The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1854-06-21

the first meeting between Commodore PeTry
and the Imperial Commissioner from Yedo
to negotiate the terms of commercial trea
4 ty.a soldiers and Christian burial was
given to a Marine, Robert Williams, who
had died few days before on board the
steamer Mississippi. The party detailed for
this purpose, consisted Of several officers, one
OF them the Chaplain in his grown. an es-
cort OF eight marines in change Of a corpor-
al, and four marines as bearers OF the corpse
Two boats left the ship: one containing the
officers. and the other the body and escort
Upon reaching the shore the party was met
by several japanese Officials, ready TO con-
duct them to the grave. The escort landed
first. aud received the body with the usual
honors. The little procession was then for
med; first the escort followed by the music
(drum and fife J; next the the body borne on
the shoulders of four messmates; and then the
Chaplain with other officers, and few sal
lors from the boats bringing up the rear
In this order, with the music playing Dead
March, the party moved to the grave, wind
ing through the streets of village, dis
eance of nearly half mile. On either side
if the road, and on the surrounding hills, at
the foot of which the grave had been made,
thousands ofpeople, men women, and chill
dren, could be seen, all msnifesting eager
curiosity to witness sight entirely novel in
tneirland.
could not but think as we passrd along
how strange, not only the procession, but
each OF us individually, must appear to that
eager throng, not one Of whom probably had
ever before looked upon the face OF stran-
ger from foreign country; and yet ther
was no undue noise made, or apparent alarm
on the part of any of them, only intense in
terest in observing what was passing be-
fore them. As we neared the grave (which
occupied very pretty spot the voice of the
Chaplain could be heard I'll am the resur.
rectiOn and the life, saith the Lord he that
believeth in me, though he were dead, yet
shall he live; and whosoever lvcth and be-
lieveth in me shall never die" AS we gath
cred round the grave, and the reading of
the beautiful and touching burial Sc, vice
proceeded, the scene was one Of unusual
interest; for the time, and place, and cir
cumstances, all conspired to make it. an in
cipent, honorable to our short soourn in a
land, where for centuries, it is said the sym
Dol of our religion has been trodden under
foot. The Church burial service ended, the
escort fred three volleys over the grave
| had expected that on this there would
have been some commotion among the crowd,
but | noticed only, at the first discharge,
that for a moment there was slight move
ment as of surprise, and then all were again
quiet and attentive observers.
Having now committed TO the earth, with
all due honor. the remains of our decesed
shipnate, the procession was re formed, and
with music to The front, again passed through
The village and the thousands of spc ctators,
to our boats on the beach. Here we took
cave of the officials, who throughout the
entire ceremony had conducted themselves
with great propliety, and X ending to us ev-
cry clvility; and returned TO the ship, pleased
with the consciousness of not only having
but assisted in giving such
honors, IN such place, TO deceased
brother. w. B. S.