The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-13
LIGHT FROM ASIA.
Minister Heard Upon the
Hermit Kingdom.
SIAM IN OFFICIAL EYES.
The Cause of the Loss OF the Rus-
sian Cruiser VitiaZ-DrydOck
at VladivOstOck.

Dor yesterday morning with the United
States flag flying forward in honor OF the
Hon. Augustine Heard. Minister Plenl-
potentiary to Corea. He was appointed
to the post by ex-President Harrison and
has been resident in the capltal CITY,
Seoul. for about three and half years.
His resignation has been forwarded to
Washington some time ago; ill-healtn is
the reason therefor
He pictures the country as fertile above
the common, and the inhabitants ne
characterizes as being very friendly ana
wel.disposed to foreigners. There Is very
little external commerce in Corea; what
ever exists is in the hands Of the Japanese
and Chinese
There are two American business firms
in Chemupo, the port Of Seoul, two Ger
man firms, but no English one, although
most imported goods come from England.
The Japanese have line Of steamers DE-
tween their country and COrea. and the
Chinese run a steamer every three weeks
between Shanghai. Chefoo and Chemulpo.
Corea has an army of 5000 men, drilled by
American instructors, and pays tIlDute 10
China. but the King is entirely lndepeh-
dent.
The money used is principally copper
cash. and with the exception of lew
Mexican dollars there is no silver or gold
in the country. The lack OF money is one
of the greatest drawbacks to the advance
of COrea.
Mr.. Heard remained for the most part
in the capital and, consequently, speaks
little a bout the country in general beyond
praising its fertility and agricultural pos
sibilitles. Some little time back. he says,
there was a certain amount OF excitement
in the southern yrovnce. Tong Hak.
among new religious sect, OF whom some
came to Seoul TO present petition to the
King tGat their religion should be recog-
nized and their founder. killed some
twenty years before. should be rehablll-
tated. This movement was at first suS-
pected to be directed against the foreign
ers, but little while afterward the move
ment subsidized, and $50 you can see that
Corea must be very quiet country
Minister Heard states that Corea's rela-
lions with the United States are al that
could be desired, and that it was simply
the desire of the King for better and closer
connection that inc ur-d him to send to the
Worlds Fair the deputatlon which some
time ago attracted so much attention in
San Francisco.
On the same steamer with Mr.. Heard
came Rev. DR.. S. G. Mcfarland from Bang
kok, Siam, who has spent thirty-three
years OF his life. fist as missionary under
the Presbyterian board and afterward as
supe rintendent of the English school for
the Government. The college that he or
ganiZed and built up is named the Sunan-
ualaya. and contains about 275 boys, prin-
cipally of the better class and the sons of
princes
The Crown Prince Of Siam did not at
tend the college. but had an English tutor.
The studies Of the school are mOdeIed on
those of the United States. The faculty
consists, besides DR.. Mcfarland, of two
nj hor A and
graduates Of the school.
DIR. Mcfarland says the boys are bright
and would compare favorablv with Ameri-
cans. The initiative faculty is very strong.
The boys pick M drawing very rapidly
and music too. Their musical instructor,
an Italian, who had been on an American
man-Of-war, has turned out several very
efficient bands, and speaks highly OF their
musical faculty. Strange as 1t may seem.
The country boys show much greater aDti-
tude than the city boys.
The Siamese take very kindly to modern
inventions. In Bangkok the postal system
is in full action. as also the telephone. the
telegraph and the electric light There are
two railways in existence. one OF thirteen
miles. which was opened last May or
June, aud one being constructed ana now
nearly finished from Bangkok to the town
OF k0rat, in the northeast province, dis
lance Of nearly 200 miles. There is. be-
sides. car line in the capital. part OF
which is being worked by electricity
There are two classes: The fare OF the
first is atlas g cents. the second 3 atlas.
Each car accommodeS twenty people-fOur
hrst-claSs and sixteen second.
The exports are principally rice, sugar
cane and teakwood to China and Europe,
and amount to ten million dollars year.
The agricultural system of the Siamese is
of the most primitive kind. the pillow prac-
tically is a crooked stick which the driver
holds in one hand while he urges the oxen
with gOad held in the other.
In regard to the Franco Siamese trouble
DR.. Mcfarland knows nothing, as he left
in the early part of July, just when the
blockade commenced. He says. however,
that the Siamese were inucn worked up
about the matter, and were determined to
resist the French demands. Not" as one
Of the Princes said, ''ou account OF the
value Of the country. but On account OF
the injustice of the affair. To take one
inch would be an injustice. aud they
would not submit to il"
"Siam," continued the doctor, desires
friendly relations with the United States
and mach is hoped from the exhibit at the
Worlds Fair"
BY the same steamer came three Russian
officers belonging to the Inflated cruiser
VitiaZ, that was wrecked on May ii In the
north passage of Guensan, off the Corean
coast. The cause of the disaster was a
rock not marked on the charts. NO lives
were lost and all the armament and tit
lings were put on COrean boats. A power
fnl pumping steamer was sent from ' ladl-
vostock. pontoons were used to lift the
ship and everything promised well to save
the cruiser. when Il heavy storm arose.
broke the vessel in pieces and the fore part
sank and the labor was all in vain. Cap
tain Zareine then reported to Vladlvostock
and from that place determined to return
to 81. Petersburg by the United states
though the French steamer would nave
been the quicker plan-in order to see the
Worlds Fair at Chicago and to visit New
York
The captain says that he knows nothing
about the Pamir movement, except THAT
Russia will not go to war with England on
such question; that all Russia desires IS
10 perfect its frontiers. About the trans
Siberian railroad. he thinks that ten years
Will see it completed, as il is being pushed
from both sides.
The report of Chinese focklng INTO va
livestock he attributes to the TACT ina.
Cninese wcrkmen were wanted 10 u!ilu
the drydock now in course of constructor,
winch Is designed to be big enough to oe
used by the largest vessels. ms WORK
Will take three or four years 20 n2lSn.
With Captain Zarene. Chief Omcer
essen and Engineer Deragran Will cross