Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-19
J ACk T AR ABB ROA D .
Celebration Of Decoration Day and the
Fourth in Yokohama.
omcers and Crew Of the Lancaster
Honor Themselves and Their OouS-
try-speeches and Fireworks-

WIG WESTERN snore OF the bay OF Neodo,
IN Japan. a piece OF the mainland, about q
square mile In area has. SO TO speak. been
cracked on. On the island thus formed
fokohama Ii situated. Across the snail
creek. which constitutes the dividing line
the old japanese city OF Kanagawa suag-
giles northwardly along the coast as ~ it
were trying TO reach Tokyo, some seven
teen miles away.
Thirty years ago. when Yokohama was
only small fishing village of 800 inhabi-
tants. the japanese government, induced
by the popular prejudice then existing
against foreigners. arranged to have all the
foreign consulates moved from Kanagsws
TO Yokohama The result was that the OBJ
scure nshing village Immediately sprAng
INTO prominence. All the foreigners set
tied there. building residences on the island.
while their "hongs." or business houses.
We're across the creek on the mainland
now ~ Is city OF about 1900 inhabitants,
OF whom q comparatively small proportion
are foreigners and large proportion
Yokohama is well UP with modern ideas.
put hanagawa, though now forming pfac-
ucaiiy but one city, with Yokohama, has
remained thoroughly japanese. In the tor
uler NE ID cosmopolitan-one meets people
from every quarter OF the globe; In the lat
ter the true native life is found In all Of It's
quaint and subtle charm. The city has
spread toward the hills in the background.
ana railway now takes the traveller up 70
the capital Tokyo. or. as it used TO be CALL
Yokohama harbor Is finely constructed
with breakwater frontage and except In
typhoon weather is safe and calm; but the
Disappointing There is of course any
amount OF shipping, varied in rig and color,
but the only really striking differences at
nrst glance between Yokohama and any
other port is the multitude of little japan
eee skins, called samHans. darling like wa
ter fiies hither and thither among the YES
n I'm ush. t.
order TO realize that this is Japan. the land
OF small men and pretty Acknowledged girls,
paper umbrellas, Of low houses. with oeeer
sloping roofs and bamboo blinds and hand
carved woodwork. The hills in the rear OF
their continual verdure and the flowers in
the valleys being probably their chief fea-
tures. From their tops. however. a hne
view is obtained of the famous volcano.
Fusiyama, an ideal mountain springing alb
ruptly from the plains. with Its snow-eep-
ped summit standing clear out against the
sky.
As every reader knows. Yokohama ~ an
important stopping place on all round-fhe-
world routes, and is also prominent naval
dom indeed that no warships are riding at
anchor In its blue waters; the cleaning
white duck suits OF seamen and the glltuer-
ing epaulettes and buttons OF naval ON
GERS are sights Of every day Occurrences.
Decoration Day.
A letter dated from Yokohama July II,
1893, arrived In this city on August Are
markedly fast time. by the way-and con-
tanned beside a clipping describing the OBJ
servance OF Decoration Day by the ayew
and officers OF the United States flagship
Lancaster there stationed. the order OF ex-
ercises. and list OF sports held by the same
vessel on July L. =.
1t seems that on the morning OF Decora-
ton Day about 1870 a detachment OF 150
men. accompanied by the band OF the Ian
C$or ndAr "A 81 rfsrra 40
w. Eberle. landed at the French batoba. or
wharf. and marched IN procession 20 the
foreign Cemetery on the blum. National
and naval hags were borne draped. and
each man carried a floral trophy T. be
placed on the graves of United States sail
ors and marines who lie buried at Yokohs-
Japan In q veritable land Of flowers 70 be
able TO form an idea Of the beauty OF the
floral tributes these stalwart sailors we're
bearing to the last resting place OF their
brave comrades.
At the memorial erected to the Inflated
crew Of the U. 6. 8. Oneida. the procession
halted. and q square was formed. After
a prayer by the Rev. E. s. Booth. Gounod's
sanctus Yves played by the band; and then
d. II. Sweat Of Maine. delivered an address.
He took occasion 20 thank the officers Of
the Lancaster for their courteous in.1ta-
day, and said that, though q stranger In
that part OF the world, the sight Of the
sions Hnd as xhen continued .ef the no exSes
gressman, in addition 70 this, I find my
self surrounded by the officers OF an Afaer1-
can ship. feel indeed that am no longer
q stranger. but quite at home again" AZ
ter brief allusfon TO the heroes and history
Of the American navy. and having referrsd
our maritime affairs. the speaker turned 10
the present occaston-the decoration OF he
graves Of American sailors He said that
the flowers they were about 10 strew on
the graves represented a profound senti-
ment common 10 all humanity, viz. The De-
sire to 90 , for 1sose Sho% We
grafton ended the address. and when the
hand had played the hymn. Nearer. Ny
the formal proceedings with the beneaic-
ton. after which the graves were Deco
rated.
The Glorious Fourth.
The Fourth OF July was celebrated more
deliberately. As far as the Lancaster was
concerned there was no speech making. but
fun and joiincation galore.
The small boys great and only day was
ushered In at 8 O'Clock in the morning by
the ships guns with two booms. which
awoke the echoes and went rumbling away
into the distance. The first boom was for
the Goddess OF Liberty. The second for
from the beginning 20 the end order aud
method marked the proceedings In striking
contrast with the general disorder and
necessary TO q celebration at home. At 20
O'Clock Uncle Sam left the ship 20 go
ashore and visit the admiral at his hotel
returning later TO call upon the captain
Races and GaASs.
At pm. there was a tug OF war on the
Lancaster deck between the watches The
port watch won after parting a 4l-2-lnch
line-at least so says the letter. IL this be
true Uncle Sans sailors are pretty strong
men. or else his 4l-2-inch lines are pretty
poor. From pm. to pm. races were
held in the harbor. Cash prizes amount
ing to the sum OF s173 were offered. some
OF the leading events on the card resulted
as follows: Tweive-oared race. two miles.
first prisA. so; second prize. SIS. Both won
by japanese crews. Ten-oared race. two
miles first prize, So won by the Lsncas-
ters whale boat: second prize. SIS. BY an
Italian boat. Six-oared race two miles.
FIRST prize. SIS, won by the Lancasters gig,
Mr. r. H. Gibbs OF this city In command.
second prize. S0 won by an Italian crew.
The FIRST prize, So In the sll-comers race
was captured by the Lancaster's second
whale boat while that vessels barge pOck-
eted the SIS offered as second prize
Among the other events were catamsrau
and sampan races. an all-comers' swim
ming match and an old mems 1oo-gard
dash. II IL very apparent that, without
being greedy, the American sailors con-
cerned In the races gave good account OF
themselves.
At dusk the Lancaster was dressed with
lanterns from yard arm to rail- with the
ships name between the fore and main,
nd af dar fall f.x