The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1877-12-22
THE RAM "STONEWALL."
II CONFEDERATE VESSEL
IN EASTERN WATERS.

IN E1lSTERN WATERS.
History of its Sale to the Japanese
Government Curious Story.
From The 81. Joseph (lfo.) Necs.
ST.. JOSEPH, November 16-Rev-
E. r. Hendrix, in his highly
interesting lecture on tho Japanese,
mentioned the fact that tho ccle~
brated ram Stonowall was at pres
ent ownod by the Japanese govern
mont.
There boing littlo talo connects
cd with tho arrival Of the Stonewull
in Japan, which may interest tho
readers of your paper, I will rotate
it.
The Confederate ironclad ram
Stonowall came, aftor the un-
pleasantnoss, into tho hands of tho
United States Navy Department,
md was, in 1867, sold to the
Tycoon of Japan for $1,50O,OOO.-
Tho money was paid out Of the
private funds of the Tycoon, and
one of tho most trustworthy officers
of the United States Navy, Cons
mander Brown, was granted ono
year furlough to accept tho position
of commander of the Stonowall md
convey her to tho Japan Empire.
This was very hazardous un-
dertaking, but it was accomplished,
and the voyage around tho Cape
of Good Hopo, if properly told,
would fill volume.
In 1868 the Southern Daimios
OF Japan, jealous of tho prominence
tho family of the Tycoon had
enjoyed in the empire for many
generations, captured the NIikado,
then at Toxic (not tho present
Toxic which then was called Joddo),
and declared war against the
Tycoon, who at that time resided
in Osaka. Tho Tycoon escaped
from that city, and his castle was
tired by Satsuma's army To give
you an idea of the construction of
said castle, I will say that somo Of the
stones composing tho wall around it
were sixty feet long by forty broad
and twenty thick. There being no
stone of that description found
within fifty miles of Osaka, it is
impossible to understand in what
manner they were conveyed to Osaka
at the building of said castle. The
Tycoon fed to the northern provin-
ces Of the empire, and tho
Daimios there aided him with
an army. Arms and munitions
OF war were sold to both
parties by English and American
residents of Japan. Well, tho war
was raging nicely: nobody could
toll who would win, when ono fine
morning, the Tycoon's iron-clad
Stonewall, steamed into tho harbor
of Yokohama, flying tho Tycoon's
ensign on the peak and tho Star
ORSAsSSAo A(oiAhol Ol UllC
Of course everybody in Yokohama
knew of tho sale and departure Of
tho Stonewall, by the American
papers, and expected that sho
would be turned over to tho
Tycoon's agents, who already woro
awaiting hor arrival. But thoy
wero not diplomats, md did not
SEQ tho 'greaso" in this arrival.
Tho American Ambassador then
in Japan saw his opportunity, and
improved it. Tho agents of the
Tycoon woro told that, as tho
Stonowall had not yet Japanese
papers, she was yet an American
vessel, md tho American Ambassa
dor would tako charge of her for
tho time being--"just wait q few
days, and all would be satisfactory,
etc.
American man-of-war's-men tool
charge of tho ram and the Southern
Daimios were privately Informed
(of course not by the Ambassador,
that the Stonewall was in Japan
An American missionary, horrifet
at the prospect of war being pro
longed by the addition of tn,
Stonewall to the Tycoon's forces
anxious that the sacrifice of human
lives should be stoned. md NOR,