The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-16
THE JAP'S JOURNEY.

This Is the era of feats of great physical
endurance. The performance of wonder
full deeds which require for their successful
accomplishment the possession and exer-
else OF extraordinary courage and staying
powers is daily becoming more frequent
and receiving corresponding degree of
attention and applause. There have been
Thomas Stevens famous worid-girdling
bicycle tour. Nellie Bly's trip around the
globe, and the great relay bicycle race from
Chicago to New York. 1t has. however,
remained for japanese TO essay the most
remarkable of all feats of this nature hith-
erto undertaken. At the end OF January
last Maj. Fukschima an officer of the Jap
anese army, stationed at Berlin as military
attache of the embassy there, started from
the German capital on an. overland jour
ney to Shanghai, proposing to accomplish
it--a distance of 1900 kiiometers-upon
horseback. This wonderful ride was to
be completed with only one horse, which.
with its owner, was to win the undivided
credit of the trip. The journey was to be
finished within seven months from the
time of starting. European newspapers
have paid some attention to the matter,
but not anything like as much as the gen.
eral interest of it warrants.
Mai. Fukschima is q small man of COM
pact, weli-proportioned figure. and is
representative specimen Of the pure Jap
anese type. Though only 80 years of age,
he has already risen to the rank OF major
of infantry, which is attributable to his
higher intelligence and soldierly capacity.
These qualities have not only secured him
an unusually rapid advancement in his
profession, but also year ago caused him
to be sent to Berlin to assume the position
at the Japanese embassy, which he has
lately occupied.
The courageous and enterprising little
man has already covered one-third of the
distance. having made an average daily
record OF sixty-two kilometers and he has
now reached the border between Russia
and Siberia. He comes of a distinguished
family, being descended from the famous
Chosiu clan which, in the period OF in
ternai broils in Japanese history, once de-
fed the entire forces of the Tycoon, and
which produced the illustrious chief Mort,
Lord of Nagato who gave battle to the
American sioop Wyoming in the naval en-
gagement on the Shimonoseki straits in
1863, on which occasion Capt. McDougall,
of the United States navy, destroyed the
Japanese fleet and raised the blockade
against foreign vessels. The Chos;u clan
have been credited with having done the
most to inaugurate the establishment of
"New Japan which led up to the adop-
tion of the arts and civilization of occi-
dental races, that resulted in the present
progressive and enlightened condition of
the country.
The general impression has up to the
present time prevailed that Maj. Fuk-
most wonderful ride on record, was the
outcome of a mere whim, supported by o
subsidy from the Japanese government.
The truth is. however, that the Oft
repeated phrase of cherchcz le femme is APP
plicable to his case. There is. in short, a
woman in the case, and a very beautiful
one at that. II seems that Maj. Fuk-
schima. being fond of society and its gay
distractions. easily drifted into the whirl
of social pleasures at Berlin. Last winter
he was a regular attendant at all the court
balls and other festivities incidental to tho
season. He was we'll received and gen.
eral favorite because of his genial man
ners and amiable personality. While thus
mixing in society he became acquainted
with the Fraulein Won Podbilski, neice
of the celebrated Prussian general of
that name. The lady is a beautiful
susceptible little Japanese officer fell
in love with her on sight, his attentions to
her being very constant and marked.
After time the matter became bruited
around and began to cause a degree of
amusement In society. Why, it was