You have probably heard of the famous Chinatown neighborhood of New York City - perhaps only second to San Francisco’s Chinatown when it comes to pop culture significance. But did you know that NYC’s Chinatown is also home to arguably the most violent place in New York’s history - the Bloody Angle?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hi everyone, good morning, good afternoon or good evening. Thank you so much for making History Shorts part of your daily routine, and if you have not already done so, make sure you click that subscribe button. If you have a comment, you can find me at www.historyshortspodcast.com. If you like the show and want to support it, the best thing you can do is tell a friend. You can also spread the word on social media, leave a review, or buy me a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/historyshortspodcast. Have a great rest of your day. You have probably heard of the famous Chinatown neighborhood of New York City, perhaps only second to San Francisco's Chinatown when it comes to pop culture significance. But did you know that New York City's Chinatown is also home to arguably the most violent place in New York's history, the bloody angle? I am your host, Peter Zoblaki, and this is History Shorts. In the mid to late 19th century, significant waves of Chinese immigrants arrived in the United States, drawn by the promise of prosperity during the California Gold Rush of the 1840s, and later to work on the Transcontinental Railroad in the 1860s. Many of these laborers haven't completed the work on the railroads or haven't been displaced by the dwindling gold reserves and mounting anti-Chinese sentiment in the West, moved eastward seeking new opportunities. But in the late 1800s, a substantial number of Chinese immigrants had settled in New York City, specifically in a small area of Lower Manhattan that would come to be known as Chinatown. This neighborhood quickly grew as more immigrants arrived, bringing their families and establishing businesses. The community was characterized by its bustling streets lined with shops, restaurants, and markets that cater to the needs of the Chinese residents and provided a sense of familiarity and cultural continuity in a foreign land. Chinatown was a microcosm of Chinese society, where immigrants sought to recreate their home culture. Traditional festivals such as Chinese New Year were celebrated with great enthusiasm and residents adhered to customs and practices from their homeland. Language schools, temples, and Chinese opera houses were also playing crucial roles in maintaining those cultural ties. The tight-knit community was supported by various associations and societies known as Tongs. Originally, these Tongs were benevolent organizations that provided mutual aid, helping new immigrants with housing, employment, and legal matters. They played a central role in the social and economic life of Chinatown, offering support networks in society that was often hostile towards Chinese immigrants. However, as the population of Chinatown grew and economic pressures mounted, these Tongs began to evolve. The scarcity of legitimate economic opportunities coupled with pervasive racial discrimination and exclusionary laws such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which severely restricted Chinese immigration and naturalization, forced many within the community into illicit activities to survive. The Tongs, originally intended to provide social and economic support, now began to engage in criminal enterprises. They turned to activities such as gambling, opium trade, and extortion, leading to rivalries and conflicts. The competition for control over these lucrative activities intensified, and Tongs transformed into violent gangs, each vying for dominance in Chinatown. Doyer Street, a narrow and winding lane situated in the heart of Chinatown, quickly gained a notorious reputation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The street's unique geography, with its sharp bends and tight confines, made in an ideal setting for ambushes and surprise attacks between the competing Tongs. The most infamous section of the street was the bloody angle, a particularly sharp bend that became synonymous with violence and bloodshed. The hip-sing Tong and the on-long Tong were two of the most powerful and ruthless factions, each vying for dominance in a lucrative underworld of gambling, opium trade, and extortion. The narrowness of the streets, and the sharpness of the bloody angle in particular, created a perfect environment for opposing gang members to lie in wait and launch surprise attacks on their rivals. The lack of escape routes and the confined space meant that once violence erupted, it was often deadly. The battles that took place on Doyer Street were brutal and frequent, assassinations, public shootouts and knife fights became common occurrences, contributing to the street's bloody and deadly reputation. One of particularly notorious incidents occurred in 1905 during the height of the Tong wars. Members of the hip-sing Tong ambush their rivals from the on-long Tong at the bloody angle, resulting in a fierce and bloody shootout that left several dead and many others wounded. In another well-documented incident, in 1909, a shootout between rival Tongs erupted on Doyer Street, leading to the deaths of several gang members and injuring numerous bystanders. The chaos and carnage of these encounters were often exacerbated by the sheer number of participants and the unpredictability of the violence itself. Herbert Asbury, the author of The Gangs of New York, which was turned into a movie by Martin Scorsese once wrote, "The police believe and can prove it as far as such proof as possible, that more men have been murdered at the bloody angle than at any other place of like area in the world." The Tong gangs did not discriminate. If one got in their way, they would never be heard from again. According to the Book of Criminal Minds published in 2021, many underground tunnels added to the danger of the area. Connecting buildings and adjacent streets, the tunnels were frequented by gang members who used them to facilitate their deadly deeds. An assassin would ambush and kill a victim and then disappear down into the tunnels. Several minutes later, the killer would emerge far from the scene of the crime. When not committing the crime, the Tongs members would hang out and wait at the many hangouts and pubs, most notable being the dump, the plague, the hellhole, emigurgics, suicide hall. The constant threat of violence had a profound impact on the residents of Chinatown. Innocent bystanders were frequently caught in a crossfire, adding to the community's fear and distrust. Business owners along Dorya Street had to navigate the complexities of Tonga affiliations, and many were forced to pay protection money to avoid becoming targets themselves. The violence also drew significant attention from law enforcement and the media. Sensationalist newspapers frequently reported on the bloody battles, often exaggerating the extent of the violence and contributing to Chinatown's fearsome reputation. This negative portrayal reinforced existing prejudice against Chinese immigrants and justified continued discrimination and exclusionary policies. In response to the rampant violence, New York City law enforcement began to crack down on the Tongs. Police raids on the Tong headquarters became more frequent, and known gang leaders were arrested and imprisoned. Despite these efforts, the Tong organizations, insular nature and deep community roots made it very difficult to eradicate their influence completely. Still, over time, an increased law enforcement pressure, combined with changing social and economic conditions, led to a gradual decline in Tong violence. The introduction of new laws and the assimilation of newer generations of Chinese Americans who sought different livelihoods also contributed to the reduction in gang activity. Today, Dorya Street is a far cry from its violent past. The street is now a popular tourist destination known for its historical significance and cultural heritage. The bloody angle, once a sight of fear and bloodshed, is now home to various shops, restaurants and cultural landmarks. With most people sitting down for a cup of coffee, never realizing how much blood was once spilled on the very ground below their feet. Hello everyone, my name is Tom Kearns and I host the Anglo-Saxon England Podcast where I cover the history and culture of England from the departure of the Romans in the 5th century to the Norman Conquest in 1066. So far, we've surveyed the collapse of Roman rule in Britain, the migration of the Anglo-Saxons and the history of Northumbria from its beginnings in the mists of legend to its destruction at the hands of Viking raiders in the 9th century. I hope you'll come and give it a go. [MUSIC PLAYING]
