The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-23
DONE BY FORCE OF ARMS.
Pirates Sack and Burn Chinese
Village and Exact Heavy
Blackmail.
A French Priest In Japan Emulates
the Example of Father
Damien.
Other Curious and Interesting News From
the Flowery Countries Across the
Pacific Ocean.

named Ho. who was formerly fisherman
and changed his occupation to farming. by
dlnt OF toll and economy he acquired some
money and property. Lately he received
seven letters asking for money. The re-
quest was not complied with, Ho knowing
that the blackmailers would never be salts
fed. Preparations, however, were made to
give the pirates warm reception in case
they attempted to carry out their threats.
For some time nothing occurred to cause
any anxiety, and vigilance was relaxed.
One night the pirates suddenly appeared.
The man who seemed to be the leader held
in his hand large flag on which was writ
ten the words, "Hall of harmony and right
eousness." Behind him marched in good
order fifty men, firing off their guns along
the road. The villagers and patrolmen
were completely cowed. The pirates plum
dered every house in the village and in re-
venge Tor want of attention to their writ
ten demands they commenced to set
the houses on fire before taking
their final departure. When the villagers
got over their fright and put out the fires,
they found everything portable gone, and
that twenty-three houses and twenty-five
cocoon sheds had been burnt down. The
case was reported to the magistrate, but no
trace could be found of the marauders. The
people again settled down to their occupa-
tions, but ten days after the event another
note was delivered to the now thoroughly
frightened villagers. demanding large
sum OF money which was to be handed over
to certain shop. The signatute of the
note was Hall of Grand Righteousness. :"
Ho was driven to desperation and started
for Canton. He informed the perfect of
the danger the villagers were placed in and
a guard OF soldiers were sent to the place to
afford the people protection. Shenteh is q
large town not far from Canton.
There is now Father Damien in Japan.
he is French priest named Iestevuide,
who first became interested in the lepers
through the case of poor Japanese woman
whom he tended when she was abandoned
by her husband, and was left, blind and
miserable in species of hut above the
wheel Of an old rice mill. Touched by the
wretch9dness OF this woman, Father Teste-
yuidSc sired a house near the, village of
+Gotemba, some distance from Yokohama,
at the foot of the Fujiyama mountain, and
converted it into a leper hospital. Since
then he has established regular leper set
tlament on land between the mountains of
Hakone and Fujiyama.
Near the village of Haneda, Ibara gun,
Japan, foxes of late have been committing
such havoc with the poultry that the villag-
ers short time ago combined to set a trap
for master renard, some of the young fell
lows volunteering to watch the trap night
after night. The trap consisted of heavy
structure. consisting of wood, stones and
other material, so placed as to fall on and
crush the unfortunate animal as he at
tempted to seize fowl placed in a conspicu-
ous spot to attract his attention. Their
Nelnp w
sport, these young fellows soon grew tired
of mounting guard and contented them
selves with going morning bv morning to
see whether anything had been caught.
One morning recently one exclaimed I'VE
have got him at last" but on examining the
catch they found it to be woman. aged
about 35, who had been attracted by the
fowl, and who in attempting to take it
had brought down on herself sudden de-
struction. Some of the wise-acres of the
village, on being informed of the catas-
trOphe, said: Take her to the fire, she
will soon change her form--a fox that has
burned itself into woman, no doubtn'
At Yokohama recently. Il ring which it's
owner, one of the officers of the United
States steamer Omaha, might we'll have
despalred of recovering, has found its way
back to him under somewhat peculiar cir
stances. The ring was dropped, while the
Omaha was last in the harbor, in seven
of the muddy bottom, made a recovery
very problematical matter. A reward was
offered, however, and on the return of the
ship it now appears that the ring was re-
covered by asendo, who carried it to the Yo-
koma police station, whence it found its
way back to its owner. 1t appears that the
finder used a net or dredge of the kind
known as keta, provided with iron spikes.
in which the ring caught, and was brought
to the surface.
There is II class of Chinose--a pretty large
class, unfortunately-whom nothing seems
to please better than an opportunity of in
sulting foreigner. One of the rea-
SONS why they hold foreigners in
contempt ls Ignorance of their
barbaric language-a language which
is one of the greatest impediments to true
education in China; and if they convey an
insult by means of the characters they wor-
ship, their. pleasure is doubtless heightened
Tin curious contradictory sense) by the
that the ordinary foreigner
Is not learned enough to detect an insult.
In recent battle with pirates at Tonkin.
Captain de Guigue was killed and two leu
tenants wounded. These make five officers
in all killed or wounded since the oegin-
ming OF tho year, which shows that cam
in 1onkin is not mere prone
made.
An admirer of Confuoius residing in
Toxic, proposes to erect a
temple to his honor The proposition has
met with great deal of support. and the
building, 1t is sald, will be commenced be-
fore long.
Huntlley Guilty Of Manslaughter.
HURON, s. d. March 22.The jury in the