Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-26

BoDY-SNATCHING IL COREA-The most ex.
traodinary and original expedition of modern
times was conceived and executed recently by
fugitive French priest. 1t reminds one of the
wild schemes and exploits of the Old buccaneers.
1t is known to most of our readers that two
OF the deepest and strongest sentiments of the
Oriental mind are the reverence for the persons
OF SoyeleigDs and for the remains of the dead
1t is the common belief that the spiifs Of drplrt-
ed kindred hover continually around the family,
and each household and clan observes its M
merouS attectiOnhle and Indispensable rites of
duty towards them, and OF corresponding bene-
iii 10 the worShiDpers. So devoUt is the regard
Tor The mortal remains of the departed that they
are kept in the house often for many years be
fore the most favorable and acceptable
place OF sepulture can be d cided ut,ou
and their tombs are visited by rcir-
iOuS professions, and repaired and beautilicd
and sacrifices and worship Offered to the spirits,
each spring and fall season. The sentiment is
vastly intensified and heightened in the case of
the death and inferment of a sovereign. He
who has claimed to be of divine origin, and re-
quired honors almost divine while living, is wor-
shipped really as IA national deity after death.
Now this French Rnmanlst priest ha fine
scheme in view, III which he engaged number
OF Americans and Germans. Ii was to take adj
vantage of this religious reverence for a dead
monarch, and fit out an expedition which would
30 to the tomb of the late king of Corea and
seize aud hold the body as n means of compc-
ing the government to make treaty with for
eign powers. He promised as a more tangible
induccment that the party would either hnd a
deposit OF mo1ey and valuaOes with the BODY
Or be able to obtain large sum of money for
the ransom of the royal remains.
However incredible, it is II fact, that to per-
form this scoundrel mission he enlisted several
persons of some means, who hired the steamer
China, a vessel Of 6iS tons, sailing under the
Hamburg far, and steam tug or tender of 60
tons, TO which thew added a connie of hcote
seized by force on the coast of Corea. The force
consisted Of eight Europeans and Americans
twenty Manila men, and Il hundred Chinese
Sailors in addition 10 the regular crews of the
vessels. This buccaneerlng force steamed nm
the river forty miles, then landed at point ind-
Gated by the French priest, and under his guild
ance marched across the country to the place of
the royal tomb. They set themselves with ali
the speed possible to throwing down the stone
edfce and digging down TO the body. The
whole country as they had passed, however. was
reused and in pursuit. BY the time they had
reached massive sarcophagus, whose great
stone cover they were unable TO lift. they wore
assailed with such fury as to be compelled 10 re-
treat They fought their way back to their YES
sells and down the river, with some bloodshed ON
both sides.
The whole affair made such disturbance NJ
Shanghai as TO require Il consular trial before
the consul general of the United Stntes Mr. "A
w. Seward. Jenkins, an American, escnncd
punishment under cover Of plea that he was
only passenger and not responsible marty
Others concerned could not be prospcnted f1r
various reasons "And So" saws Mr. seward
IN his official dispatch home Oh the subject. "the
persons who set on foot this disgraceul eXpedi-
tion Will 20 clear" Aud he l1ments that 'snn
offence which cannot but greyously Interfere
with efforts to open relations with Corea will re-.
main unredressed -" COred,' In The Gdidru for
March. 0'"'