Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-08-11

lNlllA hhM VIC game was NNs Tic lINA
FIRST with the king to a temple back Of
the palace, but the next day he allowed
the Chinese to get possession Of his
majesty, and surrounded by his lapan-
csc guard, He'd to Chcmulpo and sailed
for Japan. Since then he has been
under the protection OF the Japanese
government and Il Is only through
them that his life has been preserved 30
long.
The true story Of Kim OK Kiun's
taking OH has not been told. 1 gpt %
almost direct from his assassin. lie 10
nov nominally IN prison and he cannot
be brought into the presence OF the
king until thirty days from the time he
has touched a dead body. THIS IS ac-
cOrding TO Cofean custom. lie Is well
treated, however and when a month
has passed every one expects he will be
called TO court aud receive "a high oni-
cial position for his bloody murder.
This mans life would make u plot Tor
a dime novel, and his assassination OF
Kim was done, not because he hated
him, but Ia order that he might carry
uut pet scheme Of vengeance, which
has, / am told, been the handspring OF
his actions for years. The man who
gave me my Information IS a Curean
Official from the northern part Of the
country, who Is q close friend Of the
assassin and who was 90 Seoul at the
time Of kims rebellion. lie came to
me almost directly after a talk with the
assassin, and the man told him lust how
he had killed Kim at Shanghai and
glOatcd over h as he related why he
did Il. a more yillainous act ! never
heard described The assassin's name
Is Hong GhOng Woo. lie is man OF
about forty years OF age. lie was born
near here, and when he was still young
his father moved 10 the Island of Quel,
part Here Hong got an office, lie
was very unjust official and he levied
all sorts Of unfair taxes, He squeezed
the people until they were almost starry.
ing, and at last they rose in rebellion
and mubbcd him. The story OF his
expressions getting out Hong saw that
he could no longer stay Ia ouclpari aud
he went away, vOw,ng vengeance upon
the people whom he had oppressed
lie told his friends that he was going to
Japan and that he proposed 10 learn all
about modern civilization. lie would
come back IN the course OF years TO
Seoul and get an appointment under
the king. By the aid vi his knowledge
he would work his way up 10 such
position as would eventually give him
control OF his old tax district AZ Ouel-
part and he would then squeeze the life
out OF the people that killed his mother.
This story viii sound like tale Of
Munchauscn's when read IN the United
States. II does not sound so strange
here. AZ any rate, Hong went TO lapn.
lie studied French and Japanese lherc
until he became a good enough French
scholar to translate Corean books into
the French and TO make money out of
them. With this money he went to
Paris, and he landed there with only st2
Ia his pocket. HIS knowledge OF
French and Corcan gave him work with
the missionary societies OF the Catholic
church aud he also did work and became
the friend OF pere Hyacinlhe. lie ac-
cumulated money ana after q time re-
turned TO Japan. In the meantime the
rebellion OF Kim ok Kun had occurred.
kim was staying Ia Yokohama, protect
ed by Japanese guards. Hong saw that
through. killing him he might gain the
iavor OF the king and get the office
which would accomplish his scheme OF
vengeance. lie sought Kim out. lie
womed his way into his confidence.
lie pretended 10 want TO overthrow the
Corean government Al the same time
he privately told the minister from
COrea to Toxic that he thought Kim
ought to be killed and that he was ready
to do II. The legation became con-
WINGED Of his sincerity and they first at.
tempted with him to take Kim TO Corea
alive. They gave him a dinner al a tea
house in Yokohama, where there were
plenty OF geishas and plenty Of wine.
The scheme was to get him drunk,
propose a ride to cool oil, to capture
him during the ride, carry him to a shin
and take him to Corea. Everything
went well up to the time Of getting into
iinukishas Tor the ride Here IL failed.
because the men from the Corean lega,
ton were not on time,
Then Hong planned the assassination
at Shanghai lie had great trouble in
getting Kim to leave Japan, and IL was
only through persuading him that he
had the money by which he could or
ganize another revolution In Corea that
he got him to 20, Kim thought that h
he had ten thousand dollars he could
get enough japanese troops to 20 with