There鈥檚 no doubt that in general Chinese miners were ill-treated in the mining camps of California. Still, there were exceptions and one such story comes from Trinity County.
Mrs. Mary Coyle, after the death of her husband in 1872, sold her claims to a Chinese company, Quong Ack Hong. The property totaled more than 75 acres with water rights to Swift Creek, and the Wade, Swede and China ditches. Twenty Chinese miners took over the mining operation and built a house where they lived for many years. They also built a barn, blacksmith shop and planted fruit trees and a large garden.
Within a year, friendly relations existed between the Chinese miners and Trinity Center鈥檚 townspeople.
The Chinese company invited everyone to its New Year ceremonies, gave candies to the children and sacred lily bulbs to the adults. They served roasted pork, sweet meats, partridge -- known as chuckers -- to everyone and lighted a 20-foot-long string of firecrackers.
According to Mary Coyle鈥檚 granddaughter, when her brother was born, the Chinese arrived with many gifts, especially because the baby was a boy.
Source: Yancey, Anna Larson. 鈥淲hen the Chinese Came to Trinity Centre.鈥� Trinity, 1960. p. 16.
