“BLACK HOLE” OF NEW YORK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4415, 8 November 1934, Page 4

“BLACK HOLE” OF NEW YORK.

CHINESE SOLD AS SLAVES In an airless cellar, rivalling the Black Hole of Calcutta, Federal narcotic agents recently found 18 smuggled Chinese in a pitiable physical condition after an argosy of horror almost fictional in its lurid details. They were the survivors of a band of 38 smuggled from Trinidad for sale into “laundry slavery” for 100 dollars each. The cellar was guarded by a huge negro who dropped two revolvers when the Federal, State, and local police 'broke through steel-plated doors after silencing' five vicious dogs. The law enforcement officials had been informed that they were dealing with a desperate band, probably the remnant of the liquorsmuggling days, who carried machine guns and tear gas. Two Chinese, able to speak English, gave the officers details. They said they were induced to .ship on the freighter with the promise-that they would be freed for a nominal sum in Hew York. When three contracted illness they were thrown off the ship by the captain, who feared they would infect the others. Thirty-five were landed off the Virginia coast, where they were herded in a house and then sewn into bags, with potatoes as a foil, and placed in a truck in which they rode steadily for 24 hours until they reached Hew Jersey across the river from Hew Yoiik. Any Chinese protesting against such treatment was mercilessly beaten with clubs. Seventeen were sold, into slavery before the raiders were discovered. The only food they received was a single bowl of rice, from which all ate.