The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-10-03

Shanghai, hastened ostenslblY to greet
him, and they had hardly exchanged
o word before the false friend stabbed
the newcomer to the heart. The crime
was political murder, planned in the
court of Korea, connived at by the
Chinese authorities, and the story
throws curious light upon the meth
ods and practices still in vogue in
oriental society. The victim was Kim
Ok Kun, who, ten years ago, headed
an unsuccessful revolutionary attempt
at Seoul, the capital of Korea. From
the day he failed he had been followed
by emissaries of the Korean court,
bent first upon his extradition to the
home from which he had fed, and
finally, equipped with instructions to
kill him, and to carry out this meri-
torious service to their country in
such way as to save the court from
any appearance of completely.
When the deed was done last March,
it was evident that China and Korea
had a perfect understanding in the
matter. The murderer was not
dragged Off to the Shanghai lookup,
like c common malefactor. On the
contrary, he was treated with respect
ful consideration, as soon as his name
and that of his victim were made
known. He not only went free, but he
was permitted to buy tickets for one
passenger and one coffin to Korea,
and he departed for home with the
body of his victim and the distinction
due to man who had rendered a
public service. In the capital OF
Korea the assassin was honored as no
ordinary patriot. The body of the
murdered man was divided into eight
parts, and one part was sent to each
of the provinces of the kingdom to be
exposed to view on the public high
ways.
This much of the tragedy has been
published. 1t is believed, however,
that the extraordinary story which
had this bloody termination has not
been retold, and it is we'll worth re-
lating in connection with the crime
that has closed tho chapter. 1t was
told in October, 1856, when the Jap
anese newspapers were alluding in
every issue to the lively correspond
ence between the Governments OF
Japan, China and Korea, concerning
Kim and the attempts of his enemies
to kill him; and he himself appeared
in print with the evidence of the plots
against his life, which were the basis
of lis appeal to the Government OF
Japan for protection.
One night near the end of Decem-
Der, 1884, a number of the highest
officials of Korea gathered at ban
quet in the new postoffice building in
Seoul. A servant suddenly opened
the door and cried that the house was
about to be attacked. The men at the
tables fled into the darkness, only to
find that enemies surrounded them.
Some of them were killed on the spot,
and others were severely wounded.
Then the mob and its leaders rushed
to the palace to secure the person OF
the King. By this time news of the
uprising bad spread through the city,
and the guards of the legation had
hastened to the palace to add THEN
strength to the Kings bodyguard.
The rebels, who were attempting moth
ing less than the destruction of every
leading official of the Government,
beseiged the building, but the pluck
and discipline of the japanese kept
them at bay. Then the Chinese troops,
hearing that the Japanese were inter
fering unwarrantably in one of the
internal connections of Korea, marched
from their camp outside the city anG
gave battle to the Japanese at the pal
ace, but the latter I'D their OWL
throughout the nj U the morn
ing it was fouIG vnav the King mad
fled, and the japanese had to fight
their way to the coast, where they
were protected by their warships
The rebellion was soon put down
China and Japan patched up theil
misunderstanding and the matter
ended.
The principal actor in this furious
outbreak, and the instigator of all the
Rssassinations, was Kim ok Kun, who
had held the highest Office in Korea
and was jealous of the preponderanes
in the Kings councils of the members
OF the Min family. The Queen, wo
men OF strong character, belongs tC