Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-10-06
AMERICANS in JAPAN,


Inc Cn'"eSe REPOSITORY, gives an &C
count OF the imprisonment and release g
the American seamen belonging to tn
Lodoga. The outrageous conduct of tn
japanese has not the excuse OF barbarism
They are an intelligent and highly cultiva
ted people. Notwithstanding the ;ealou
seclusion which they maintain, they arr
well informed in matters of European sci
ence, and they study European langdages
i.hey cannot be ignorant Of the gross viola
tons OF the law of nations, as well as tn,
law OF humanity, which they have com
mitted.
The names of the shipwrecked mariners
are Robt. Mccoy, of Philadelphia; Johr
Ball, of Kempville, N. Y; Jacob Boyd, o
Springfield, N. j.: John Martin, of Roches.
ter, N. Y; John Waters of -; anc
Melchar Biffar, of N. Y, Americans, Har.
ry Barber, James Hall, Manua, Mokea
Steam, Jack, and Hiram, Hawai,ans, ali
formerly belonging to the ship Ladoga
and Ranald NJ. Donald, of Astoria, belong.
ing to the ship Plymouth. The cunning ol
the Japanese, in defefring the delivery
until they had finished all their own con-
ferences, and placed themselves in security
aboard their own boats, was very evident.
as thereby all charges brought by their
missed prisoners would fall harmless upon
them. They may have been conscious
that conference upon the deck of the
Preble might have been unpleasant, and
they placed at disadvantageous equality
with those whom they had so badly treated.
The narrative of the imprisonment of
these unhappy mariners shows the cruelty
OF the japanese government, and the ne.
cessity of making some arrangement with
it involving the better usage of those who
are cast upon their Shores The men told
their story 10 Capt. Glynn in a straight-for-
ward manner, which carried conviction
with it; and we are happy in being able to
furnish the the following account compiled
from their depositions.
1t appears that the men from the Ladoga
deserted her on account of i'll usage, and
Went off IN three boats about June 5th,
1913, near the straits of Saugar; they
cruised along the coast of Yesso, and landed
to get food and water, but being refused,
put to sea and landed again about three
miles north, where the villagers built them
three mat sheds, and supplied them with
food. On the motning of the Th, an off,
Ger inquired why they had come there, and
gave them permission to stay till nortRery
wind blew 10 carry them away, and msan-
while ordered calico screen to be put up,
and guards posted, to prevent them going
into or seeing the adjoining country. These
soldiers were armed with swords and match.
locks, and their superiors were cased in
mail and Japanned helmets or hats made of
paper, and resembling 5road-brimmed qua.
ker hats the men carried the match for
their matchlocks at their waist.
The shipwrecked sailors were supplied
with about 160 pounds of rice and some
firewood on the next morning they put to
sea again, pulling and sailing down the
coast, everywhere perceiving that the coun-
try was aroused and keeping off until they
We're invited ashore by boat from a viii
lage near where they had first landed
here they found three mat enclosures run
up for their reception since they came in
sight, and were told they could stay there
till the wind became fair. On the after
noon of the 9th, on attempting to go aboard
their boats, they found they were prisoners,
and the reasons assigned for OBTAINING them
were that an officer wished to speak to
them, and that their boats were so frail and
small they would all perish, but that in
twenty days larger vessel would be fur
nished them. Their luggage was all
brought ashore and ticketed, and placed
within house in village; FIVE days af-
ter they were again removed to prison, and
so ridiculously afraid were the japanese of
foreigners looking at their possessions, that
:hese fifteen unarmed sailors were conduct
ed to their lodging through file of armed
soldiers lining both sides of the street.
Here the men remained quiet till the
twenty days were up, constantly in charge
of guard, and restrained from walking
about, at which time they were told no YES
sci would be ready until twenty days more
had elapsed at the expiration of this sec
ond period, they were informed that they
would not be allowed to leave the place
till January, and their application to be
permitted TO depart in theft own boats was
refused. Finding that no dependence
could be placed in the assertions of the
japanese. Mccoy and Bull made their
escape from the prison, intending if posi-.
BILE to reach the coast and get TO sea in a
boat but they were captured in the first
village they approached to ask for food,
and taken back to their comrades. Awhile
after their return, on the occurrence of a
QUARREL, the guard nailed Bull into grated
crib by himself for ten days; the cage was
too low for him to stand up, and when he
halloed to his comrades, violating the DR.
ders of his keepers not to speak, he was
jammed at with stick to COMPEL him to
be quiet; for four days out Of these ten he
was unable to eat.
While he was in this cage; Mccoy and
Martin made their escape, but were soon
arrested on the coast, though not before
Mccoy had swan out distance from the
shore they were both put in crib OF
cage by themselves after they were brought
back, and Bull added to their company
Here they remained twenty-five days, fed
through hole just large enough to admit a
cup. Martin was taken out once, after