The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-03

Japan, furnishing full details OF the remarkable
kvents. naval military and commercial and social
transpirng In the treaty ports of the empire TO
the 23d OF March,
@ari.Kari Of n Native Omcer-Death Scene
Before tho Altar-Mode of Burial-NIatri.
menial Felicity-Visit Of the Foreign Min.
fstors to OsakR-The City and Its Ap.
prOaches-ReceptiOn Of the DiplOmatist For.
eigners-Stores, Temples and Gun Batteries
United States Marines Drilling Native
TroODs-Naval Displny-The Murder Of
French Sailors-History Of the Tragedy and
ITS Aveugoment-St. Patrick's Day Under the
United States Flag.
UNITED STATES STEAMER ONEIDA,)
HIOGo, Japan, March %, 1868. !
, At about eleven O'Clock p M. on the night OF the
I'd OF March. the execution Of the native officer kidd
lse KerainO- Kerai, or secretary Of the Prince Of
Bzen, took place inside the Japanese temple, plain
Ind unpretending building, situated on the main
btreet Of Hiogo This was in expaton for the fend-
lsh crime committed by him at the same place on
the 4th of February last IN ordering his troops to
IRE, without provocation, on all foreigners and the
consular flags and buildings, some Of men being
severely wounded on that occasion by the troops OF
The clan under his command. There were present
only seven Japanese dgnitaries and officials and
select party of equal number OF foreign minister's
COnsuls and officers to witness the execution.
B The culprit was tall, fine looking man. OF about
Thirty years OF age and some hundred and ninety
pounds in weight He had urgently solicited inter-
cessiOn and a repreve, but without avail, and now
seemed quite stoical to his fate, evncing neither
want OF nerve resolution.
The temple exhibited some BUDDHIST idols and was
lighted up by suspended lamps and altar lights; the
moor was carpeted with green cloth, and near the
altar stood table having cutting instruments. At
Rha f0O of Ia
little distance red one; subsequent events proved
che latter to be the cloth of atonement.
Z On entering the building kidd Ise wore the white
winged dress called Kam-shon,o, on which was
embroidered In colored silk, between the shoulders
the device OF his rank and clan; this is universal
mere. On taking his position before the altar and
looking around, he bowed low, In their customary
style, to the Japanese authorities present. and after
wards to the foreign representatives He then spoke
afew word, endeavOring to palliate his crime can
didiy conessing he gave the orders to fire; also ex-
DlanatOry OF his rank and position He said he
knew he was to die, and asked IL they wished to
question him, and II they satisfied To which
no response was given. He subsequently engaged
himself for few moments in devotion with his
minister, and on being spoken to by the exc
Cutioner-an ONCE here devolvng the nearest
of kin to the suferer-he sgni1ed his readiness for
the contamination. He was now handed the short
sword of honor, at the same time presenting his own
TO his executioner. He then ntrepidy stepped upon
the red CLOTH sword in hand, gradually bowling for
ward his head for the stroke, and suddenly plungng
the sword in his side and sweeping 1t across the
abdomen, the act eliciting agonized laugh ~
from him. Instantly the executioner, with one
sweep of the culprts sword, severed the head from
the trunk, the blood spirng up toward the ceiling
for q height Of about six feet, while the head rolled
on the carpet and the body careened over This self
inflicted wound Is to save CASTE There were a few
muscular twitchings and quiverings when the body
was carried away by two officials, and justice stood
indicated From the culprits entrance to the full
nment OF the sentence space OF not more than ten
minutes had elapsed.
This peace offering OF retributive Justice which
proves to acertain extent the stability and accounta
bty OF the present rulers and which, trust IL the
last such event to chronicle. kept extremely
quiet to prevent any excitement. The decisive and
defensive measures of occupation taken. and the
frm and unyielding attitude assumed, has brought
this bold and reckless offender to q condign punish.
ment by the Japanese authorities.
neadstones abound with inscriptions in native chiro
Rraphy forward OF which, ut the head OF each grave
xhere is piece Of bamboo Inserted into the earth
rising to height OF about two feet. The Japanese
state this to be gift from JOSH the OF their
divinity, and some OF our men assert they upon
natives pouring liquid into this tube, having
smelled Of which they pronounce 1t to have been
sakf There is attached to each grave Josh house,
IA imaged and before which, at certain periods the
relatives OF the departed place food Offering on be-
nall OF the deceased, composed or or rice fuel
for cooking, saucer full OF kind Of food having
the appearance OF curry powder and cup OF water.
These Josh houses are attached to the stern OF all
their boats, great number OF the inhabitants like
che Chinese, living on the watery element In
pans which are all housed over In bad weather by
straw mating. The corpse IL buried In the upright
Croucbng posture, having the hands clasped In
front, as i'm devotion. This accounts for the very
limited space occupied by each grave, their close
crowding being otherwise a mystery
IL is universal here for women to backen the teeth
after marriage with tncture of iron, which gives
fhQu al nor tn pix al
SHOULD they afterwards Prove unfaithful they are de-
cspitated.
ported, which are subjected Ia heavy duty. They
manufacture kind of wooden clock and find the
sundia to be the great diuria register OF the
masses here and in China.
Three OF the French war VESSELS steamed away
from Iiiogo at sunrise the morning following the exc
cuton.
lister, General Van Volkcnburgh: the Italian and
Prussian Ministers were also on board; we were fol-
lowed by the English iron-clad steamer Ocean and
the French steam frigates Venus and Duplex, each
having their respective Ministers on board, who
were all TO he formally reinstated at Osaka and rec
ognlzed by the powers that be- the coup d'edt
which has taken place here in the expulsion OF the
Tycoon. We were about hour and half under
steam before coming TO the anchorage at OSAKA,
where the water is shallow and bracklsh. opposite
tire anchorage for vessels OF large class there is
circular battery earthwOrk, mounting about mr.
teen columbiads. close TO which all vessels are
Obliged TO pass TO enter the river from the mouth OF
which up 10 the suburbs OF the city--through which
1t flows AZ three knot current--being distance OF
seven inite tne river averaging AZ enD tlue ueptn
oil but TWO 70 three feet OF water the depth OF water
on the bar being only three feet, and consequently
only'navgable Tor vessels of very light draught OF
water. over this bar on which our late lamented
Admiral unfortunately lost his lie, and above which
In gales and storms heavy surf is thrown, there
gracefully flowed gentle, ripping wave. ON pro-
ceeding up the river when about five miles above the
battery, two N the Princes Mikados officers hailed
us, nquiring our nationality, &C. Our Minister landed
here, attended by marine guard, the boat passing
on about two miles irthert to the English legation
This building is two story stone structure some
what i'm the Gothic style OF architecture, and there
are some good buildings here. In this vicinity all
the consular offices arc located our Minister being
installed In a large building or temple.
At the city, the streets OF which are laid out at
right angles and Of immense length, the river Is
arched by wooden bridges, some thirty IN mum.
Der, OF about fifty feet span each, resting spes
the creeks are bridgcd over in Ike manner. From
those bridges during hostes, the naval boats were