SPRINGS, W.T., September 10.—Notwithstanding the fact that the Union Pacific announced a few days ago that they would no longer permit Beckwith, Quinn & Company, coal contractors, to work Chinamen in their mines, and would ship them out of the country, seven hundred Celestials arrived at four o’clock yesterday afternoon from Evanston.

They were accompanied by four companies of troops, increasing the force of soldiers at this point to six companies. The Chinamen will be domiciled in the freight house until their cabins are rebuilt. The announcement was made last night that the Chinese will go to work in the mines this morning and that white men would not be permitted to work any more.

The plan is to protect the Chinese with troops until the white men are forced to leave town, when the troops can be withdrawn. No demonstration against the Celestials has been made as yet, but it is safe to say that serious trouble will ensue as soon as the opportunity affords. The presence of so large a body of soldiers will prevent any open act of violence, but the white miners assert that the Chinese must go in spite of Uncle Sam’s protection.

Hundreds of rumors were afloat last night regarding the plans, and soldiers and citizens are in a state of suppressed excitement, momentarily expecting an outbreak of some sort.

The Chinese quarters have been surrounded by a strong picket line, and all the buildings belonging to the company, Beckwith, Quinn & Co.’s store, the powder magazine and the entrances to the different mines are all under guard, as it is said the miners have threatened to blow them up. The situation is serious in the extreme, and the feeling prevails everywhere that on account of the bringing of Chinamen back, the destruction of property by fire and explosives is sure to follow, and it is not unlikely that a general strike may ensue, as the employees all along the line of the road are in sympathy with the miners.