Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-11

sassin and who vas in Seoul at the time
Of Kim's rebellion, He came to me almost
directly after talk with the assassin, and
the man told him just how he had killed
related why he did it. A mere villainous act
never heard described. The assassin's
rame IL Hong Chong Woo, He is a man Of
about forty years of age. He was born near
moved to the Island Of Quelpart. Here
Hong got AIN office. He was a very unjust
official and he levied all sorts of unfair
taxes. He squeezed the people until they
were almost starving and at last they arose
in rebellion and mobbed him. In the melee
Hong's mother was killed. The story of his
expressions getting out Hong saw that he
could no longer stay In Quelpart and he
went away vowing vengeance upon the peo-
pie whom he had oppressed. He told his
friends that he was going to Japan and that
ne proposed to learn all about modern civili-
zation. He would come back in the course
of years to Seoul and get an appointment
under the king. By the aid of his knowledge
ne would work his way up to such a posi-
ton as would eventually give him the con-
tGol OF his old tax district at Quelpart and
ne would then squeeze the life out of the
people who had killed his mother This
story will sound like a tale of Munchausen's
when read In the United States. 1t does not
sound so strange here. AT any rate, Hong
went to Japan. He studied French and
japanese there until he became a good
enough French scholar to translate Corean
money
CUT OF them. With this money he went to
Paris. and he landed there with only Sl2 in
his pocket. His knowledge Of French and
Corean gave him work with the missionary
socieues OF the Catholic church and he also
did work and became the friend of Pere
Hyacinthe. He accumulated money and
AFTER a time returned to Japan. In
me me meantime the rebellion of Kim Ok
kiun had occurred. Kim was staying
IN Yokohama. protected by Japanese
GUARDS Hong saw that through killing him
ne might gain the favor of the king and get
the office which would accomplish his
scheme of vengeance. He sought Kim ont
he wormed his way into his confidence. He
pretended to want to overthrow the Corean
government. AT the same time he privately
told the minister from Corea 20 Toxic that
ne thought Kim ought to be killed and that
he was ready to do 1t. The legation became
convinced OF hts sincerity and they first at
tempted with him to take Kim 20 Corea
aIive. They gave him dinner at tea
mouse IN Yokoha ANA, where there were plenty
or geishas ard plenty of Wine The scheme
vas 70 get MIN drunk, propose ride to cool
On, TO capture him during the ride carry
rim TO q ship and lake him 10 Corea.
everything went well up TO the time of get
ting into tinrikshas for the ride. Here it
failed. because the men from the C'orean
icyation were rot on time
Then Hong planned the assassination at
shanghai. He had great trouble in getting
Aim to leave Japan, and 1t was only
through persuading him that he had the
money by which he could organize another
revolution in Corea that ne got him to go
klm thought that If he had ten thousand
dollars he could get enough Japanese troops
TO go with him to Corea 10 con1uer the
country. He knew that the Coreau SOL
diers were no good and realized that
inc people were on the verge of rebellion
Hong pretended he had. the money in n
French bank at Shanghai. and he showed
Kim a forged check upon this bank for
I'VE Thousand dollars. He told Kim that
there were many Rpssians in Shanghai
and that during his stay in France ne had
learned many things about the schemes OF
Russia. He said that the Russians were
building the Trans-SiberiIn railroad in or
der to take Corea first and afterward
CHINA. He said that they were looking
about for a good strong Corean general to
help them, and that by meeting the Rus
slams at Shanghai, Kim couiI in all prob
ability have the command of their force5
In this and other ways ne at last per
suaded him to leave Japan. lie acted so
that Kim had full faith in hipl, going so
far as to even present him with sword