The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-30


John Bull was separated from by the japanese soldier
who had us IN charge.
i On the wenty-fIth day of July escaped in compan
with John Martin. BY cutting through the roof OF III
large house Our escape quickly discovered, and
my companion not running as fast as did, took to th
sea. stripping myself and swimming out John MartI
did not venture further than the surf and
rested They beckoned Tor me TO come in but had go
to rock and would not return TO the shore. They
| to neghboring village and got small boat They
came TO the rock for me. but was washed from it By
the surf, and swan towards the beach, when the,
threw me rope from the shore and hauled me IN wa
very much exhausted, and had swallowed much water
was carried up to the town, into small house, A doc
Tor was sent ior, and gave me some medicine. John
| Martin was also taken to the house. In few
hours they look us to another house We remained there
until the next evening, about six o'clock, when we were
put INTO cage with open bars on three sides and partly
John Bull, and put him in the cage We fed
through hole just large enough to pass cup Before
being placed in the cage, officer and informed
that we should go away in eleven days 10 Nangasack
where our boats would be given up 10 and where
could have permission to make our way to Lorea
At the expiration OF ten days, we were taken out OF
the cage and carried 10 junk lying Oft When we got
on board they had Two cages constructed between decks
for us-one tor me, and John Bull, and John Martin.
This cage had wooden bars in front and on top. Il
was aboutve feet high, six feet long, and four broad
The other cage was about twelve feet long, about
ten wide, having the whole height between decks Be-
fore we went on board The junk, we had some wrang
ling in the cage between ourselves when the soldiers
wished 10 take out John Martin. We did all we could
70 prevent them; but were overpowered They took him
us outside Sas q e eae IN our sy Wa and tied m 70
stripped ourselves, and told the soldiers that they might
kill us. but we would not subm, to having compan
ION whipped at post 50 numerically and cruelty They
then dessed and put Martin back into the cage In our
cage on board the junk we had but small window
from which to get air. and the weather being very warm
we were almost suhocated In about seventeen egh
teen days, the junk arrived at small town the
island OF Nippon, where they got water. We remained
some seven or eight days. and then sailed for Nangasack
and arrived there or about the first Of September.
On the second Of September, Japanese interpreter,
named "Morreama, came on board the junk with some
chiefs, inquired what country came FROM and asked
if We're well. They wanted TO take shore
but we declined all agreeing that it was better 10 take
our boats and go 10 We continued to ask for
our boats; but they said they could not give them to u.s.
that they had no power to do So but must first write TO
They told us that they would put us in good house
on shore, and that in month and half we should be
put on board the Dutch ship and sent TO Batavia
They then took TO the town-house, leach one in a
separate easoS where arrived at night They gave
some supper They then told me to come in, and man
was placed on each side OF me. looked down aud per
ceved crnclhx. They made me trample upon it, and
they made all the others tsample upon it-irs putting
the lett foot on the cross, and then the right foot
We were afterwards told that il we had refused to do
ths wewould have been put into small house,
from which we would never get away. The crucfx
made OF brass or composition. liter this ceremony we
all made TO squat down. The Interpreter then said
that the governor would arrive ask "why we
had come TO Japan " and that when he did appear IN the
town house, must bow our heads. We shortly al
terwards heard kissing noise, and the governor of Manga
sacki in but of bowed ourselves the
ground, as requested He questioned us and we told
hun we were cast upon the coast oi Japan, IN conse
quence OF being shipwrecked. He said very little
We then went into small house adjoining, and shortly
alter were carried, about mile outside ol Nangasack TO
small house situated the side of mountain, tenn
pie or Pnesrs house. where we were Imprisoned There
wall the outside OF this temple, parts OF ii
eight feet and about fifteen feet in height Within
the wall was broad ence about thirty feet high, and
IN thDxA r4unn- -hh1e
geihe with offices for the police They had access TO us
a, all times, only separated by wooden railing, under
the same roof which covered the prison and offices
On the second day alter this, again taken 10
the townhouse the court OF justice near the residence OF
the governor We were questioned again as to our
sons for coming TO Japan We gave the same answer as
before, that were shipwrecked and cast upon the
shore. The interpretations were very incorrect; and the
business postponed until the next day On the third
day told that the Dutch superintendent OF trade
would meet us al the iown-house that day. We We're
taken TO the townho accordingly, and found the
Dutch superintendent waiting for us. He asked what
was our object IN coming into the Japan sea We told
hm pursuit OF whales, He then asked il
we came in search oil any other kind OF fish, If whaling
was our only object, and if we did not also come TO
spy oot the country. We told him, No; we only came
Tor whales. He asked II we ate the whales. We said,
Mo- made oil Of them, g., &c-with much more such
conversation. We were then dismissed, and taken back
10 our prison,
The next day we were once more taken 10 the town.
house, and questioned before The Dutch superinend
ent not present at this interview The Interpreter
sad tnat ne uoubted our Story and beleYed tnat we
were spies, and came TO examine the country and
nothing else We then dismissed with the promise
that the Emperor should be consulted 10 going
home in the Dutch ship. We then returned 10 prison
TINS interview took place the sixth day OF September,
eighteen hundred and forty eight
In few days afterwards, the Dutch superintendent
sent us coffee sugar, Holland gun, and some TASKS
OF wine. He also sent white cotton cloth TO John
Bull, who destitute OF clothing. We remained pa
tenty in the prison until The promised tne-one month
and balf-had expired We then received letter from
the Dutch superintendent which stated that permission
had yet been received and that the day the Dutch
ship would drop down and anchor the roads, where
she would remain twenty-five days
This letter we required by the Japanese to give
up. Before the expiration OF this month and halt we
had another difficulty among ourselves. The above let
alluded 10 this, and advised 10 remain quiet our
quarr,lIing would only make situation worse We
were requested 10 give an answer to this letter We re-
piled IN wrng, stating that could place no confidence
IN the Japanese, and requested him TO write 10 some
American consul. who, If he heard OF situation, we
had no doubt would get an American man-of-war TO
come and take away In the mean time, we were very
much dIsqueied, and almost gave up hopes OF any relief
from troubles. The japanese then informed that
they expected every day answer from the Emperor In
dsysmorc seeing release come, about the first OF
November, al night requested one OF my shipmates 10
ASSIST me IN escaping and Try To reach the Dutch ship
then lying ~ the roads but, instead OF gong with me-
he informed on me- thinking that If escaped alone the
superintendent would certainly conclude we were all
SPIES and that they knew Of and helped my escape.
That night, however, got under the house from the
yard, and BY tearing OFT of the boards got through
the board ience and from thence escaped over the out
side wall and into graveyard travelled all night,
often falling down aud in the morning, finding that
could not reach the ship, retreated to the mountains
where hid myself away remained IN the mountains
a l.lxw w,,t Lea. - a.