New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-12
ATTEMPT TO asSASsnATE THE BRITISH MINISTER
Desperate Encounter at his Residence.
From Our Own Correspondent.


saki, following the route anciently taken by the
Dutch Operhoofds of Desims in their court visits.
To understand what followed his return so speedily,
will premise that the residence of the British Min.
ister at Yedo is within the large compound of Bud
dhsh temple in what was prior to its present
pancy, the priests house or monastery, attached to
and Immediately adjoining the temple. broad ave.
nue. leads up from the street, which is one of the
chief thOrougbfares Of the city, being continuation
Of the tokaido great road from Oasaca and Maco,
in straight line to the temple. Diverging TO the
right from this avenue, midway between the street
and the temple is the avenue leading 70 the house,
both having an equi.distancs from the street
of hundred and fifty yards. There are
number of attaches to the Legation, secretaries,
interpreters land students, all resident under the same
roof, family Of dozen persons, among whom at
this time where Mr.. Morrison, English Consul at
Nagasaki, and Laurence Oliphant, the newly arrived
Secretary of Legation. The household had retired,
il being between eleven and midnight, the latter
gentleman being the last to go to his room, ard not
vet asleep when he was aroused by an uproar at a
side entrance opening into small hall. SuppOsing
il to be quarrel among the servants Of the house,
he took mounted English riding whip in hsnd and
went ont 10 see what was the matter. Entering the
hall he was at once confronted by man dressed in
black, with handkerchief knotted around his fore
head, and having drawn sword in bis hand, who
made pass at Mr.. Oliphant, wounding him severely
in one arm. Mr. 0liphant called fer help, thereby
arousing Mr.. Morrison, who slept in a room adoin-
ing and who At once came 20 the rescue with pistol
in hand. As he himself says, ne saw Mr.. Oliphant
engaged in parrying with his whip the blows Of bis
assilant when he discharged pistol, but without ef
feet though at close distance he had taken full aim at
the aseailant's exposed chest. This fact and the
fuding of the fattened bullet on the floor the next
morning. showed that the man was clad in armor, as
il common. The fash Of his pistol revealed his own
person 10 a second assailant who gave a swinging
blow with his sword at Mr.. Morrison which took
effect on his forehead, but falling little short OF its
intended mark, made a shallow wound. Mr.. NJ. in
stinctively lifted his hand 10 the wound when
second blow slightly wounded bis protecting fingers.
He again discharged his pistol without any seeming
effect and Mr.. 0liphant at the same time received
wound in his wrist At this juncture 30 perilous,
their assaants desisted for unknown for
moment or two, thus afordng these two gentlemen
time the whole household were aroused, and were
assembled in one room awaiting what seemed
an inevitable fate, for they were without any
means Of defense, their customary side-arms
being out of immediate reach. The band
of assassns who appear 10 have entered the house at
different points were now heard in the bedrooms
with loud outeries cutting and slashing at everything
within reach. Lsmps were knocked into fragments,
musketo-nettings slashed into ribbons the mattresses
pierced through and through, and even the bedposts
hewn asunder in their attacks in the dark upon, as
they hoped, their still sleeping victims. An apart
ments breadth and paper screens only separated
them from these intended victims The household
guards furnished by the Japanese, OF whom there
are in all nearly 300, were now aroused from their
stations in and about the premises and, for the first
time in two year, experience, came 10 the rescue Of
the foreigner. The attention Of the assassins was
now directed to their assailsnts. A short sharp and
fierce conflict ensued between the guards and assail-
ants carried on with the long, powerful two-handed
swords and which resulted in the rspuse Of the lat
ter and their expulsion from the premises, leaving
two of their number dead and third MORALLY
wounded. 1t appeared subsequently that this band of
gate Of the compound, demanding admittsnce Of the
gatekeeper Upon his refusal, they entered through
the weak fence at the side Of the gate and cut him
down for his obstinate faithfuluess, wounding him
mortally. Approaching the house. they next en-
countered betto (hostler), and demanded that be
should guide them 20 the sleeping apartments. He
was slain on the spot for refusal to comply. The
cook, who was met by party who had gained ac-
cess in the rear, was cut down for like refusal.
An unfortunate priest from the adjoining temple,
who camo ont TO see what was going on, shared the
same fate and then the sequence of events as above
narrated. At daylight dispatches were forwarded to
H. b. NJ. gun-boat Ringdove, lying at Ksnagawa,
which Immediately proceeded to Yedo, taking on
board a file of marines furnished by the French
steamer Dordonne, also in harbor that on her ar
rival at Yedo body of fifty marines were detailed
az guard to the Legation. The Japanese guards at
the time of attack, though somewhat tardy in ar
irving at the scene of action, gave earnest that the
desire to protect the Legation not sham on the
part of the Government. These guards, furnished in
part from the Tycoons troops, but the greater part
a contingent from the Prince of Kahi, suffered
severely in the fray. The leader of the Prince Of
Kahis men was mortally wounded and has since
died. Several others cannot probably recover, and
not less than 20 in all are said to have received
wounds of slight or severe description. In the con-
fusion and obscury of the night the guards received
as much damage nearly from mistaken conflicts be-
tween their own men as from this small but despe-
rate band of men. Had these fourteen thus taken
their lives in their hands against such fearful odds in
a nobler cause, it would have been deed of hero
ism worthy the age Of chvalry. On the day follow
ing the attack information received that four Of
the ASSISTANTS who had been wounded, were at tea
house in the Sinagawa suburbs. police force pro-
ceeded thither and surrounded the house. The men