Massacre @ South King Street

Call this (and my last post) my période noire, my temporary departure from constructively critiquing W and his fine band of public servants for a timely seasonal descent into the macabre. In my last post I mentioned Wah Mee. Ironically and coincidently I found myself in Seattle's International District late this morning for culinary reasons, but before the meal ended up in Maynard Alley for the third time in two years staring at the broken, sooty, chained & padlocked doors to what was once the Wah Mee Gambling Club. Other than what neglect and time will do to an outdoor facade, it seems perfecly preserved nearly 23 years after the event that caused a city to lose part of its innocence and a people to lose part of a culture nearly 80 years old in the worst mass murder in Seattle's history, the Wah Mee Massacre.

Courtesy of Seattle Police Dept.

Fate caused a young freelance reporter to become inextricably entwined to this story, and he has devoted many years to its reporting. Linked find the writer of a comprehensive story he has written chronicling the history of the clubs in the area, the leadup to the crime, and its aftermath.  I lived in Seattle at the time, I remember it vividly.

Also, a Wikipedia version.
Another at HistoryLink.org
My update post.

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