LUI KUNG HOP
Az Republican Newspaper
Jan 21, 1910


The desperate adventures of a Chinaman who was determined to 
become a resident of this country whether the country wanted 
him or not, have just been learned from trainmen who make the 
run to Maricopa. Lui Kung Hop crossed the border at Juarez, 
was locked in a "possum belly" with six roast chickens, was 
thrown out again, forced to walk the tracks barefooted and 
finally was struck by a train, suffered two broken ribs and 
landed in jail at Tucson.

All this and more happened to Lui Kung Hop.

Kind friends helped him across the border and then as the 
best place of concealment, locked him in the "possum belly."  
In plainer language, the "possum belly" is the refrigerator 
where all the good things are kept on way trains. It is directly 
under the car and opens from the outside. Mr. Hop lay down in 
this place and found at once that he was surrounded by roast 
chickens.  He murmured his thanks to Budda, the god that looks 
after poor Chinese and tried to make more room for himself by 
eating as many of the chickens as he could.

He got as far as Red Rock when the gang boss came along and 
opened the cupboard. Mr. Hop climbed out and thanked Budda 
again that only two of the vicious kicks connected with his 
vertebrae. He had removed his shoes and so had to leave them 
with the remains of the chickens.

Clad in all the clothing he possessed, namely, nine shirts 
and vests and some trousers, he trod the ties till he wore 
great callouses on his feet. He was hoping for another ride 
and presently he got one.  A freight stole up unawares behind 
him and bowled him over. The train stopped and they put him 
aboard. When they got him to Maricopa there was no Physician 
but U.S. Immigration Inspector Cronin and others prescribed 
for him.  They removed some of his clothes and found the 
broken ribs. Mr. Hop was very sick.  He said he was going 
to die. He prayed to Budda continually.

Cronin gave him twenty drops of laudanum, but Mr. Hop continued 
to pray.  Then he followed it with a full grain of cocoaine and 
Hop slumbered.  Cronin took him to Tucson on the first train.  
When the doctors are through with him he will be turned over 
to the U.S. court and doubtless be given a free pass back to 
his home town.



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