Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-04-24
The Japanese Ambassadors.

pers to the I'd. inst. They contain full PARTON
lars of the arrival and reception of the japanese
Embassy.
There are 70 of the illustrious strangers, 20 Of
them men of rank, the remaining 30 servants
and soldiers
AS soon as the Powhatan can be got ready for
sea, she will start for Panama. The Ambassa-
doris have spent several days in this city as
guests of our municipality. They have been
treated with the greatest consideration. Yester-
day they had a grand dinner and reception at
the Academy of Music. They are pleased with
the Americans. and the Americans with them.
The officers of the Powhatan have but one fault
to find with them, and that is that their books
and little toilet articles are covered with pic
lures which Christian would be ashamed to
have about him. They do not possess our deli
cacy in this respect. Their ideas in ragard to
such things resemble those of the ancient Greeks
and Romans in their degenerate days.
The Powhatan stopped ten days at Honolulu,
where the Hawaiian Court honored the Japan
csc with great attentions, and offered to make
treaty with them, but the Ambassadors said they
had no authority, and referred Minister Wyle to
the Court of Yeddo. 49, 71-s
On the 30th ultimo the Japanese Ambassadors
were brought down to this city from Mare Is
land, by the United States steamer Active,
which vessel fired salute to the japanese steam
er Candinmarroh, lying at the same place. TIE
wad from one of the guns struck Commodore
Cunningham, who is in charge of the Navy
Yard there, and injured him seriously At one
time it was thought be could not recover; now
the physicians hope to save him and his sight;
one of his eyes was much burnt, the other had
been blind previously.
The Ambassadors, and with post Of the other
officers are all communicative and ready to give
us any desired Information in reply to interroga
tories made through the interpreters. There are
several of the Embassy who can speak broken
English, but probably the one MOST conysrsant
with our language is Namura, who is also famil-
lar with the Dutch. From ali that We V can gath.
er, the chief Ambassador is among the highest in
rank in the empire.
No sooner bad the anchor been let 60 than the
Powhatan was boarded by number of visitors
anxious to behold the Representatives OF the pop
ulous and wealthy, bpt almost unknewn, empire
of Japan. A cursory examination proved that
nothing bad been omitted by the officers of the
ship which could eopduce 70 the comfort and
happiness of their guests. Etiquette is a marked
feature with the japanese, and it is most strictly
preserved In their intercourse towards each 9TH
er although, with delicacy and tact worthy Of
all imitation, they do not insist unon its strict
observance in Americans. Their courtesy and
polteness, as well as their dignity and marked
good breeding, are proverbial They are almost
all far excelling the Chinese,
not only in this particular but in all the rest Of
the fine arts. Every portion Of the Powhatan's
machinery, and every object that commands
their attention, is Immediately sketched upon
paper with remarkable fidelity and excellence of
execution. 20
rf
THE HUMBOLDT BAY MAssAoRE-As short par
agraph regarding those tragic occurrences APP
peared few days ago.. 1t is said that the num-
Der killed was ftty-fve on Indian Island, fifty
eight on South Beach, forty on South Fork of
Eel river, and thirty-6ve OF Eagle Prairie--one
hundred and lightweight in all, principally
women and children, massacred in cold blood
while sleeping in their huts, by white men
none Of whom have been arrested or are publicly
known. A correspondent of San Francisco
paper, writing from Humboldt Bay, gives the
| following account:
For the last two or three years there have
been large settlements or lodges of Indians on
what is called Indian Island and South Beach,
both of which are within a short distance of
this place-say mile. These Indians great
many of them at least-have learned to speak
| the English language so as to be understood /;
| and great many have earned an honest living
by working in town and among the settlers
There were not less than ten or fifteen half
breed infants among the sluaws, and all were
living on she most friendly and intimate terms
with the whites, and had all been assured of the
protection of the United States garrison Of this
place, commanded by Major Raines. In the
midst of this faDcied security, the two camps
were rushed upon early in the morning of Sun,
day, the 25th of February, and literally and
completely wiped out.
Yes, sir, my pen almost refuses to record it.
Nearly two hundred human beings were put
out of existence in the short space of one hour
from the commencement of the bRtchery and,
though you will hardly believe me, assure you
that every squaw and child was killed that could
be found One man alone, captain of the band,
boosted next day that he had killed thirty wo-
men and children with his own hand, or rather
Ratchet! Fire arms were used to very lirni-
extent, but the work was chiefly done with
hatchets, iron bu5geons, knives, &C., ~
you that the scene was narrowing and sick
ening in the extreme. Old squaws, decrepit
and grey-haired; young squaws, the mothers OF
two or three children, were lying in pile
Sometimes, and frequently, the infant would be
MORALLY wounded, and clinging to the dead
mothers breast. The stalwart bucks lay scat
tered round quietly dispatched with blow from
Ratchet, and thrust or two about the heart
with bowie knife. Infants were crawling a.
round and hiding among the rubbish, &c. Al
together it was the most sickening spectacle that
ever beheld And all this was done within
stone-throw of the O. States Barracks.
sils
Il H.