The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-14
The Trip OF the Susquehanna.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.

The highly interesting narrative of the susquehanna
cruise, which appeared in the HERALD full of facts
That magnificent war steamer, her movements and
transactions, recorded by her good cha plain are
entitled to all the consideration handsomely be.
slowed. But, unfortunately and, doubt, accden.
tay-there seems to stand in the first sentence Of the
narrative capital error. The Susquehanna should
not claim to have been the pioneer Of the late japan
expedition
More than year before the susquehanna reached
the shores Of Japan, the saratogaone of the fleet
visited the acos ma group the most westerly islands
Of the empire and her officers had official interviews
with the chiefs of Pa tchungsan and Ko ken san, SINH
lar In most respects to the subsequent interviews Of
the Commodore with the authorities Of Loo.Choo and
NS Win be remembered that tn. s.r,to,, visited those
islands in pursuit OF the Chinese mutineers who had
murdered the officers of the ship Robert Bowne aud had
sought refuge upon their shores. After weeks hunt
through the almost impenetrable swaps and the
bleak hills, by the officers in command Of the several
divisions Of the ships crew, they succeeded by night
surprises in the upgles to which the fugves had aed
capturing about one hundred Of then who we're taken
Day after day and night after night under the broil-
ing Of the former and the drencog rains Of the lat
ter their powers Of endurance were severely tried
that neither the officers crew entirely recovered from
the fatigue and exposure even to the close Of their
And in this affair there were several prsty active
conflicts with the desperate Coolies when surprised in
their hiding places at midnight and by the blaze Of
torch light. Two three were killed. many wound.
ed and Of them died after before reaching
China. The greatest possible and caution
tax by the officers to prevent to those who could
be taken without the use Of sword, pistol musket
full account Of the affair appeared afterwards in
the HERALD, by its correspondent in China
The Chiefs Of Majco sima-fve or six in number-re-
ceived the officers Of the Saratoga, la Japanese in
house temporarily erected for the occasion beach,
near the anchorage, two three miles from the
capital town-entertained them with a royal feast OF
soups sugars sackee and pipes-volunteered their
vices TO promote the object OF the strangers visit
made presents to the ship and recsived presents from
the officers with reluctance. Precisely the
ners and customs the excessive potsness similar
in costume, and evidently the same institution
there Is not much dere in these respects be.
tween Yedo Loo Choo and -sima between B,s
tom Charleston and New Orleans. No one can doubt.
with good reasons that the entire line of islands Of
Formosa are part of Japan.
Again when, the year following, squsdron visited
Loo Choo the successful exploits of the Saratoga at the
Loo Choo chiefs aud is but fair to presume that they
had tendency to impress the chiefs with belief that
Americans would be likely to accomplish whatever they
might undertake. should 1t be doubted that the in
Gated to Yedo through the principally Of Satzuma, of
which Loo Cho0 is dependency IL not integral part
The Saratoga the first of the feet which visited
apan-frst of the expedition to anchor upon the shores
Of that empire She made three visits to the country in
three successive years and after the treaty OF Kenne
concluded she fastened the Pacific AMI
hurried that important document the Isthmus to
the capital of our country
The Official interviews OF Captain Walker and officers
with the dgnitarie of Ma leo DINA in 1852,
courtly, amcable and circumstantial (though not so
brilliantly as those Of the Commodore at Napa kiang in
1858, and at Tedo in 1854 There the most striking
similarity in the ceremonies Of elaboration the part
of the islanders.
Everything claimed for the gallant old flagship is
conceded with the single exception Of her pretenson to
have been "the pioneer Of the late Japan Expedition"
A SARATOGA SAILOR.