On this day in 1885, hundreds of Chinese immigrants were forcibly expelled from Tacoma, Washington Territory, the mob’s tactics becoming known as the “Tacoma Method.”
The majority of Tacoma’s 700 Chinese and Asian residents had settled there after working as laborers building the Northern Pacific Railroad. The railroad leased land to many of their workers to assure a labor pool for the remaining work.
Passage by Congress of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act was a bellwether of growing anti-immigrant sentiment across the West. (Right, anti-Chinese cartoon, 1882) It was popular with white workers as well as employers. It cut off the importation of Chinese men the nativists believed were stealing their jobs and harming the economy. It also prohibited the immigration of Chinese women. Employers like the idea of unwed laborers who would be more willing to relocate from one job site to another.
Tacoma’s anti-immigrant activists were helped along by the city’s mayor, German-born Jacob Weisbach (below). He had chaired the “Anti-Chinese 
Congress” in Seattle just days before. The gathering called for all Chinese to be removed from western Washington by November 1.
Making good on the promise, a rally was held on November 2, attended by an estimated 700 mostly white male residents. Perhaps not coincidentally, defendants tried for the killing of three Chinese miners in Squak Valley were acquitted that same day, leaving some with the impression there were few consequences for anti-immigrant activities.
By 9:30 the next morning, a mob of 500 descended on the Chinese settlement, notifying the residents they most leave by 1:30 p.m. Witnesses and victims claimed that force was used to evict those who resisted. In the end, an estimated 200 Chinese were marched to the Lake View train station eight miles away in a torrential rain. Held overnight to wait for the train to take them to Portland, two of the evicted Chinese died as a result.
The Tacoma Riot came just two months after a deadly incident in Rock Springs, Wyoming, where 28 Chinese miners were murdered in a labor dispute. If there was any good news to take away from the Tacoma affair, at least fewer people died.
Chinese houses burned after riot
A day later the Chinese property along the waterfront was set ablaze. The fire department made no effort to put it out, effectively erasing any trace of the city’s Asian community. The assumption that few consequences would result was largely correct. A total of 27 leaders of the riot were arrested, only to be acquitted on a technicality. Ten were re-charged but a grand jury failed to indict them.
The Chinese Exclusion Act was replaced by an even more Draconian law, the Scott Act of 1888. It permanently banned Chinese immigration or re-admittance of Chinese laborers and was not repealed until WWII.
The expulsion and the ban literally ended Asian immigration to Tacoma. It wasn’t until the end of the 20th Century that the city began a reconciliation project. A “Citizen Suggestion Award Application” submitted by Dr. David Murdock requested that the City Council acknowledge the 1885 
Reconciliation Park Pavilion
expulsion and create a waterfront Reconciliation Park. In 1993, the council began work on the Asian-inspired area along the Ruston Way shoreline. The park includes a waterfront trail, the String of Pearls Bridge and a specially designed pavilion constructed in China.
The Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma focuses on a comprehensive look at Washington State’s place in relation to the Pacific Northwest including settlers, immigrants and indigenous populations. It features a number of inter-active exhibits, storytelling 
through theatre and high tech displays. Admission is $14 for adults, $11 for senior and students ages 6 to 17 as well as active duty and retired military with ID. Family admission is $40 for up to 2 adults, and 4 children under 18. Open 10 to 5 daily, and until 8 every third Thursdays with free admission between 3 and 8. The museum is closed on July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Open all other federal holidays and Easter Sunday. For more information go to washingtonhistory.org or call toll-free 1-888-BE THERE or 1-888-238-4373.
© Text Only – 2017 – Headin’ West LLC – All photos – public domain.