The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-07-15
THE RAM ST0NEW ALL.
Her SALE AND TRANSFER TO THE
JAPANESE GOVERNMENT.
captured at Yokohama by the Official, of
the MISUNDERSTANDING the Amer
lean Flag for That of Japan
Approved.
James Nevins Hyde in chicago Herald

James Nevins Hyde in Chicago Herald
The Stonewall lay at the Washington navy
yard TIL the spring Of 1867, when a PROPOSE
ton was made by the commissioners of the
tycoon OF Japan looking to her purchase.
Our government offered her at $500. 600 as
her engines and boilers vera valued at $780,
VVO Tor use to tho United States. At the re.
quest OF the commissioners an eleven inch
gun, carriage and equipments were supplied
TO her at a cost of 81, 1894 The govern
ment of Japan assumed the entire responsi-
billty of her reaching that country. Lieu
tenant commander, after commander, and
now Capt. George H. Brown, United States
navy, was given permi sion to take the ves-
sci to JAPAN for which hazardous and re- :
spohsioie service he was literally compen-
stated by the Japanese government
Having been duly fitted by the navy de-
partment for sea, she was turned over to
Capt Brown Aug. 8, 1857 She carried the
Japanese flag, and the officers and crew
were selected and enlisted by Capt Brown
with the understanding that they would be-
governed AMI protected by the United
States mercantile laws, under which alone
| enlistment of seamen by a foreign vessel in
the United States can be made. Capt.
| Brown has kindly sent me a memorandum
relative to the part played by him in the de-
livery of the vessel, which possesses special
interest in this connection. Since the pur-
| Chase OF the vessel by the japanese commits
slonerS revolution had occurred in that
| country, and, of course, nothing was known
| OF this by the company of the vessel till she
cast anchor in the port of Yokohama flying
the japanese flag
CAPTURED BY REvoLUTIONISTS. .
Y At about 10 a. m. on the date mentioned
Capt. Brown went ashore to report his ar
rival to the American minister, when he
learned to his surprise that there was no
Japanese government which our country at
that time recognized He returned to the
ram at about 4 p, IN. with an old friend,
Mr.. Altman, who was eonversant with the
japanese language and, on approaching hi,
vessel, saw that she was surrounded by
about twenty large-sized japanese boats
which he supposed had gathered there undei
the stlLlulus of curiosity. On reaching the
deck, however, he learned that over eighty
japanese of high rank, each carrying tive
swords, were not only on board, but claimed
to be in possession of the vessel, and al must
confess" writes Capt Brown. at did
have very much that appearance.
With Mr., Altman acting as interpreter
Capt. Brown called for the ranking officel
! of the foreigners and asked why SO man
armed mon We're on board, informing hin
that they must leave the ship The answe
was that the vessel had been purchased b,
the Japanese government and that tn
officers had orders from the mikado to TAX
charge Of her as soon as she arrived and b
had merely obeyed those orders.
The question was discussed for some time
and while 1t was not denied that tho vesse
! belonged to the Japanese government, still
he was informed that there was still due til
United States SlO0,00O as part of the pun
chase money, and that the legal transfer @
the ship must be made through the America
: minister, and that until the minister CAV
! instructions to tue contrary, the comman
D would be retained by Capt. Brown. To tn
the question was asked: what has til
- United States minister to do with a vess,
4 flying the Japanese flags| and saying TIL
they pointed to the colors of their countr
at the peak.