Search for Chinese Tong War in Chinese Camp / Tuolumne County

Jeff & Sarah explore claims of a Tong War in Chinese Camp and come up with surprising information.

[@brucethebassbrand4564]

Jeff, Once again.... awesome.....enjoy your sharing of history. I was part of the crew that built and dedicated one of those monuments... ECV, Matuca Chapter 1849.... Clampers.....

[@TheRaccoonlady]

Satisfactory " Medic" Chief Truckee Chapt 3691

[@robroiboi]

WONDERFUL!! So full of historical information, I had to watch it twice to make sure that I hadn't missed anything. It's videos like yours that make KZbin worth watching. Looking forward to your next episode!

[@tallgirlhappyme]

⏩ *Tong* refers to an organization, gang, group of Chinese immigrants. Also refers to a gathering place.

[@brucetharp7610]

Thanks for sharing this. While growing up I spent all of my summers living in these foothills. This remains to be my favorite place on earth.

[@jbenziggy]

Glad you enjoyed it, Bruce!

[@Cmiro22544]

Watching warrior on hbo max brought me here

[@TangTuyen]

Same here haha

[@Weifuknigt]

Same here

[@octane2099]

That’s my route when I go to James town, Sonora ext I didn’t know there was that much history in that spot.

[@steveelliott3109]

I sure loved all the history all around there. Sure is sad seeing all the buildings just rotting away. Thanks again for your work.

[@jasonsmith7338]

Even these very early vids... you can see how great this channel was destined to become. I had no idea about any of this history... Thank you Jeff!

[@jbenziggy]

Thanks! Some of our early videos make me cringe, the sound quality for one. But I really appreciate you sticking it out with us! We enjoy the company!

[@ruthiestockdale4840]

​@@jbenziggyRome wasn't built in a day. 😅 Look at you now!!

[@gradyervin4696]

Where have you been all my life? I am hooked, so much history and info. I've learned much more about places I've been to and places I'm going to because of you two! Keep up the good work!

[@jbenziggy]

Wow, thank you! Glad you like our channel!

[@muhammadsalaam]

I love all of these stories that you document.

[@BriLovesKirra]

Just visited and walked around this place right now. Interested in some more history of Chinese Camp. Thank you for this

[@johnkeats7634]

Really glad to have found your KZbin postings. As a Californian, it is rather sad to consider how many places of historical interest in our state are not receiving the proper restorative work to preserve it for future generations. So many of the original buildings and pioneer cemeteries are being neglected. Thank you for tracking down these interesting locations and retelling these stories from our past.

[@jbenziggy]

John Keats agreed! How did you stumble upon my channel? I invite you to subscribe because more is on the way!

[@BarbaraSalisbury-st7bu]

Very interesting video. It was so strange there were no Chinese graves in the cemetery. I love the banter between you and Sarah - makes history even more fun to learn about - thank you!

[@maxbelflower2617]

Very interesting, your sense of adventure and love of history keep me watching your videos. Keep doing the leg work and I'll keep watching them.

[@lincolnsmom5074]

Library of Congress has pictures of some of the buildings, cemeteries back in 1946 I think. I enjoy yours and Sarah videos. You make history interesting. Wish I had been taught that instead of dates. Keep up the good work. Many of the Chinese were buried in Potter's Field with no grave markings or records.

[@canaryphaeochannel]

Hey Jeff and Sarah very nice history thank you!!!!

[@privatepilot4064]

When we went through CA in 2016 we saw that roadside historical marker and stopped and read it! We love historical markers. We were coming out of Yosemite.

[@mannybravo237]

Awesome ol' timey photos! When Jeff asked, "guess how many were killed in this skirmish?", i guessed "two".

[@JanisLC]

It’s pretty strange no Chinese markers ? Where were the Chinese buried? Great story about the Chinese .. they did so much building the transcontinental railroad , but yet are not given a lot of recognition in history.. Kicked out after it was built… sad US history for the efforts they gave.. only to be cast out after the accomplishments . Without them, the railroad probably would not have been built as quickly.. it’s part of US history that we should be ashamed of for how we treated these immigrants.. thank you for the video! You guys do a great service retelling the stories ! Great video..

[@melindagordonbeck8958]

Wow!!! Talk about making me homesick!!!! This was an AWESOME episode! I’ve lost count of how many times we drove through there on our way to and from Yosemite. Thanks Jeff & Sarah! Your biggest Tennessee (formerly California) fans!!♥️

[@leslielauw7935]

Wrong Chinese character shown. 痛 means pain. 堂 is the correct character. See: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tong_(organization)

[@raymondcoggins297]

So much history and information you guys rock love your devotion to history thank you for your time and videos

[@jbenziggy]

Thank you! It's definitely a labor of love! (Jeff)

[@raymondcoggins297]

@@jbenziggy You are very welcome

[@maureengill6031]

Howdy, Jeff! What an interesting story! I hadn’t visited Chinese Camp until I did, virtually, with you and Sarah. It’s a rather sad sight, but loaded with history. The scenes in the cemetery were rather sadly unkept. Your sorrowful music was perfectly chosen and well photographed. I would give it a 10 for professional quality. Even in your early years of filming you had great potential! Thanks for making the trip for us! I can check it off my list! “Mo” in Stockton

[@steve94044]

Brett Harte has a hi school named after him in Angels Camp, Calif. another beautiful gold mining 49er camp.

[@shelliebrowning960]

The videos and information you share is just amazing. Thank you.

[@jbenziggy]

Thanks Shellie! Much appreciated!

[@leonazosrev6824]

it’s really interesting episode.. thank you Jeff and Sarah

[@jbenziggy]

We appreciate that, Leon! Thanks very much!

[@tonypadilla1330]

Another great episode. Thank you. Sarah makes me laugh. 😂 cry me a river, knee slapping funny.

[@terribethreed8464]

One of my good friends from Highschool lived on Chinese Camp Road about a 1/4 mile off the HWY 108 turn off to Chinese Camp.

[@jeffdavis7376]

Jeff you should go to Jenny Lind which is next to Valley Springs, my great grandparents and great aunts and uncle ( Messing ) is buried in the Jenny Lind cemetery. A lot of history is in that area

[@greggwatkinsjr.4308]

Hey Jeff & Sarah, I really enjoy watching your video, I have never heard of Tong War. Speaking of Spaghetti, did you know it was Thomas Jefferson who discovered Spaghetti in france that he ask for a recipe to bring back to America. Anyway it's sad and ashamed that some historic buildings aren't well preserved as they stand.

[@GreeneEntertainment]

This was news to me. Wow, thank you for sharing everything.

[@gwendaelizabeth556]

I’m back on track with your u tube channel I’m so happy

[@BusterKitten]

Hi Jeff, at 9:40 into the video you show what we called "Lover's Leap" back in the 60s. Don't know if it's still called that but could you do a segment on that place?

[@82566]

Wow first time viewer, love history cemeteries& priceless stories this really moved me to the soul ,amazing work thank you bolth so much

[@jmsiii4751]

I always wondered about the rock walls I used to see when driving Hwy 4 to Murphys. Now I know! You knew that they had to have taken a long time and needed a lot of skill to build them. And they still looked good.

[@barryrsmith70]

A few years ago I traveled from Yosemite to San Francisco. On the way I drove past Chinese Camp. Somehow I knew it had something to do with the California Gold Rush

[@fountainbiker]

Thanks for the research and we've driven through Chinese Camp, just west of our town of Jamestown, on our way to Lake Don Pedro to watch the July 4th fireworks back before all the fire danger we experience now.

[@JMorris216]

thats awsome. i also have driven by there a hundred times and wondered about the history of it.

[@RVBadlands2015]

I live in Jamestown Ca. And the historic battlefield is really close. She doesn’t seem to know much about Calif history. Tong was a group from China. This battle was more of a scare tactic.

[@HistoryHunterSarah]

You are right I do not know a lot of CA history. I learn a lot from Jeff and his videos.

[@lornahardin4563]

@@HistoryHunterSarah And I see your tongue in cheek humor.

[@HistoryHunterSarah]

@@lornahardin4563 I really wasnt trying to be funny about Tong, but was genuinely asking what Tong was referring to. Mostly why I shy away from the camera the audience tears me up for everything!

[@lornahardin4563]

@@HistoryHunterSarah Sorry for the audience then, I think your great.

[@HistoryHunterSarah]

@@lornahardin4563 You are sweet to say so. Thank you! & Thank you for supporting History Hunters.

[@kimiko412]

The history that i know..... There were a group of "businesses men" travel to China in Ching Dynasty claiming they had a great opportunity for people to find gold and they'll pay lots of money to the families just as first month or first year comfort money... many believed and go with them. But these Chinese people never realized they ended up as a salve, some digging gold mine, some built railroad. And these people never able to return home but some able to survive and stay in San Francisco. That's why in the old days, China people still think people in the past came to USA got rich because they found gold....but they never heard of these history because no government tell them the true!

[@jamesstepp9982]

I read that when the railroads met at Promontory Point they actually missed each other by over a mile. They had to pull up tracks and re-angle them to actually meet. Never went to look,but it's only about a hundred or so miles-might be a fun day-trip.

[@haroldnelson3734]

A great video of a place that I have walked around and explored as well. Did you encounter any rattle snakes? I sure did!

[@jbenziggy]

No, we have not encountered any rattle snakes in any of our video adventures except for the one time when a rattler crosses our path hiking behind Half Dome in Yosemite! To be honest, it generally doesn't cross our mind ... maybe because we haven't seen them. Thanks for watching!

[@m.e.c.1007]

1:47 Sarah's face..........oh here we go again.... LOL On a serious note, I hate seeing old historic buildings just rotting away. Soon our past will be just words on a page or past memories.

[@thesearcher118]

The 1st time we went was in 2001. The second was JUN 2017. The place did not change one bit in all of those years.

[@terribethreed8464]

I use to take the Red Road shortcut when I use to travel from Modesto where my Mom lived for a while, from Los Banos to Sonora. It's a great ahort cut but the road was a little rough back then.

[@heatherkay5924]

The dry yellow landscape could almost be Australian; my favourite cemetery I think despite the neglect, it's so picturesque. Great video, seen it several times 👍

[@integrity1965]

There was a Tong war in Weaverville Cal also, on the hill behind the high school!

[@161papa]

Great job.

[@flyingtigers5954]

thank you for this incredible journey thru chinese camp. pls read the book by jean f "Driven Out" that's the reason why many of our gold mining town are no longer inhabited by any chinese from california to washington.

[@jbenziggy]

flying tigers59 thank you for your feedback. I know the Chinese weren’t treated well in our past. I would love to have you as a subscriber if you aren’t already. I’m trying to build a channel so I can present more historical entertainment as it were. Thanks again! Made my evening!

[@vernareeder316]

I believe I know who you are and we are related

[@Fedora5957]

Couldn't find the character used in this report. I believe "TONG" was this character 堂. It means a hall or large meeting place and is pronounced TANG, with a rising tone. Hope this may help.

[@aaazzz1212]

Correct. The Chinese character posted on 3:29 is pain in Chinese, not the correct one.

[@robertwolfe2971]

Tong is name for Chinese gangs.

[@bobdeckwa]

There wouldn't be any chinese graves on hallowed ground. They would be buried in a separate area.

[@shaunstrasser1]

Some people just don't understand others with wicked funny sense of humor

[@seleven1146]

On 3'30" The correct chinese character for Tong is "堂", which means "gangs". So the Tongs War mean Gangers War.

[@fubarlife7776]

I know this is off topic but what about Cambria California Paso Robles Monterey Gilroy San Luis Obispo Santa Maria, have you been to those places on video?

[@jbenziggy]

I have been to all those places but not since the video channel started!

[@donhendershot5254]

wow I used to hang out in Chinese camp I was aso a member of IOOF since1975when I was younger

[@robertwolfe2971]

Columbia calif.is an active goldmining town as is all the town's around that area 140 going to Yosemite is actually was 49 into coulterville or you cold follow 140 through Groveland up to yosemite.

[@sandrawilburn5766]

Great show!! Do you think that the railroad would have been finished without the Chinese immigrants?

[@jbenziggy]

I think that the railroad would’ve been built by other immigrant groups but the Chinese were eager to do it because the work paid off handsomely compared to what they were making back home. But they were hard-working immigrants from all countries. The railroad was essential for the western half of the United States to develop so the big four would’ve found a way somehow.

[@debbiemiller8018]

The Rock probably rolled across the Waterway and block their ability to pan for gold more than likely it was over the gold😮

[@romanviking7890]

Oh wow, that’s Oakdale at 8:30. Wish I knew of this amazing channel three years ago

[@jbenziggy]

Thanks! Glad you found us! Did you just find us? If so, was it this video?

[@romanviking7890]

@@jbenziggy I’ve known about this channel for a few months now, been watching a lot of videos. I first heard about you two from a friend who showed me a video of you two going to the Stockton Cemetery

[@MyrnaSmith-hd6dy]

Jeff I knew about that cemetery did not know what had happened to it But there is another story across the hacienda a town under water to build the dam for lake don Pedro

[@harveysmith9046]

I was there today. It's a pretty cool place.

[@jbenziggy]

Hi Harvey! After I shot this I found out that a lady in my former church actually owns most of those buildings! I was shocked!

[@bryan565656]

It’s really rare to find Chinese grave because most of the body’s were dug up and brought back to mainland China.

[@bojanglesthewizard8875]

Yee. Due to the belief that the bodies were not at rest and could not cross into the afterlife if they were not buried at home

[@leskobrandon538]

Very interesting 🤔

[@CaliforniaFly]

If you go north on Highway 49 past Chinese Camp you can still see the scarred up hillsides from the hydraulic mining done during the gold rush.

[@vernareeder316]

My Aunt and Uncle lived there down the street from the old schoolhouse across from where you were for many years.Be very wary of snakes there ,they are in abundance.

[@jbenziggy]

I have seen lots of snakes before ... at Knights Ferry and even in Yosemite. But not a one here!

[@vernareeder316]

@@jbenziggy you are lucky,my uncle had a cigar box full of the Rattlers from the ones he killed next to the house they lived in.There was also a small grave plot close to the school,but I haven't been to that area for forty-five years so I'm not sure what is still visible.I was only eight then and my Aunt and Uncle moved to Sonora and rented the house my Mother was raised in across the street from the cemetery on Washington Street,the Masonic cemetary

[@vernareeder316]

Would like to see a back story on the Shamut mine as family worked there and one was lost in the mine.

[@gregarizmendez9394]

In the 80's , my dad took me to the old toy store and gift store in Chinese Camp. Fun times. Cool history. Favorite place was camping at Columbia

[@jbenziggy]

Memories like that are meant to hold onto forever! Thanks for sharing, and watching!

[@grandprixdriver]

Good episode. I've been there a couple of times. The of Locke is also a town that the chinese built so they can have their own community. Eventually it was taken over by the Tong. Businesses paid protection money. Opium dens, whore houses, gambling houses, bars. Prostitution was rampant there. Prostitute were murdered an the bodies thrown into the river. Which was just across the street. Oops! the town of Locke. The prostitutes lived in poor conditions. I'ts a popular tourist attraction. People still live there. There are a couple of really good restaurants and a popular bar, that everybody from bikers to tourists hang out in. I'ts also very haunted. I'm a paranormal investigator and have investigated several times. Paranormal investigators from all over the world have investigated there. I think it's registered has a historic landmark. It's a neat place to visit. Extremely popular.

[@scottw4603]

They built the railroad up here in Canada too.

[@wendygerrish4964]

Stopped in Chinese Camp for a short stroll with visitors from New Zealand. Its has all this history in an arrested state of decay. Sad in a way I understood that the Chinese returned to China under their labour Contract, or if they died, their bodies were also returned to China. A full story would be good to have. Lots of interesting facts during your video are mentioned. Thankyou again.

[@fmonk]

Many, countless really, could not have their remains returned to China-many were murdered for their gold claims and simply for not being white. In Chinese culture, the ability to lay one's deceased relatives is as important in caucasian cultures.

[@georgieman1910]

you guys need to check out NYC Chinatown if you want to witness remnants of the Tong Wars. The two biggest rival Tongs are still in operation to this day.

[@TheProgrammerGuy]

Driving while eating with BOTH hands!! 9:27 Look out everybody!!

[@robertwolfe2971]

I lived around that area for along time.

[@lutomson3496]

Chinese Cemetary are seperate from the white ones, they werent allowed to be buried with them...look out in the different places you will find them...I know a few in the gold country

[@grandprixdriver]

It is documented as a haunted area. It has been featured on several paranormal shows. And also other documentaries.

[@janemorgan7099]

There are Chinese. Graves in Sonora in the graveyard .

[@oldermusiclover]

Jeff your puns are great lol .lucky child you you can still drink soft drinks

[@gurufabbes1]

Sorry mate, but your character at 3:29 is way off..... Tong is 堂 as in hall not 痛 , which means pain which is what you have there

[@romanviking7890]

That rock at 9:41 with the flag on it is called “Lover’s Leap” The story behind that is that two natives from different tribes were in love but forbidden to marry. So they decided to stand on the rock, hold hands, and jump to their deaths together.

[@jbenziggy]

Yep but I think it's just a legend. There are a plethora of similar rocks and stories across the country and I can believe they are just fanciful stories.

[@romanviking7890]

@@jbenziggy your definitely right, lots of “Lover’s Leaps” around the world. Still a cool bit of local legend

[@jessicagan5361]

Tong in Chinese character is actually 堂😂 .

[@johnhendrickson5978]

Just so you know there is 2 cemetery's in Chinese camp.

[@harveysmith9046]

Your right the other one is next to the old church.

[@johnhendrickson5978]

@@harveysmith9046 I love your videos. I beng watch at night when I get home.

[@harveysmith9046]

@@johnhendrickson5978 Thank you for the compliment but Im not the person that makes these interesting youtube videos. I visited Chinese camp today and saw the cemetery next to the church. It's sad that Chinese camp and other ghost towns like Hornitos are falling into disrepair and the government doesn't have the funding to fix them. These towns will be gone one day and parts of history will be forgotten. I think it's sad. 😢

[@johnhendrickson5978]

@@harveysmith9046 yes I love the old gold rush stuff it's so sad to people not even care for our history.

[@jbenziggy]

Thank you! We're always looking for new ideas of places to explore!

[@robertwolfe2971]

I always take red cloud mine rd.its a state park know.

[@SCSlimBoiseID]

6:05 At a time in our history when ANY laborer, whether cowhand or factory worker, was lucky to earn one dollar per day (many worked for less), being able to save $20 a month out of one's earnings was a respectable accomplishment by anyone's standards, and would add up to a small fortune over time. Dynamiting tunnels was not the most back-breaking of work, nor was it necessarily the most dangerous - unless one waited inside the tunnel until the charge went off. Given the choice between driving spikes and laying rails or setting charges, I think I'd go for setting charges. Were the Chinese treated fairly in those days? Regrettably, not always and not by all, but then as now, there are always stupid people with stupid ideas angling to make someone else pay for their own ignorance. Interesting to note that Chinese today can and do emigrate from China and settle here, while the reverse is not possible. While travel, tourism, and temporary employment are allowed, non-Asians cannot become citizens of China. 11:39 Love the "Clamper" motto on that monument: Credo quia absurdum (I believe because it's absurd). Nice episode - very informative. Cheers.

[@harveysmith9046]

Apple Stump..... Your right, unfortunately the Chinese immigrants were often treated unfairly during the gold rush era. More often than not the Chinese were unarmed so they were often easy targets for robbers and murderers.

[@SCSlimBoiseID]

@@harveysmith9046 Much like citizens and residents of Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, and Baltimore in modern times.

[@truthsayer35]

I have a shield that was supposedly carried in that "war".

[@Deadcrows1981]

two years later no one cares :(

[@bojanglesthewizard8875]

That's pretty cool

[@dot2274]

And now it’s a ghost town full of scary precense

[@jbenziggy]

It does have a creepy vibe! Thanks for watching our channel!

[@bloodsandcripsebkgangs7172]

I've watch The Tongs an American night mare before and they dressed like TRG's and look like Raskals, it was a good movie better then the other gangster movies I've watched before lol

[@robertwolfe2971]

THEM are turkey ranches.

[@rustyruss2962]

Secret society’s nowadays Gangs lol 😂

[@sebastianpelayo8614]

I live in green springs

[@artworkbysteve1]

More information can be found by going to Columbia State Park .There is a chinese history building there telling about the Tong war in red Hills. My understanding As it was told to me , the white people all gathered on the hills to watch the war as entertainment. Unfortunately you missed the Wells Fargo building in Chinese Camp .

[@vincewhite5087]

They didn’t have sin numbers then.

[@stevemccoy8138]

Hi Guys, Back in those days the Chinese people probably weren't allowed to bury their people in white Man Semetary. Good video Thanks

[@spice1960]

There are Chinese buried with white settlers near our ranch

[@douglascrosby5100]

Interesting video, Good info overall But I think you need to edit it and cut down your intro a little bit - way too long and irritating.

[@haunaniriley1894]

They should be remembered chinese or not .

[@danielcain1118]

About a mile or so south of Moke Hill is Chili Gulch. There is a marker there for the Chilean War. Chileans worked the area from 1848 to 49. It was supposed to be the richest digs in the area. Some other miners got greedy and decided to chase them off. It ended up in a shoot out. Forget how many were killed. Sorry I post on your videos at the times I do but insomnia sucks. 😴

[@HistoryHunterSarah]

No worries in the time you comment. Thank you for watching. Best wishes for restful sleep.

[@kennydavis4705]

good video...loved the your a female lol.............thank y'all

[@vincewhite5087]

A secret society

[@anthonytruongofficial]

痛 is pain therefore not the correct character nor meaning it’s 堂

[@michaelglenn1730]

Sarah is a “cutie pahtootie”

[@racerx4152]

So where are all the chinese buried? cremated?

[@jbenziggy]

I’ve been told they were shipped back home for burial but it can’t be all of them.

[@dusty5598]

My Wife thinks I had a passed life in the wild west. I think she is right.

[@bojanglesthewizard8875]

I feel the same way. No other time in history that I feel more connected with then the times of the wild west