The evening times., 1895-11-07
IS The KOREAN QUEEN DEAD?
Strange Story Of a Possibility that She
Was Not Murdered As Reported
American Resident OF Seoul. Who Is
Intimate With the Royal Fam
lily, Tells Of Fortresses.

lily, Tells Of Fortresses.
Mr.. Ralph Cooke, whose father is the
only American merchant doing business
in Korea, and who is low in This country,
DOES not believe the Korean Queen is dead.
My knowledge OF Korean affairs, ="
said Mr.. Cooke recently, teaches me
TO discredit any report in confirmation Of
the death of the queen, and here are my
reasons for doing SO in nutshell. There
are parties who want the Korean people
TO believe her majesty dead They have
been trying to murder her for years, but have
been baffled in every attempt, as she has
always been on her guard, prepared 10 hide
herself on any occasion of an uprising
against her; and co rot Eelicye she has
been killed now, especially knowing her
easy means of escape. Meanwhile the
report OF the murder and its supposed Con-
firmation serves the interested parties
just as well. All they want is TO separate
her from the king, and make the Koreans
believe She is no more"
"For this reason, would place no con-
f,dence in any report coming from Japa
nese sources, as l know that while the tri-
umphaDt NiphOEs can hypnotize the king
into agreeing to their demands. the Queens
policy has always been Korea for Ko-
reans," and she has great influence. The
Japs well know that their success in con-
trolling Korea depends on the credence
OF the queens death. since by this the
backbone of Korean patriotism will be
eifectualiy broken, as TIE queens follow
ers will give way. il made TO believe that
their leader is dead. M, l decidedly be-
lieye that her majesty is hiding in the
Seoul mountains.
Il know that 1t was in this formidable
mountain fortress, almost inaccessible by
It's commonly known means of approach,
tEat the queen lived curing her seclusion
thirteen years ago, when believed TO be
dead. | know that this retreat. which
has undoubtedly shielded many Korean
IN times OF danger in the past, is well sup
piled with everything which her majesty
might desire, and that even If her presence
there should become known, it wuuid be
impossible 10 reach her.
The Korean common folk believe that
the old fortress Is barren OF all furnishings,
even for the accessories OF life, and that 1t
has long since served its usefulness. The
mountain guides point it out to tourists
merely as an interesting relic or the days
of korea's fighting prime. There is no
way of gaining an entrance from without
the massive wall that surrounds it, all
such means having been sealed by the
kings command years ago.
Long before was taken into the royal
confidence through my aunt's friendship
with the Queen 1 made the trip over the
mountains to the retreat on a pony at the
heels of a uiouDtaineer 1 hired to lead
me to the scene. Purely as a sight Of the
scenic splendor, aside from its romance,
OF which was then Ignorant, found il by
far the most interesting Of any spot in
Korean territory
The journey was not unattended with
danger. Leaving the city by the western
gate, we soon reached the high road to
China by way of the north west border. The
broad highway passed through avery deep
and difficult pass cut in tortuous course
out of solid rock, which rose on one side
to a dizzy height and would allo W OF a small
determined band doing much DANA ge to an
invading army by rolling huge stones upon
them.
After getting through the pass our course
was winding. but upward The view was
not extensive, as we were shut in on all
sides by high mountains. between which lay
pretty valleys, yellow With heavy crop
of rice, and bordered on the hillsides by
cool, shady groves Of pine. Our road at
last became path, and finally got TO be
SO rough that we were Obliged TO disuouDt
anu Hdth tut IGot VI thS way
around a deep rocky gully with sloping
sides of smooth, black rock. we came to
the gateway to the walls of the fortress.
The gate was SO placed as TO fully COM
mand the winding approach. 1t is con-
structed of huge blocks of stone, and the
wall which ii pierces is powerful one,
running down across a valley bet ween two
peaks and allowing the mountain stream
which drains the fortress to pass out be-
Death it.
THE scenery from the gate looking out
over the high country was grand and 1nspir-
ing. The wooded rocky peaks rose high on
either side, while the little valley nea r which
we stood was flled with huge fragments
which had fallen from the mountains. Ever
and anon we would get a glimpse of lit
tie silver waterfalls away up near the
clouds, while below us the mountain streams
had in many places followed out fine stone
paths, with cushions of soft, bright sand,
which looked very inviting. Pushing on
we soon came 10 large Buddhist temple.
which seemed to be the center of attra ctiOn
for tourists. Here 1 found numbers of
priests, with smoothly shaven heads, pc
culiar round hats and flowing gowns.
pleased them by going in to gaze on their
sleeping Buddha and admfring tn cir sweet
toned bronze bells.
AT this place met a number of tourists
from different parts of the civilized world,
like myself with guides. The priests had
band of music for our entertainment, for
which we were expected to contribute some
thing. We took our seats at the table,
drank American beer, English coffee. Paris
ian champagne, ate potted meat and biscuit
from England, smoked German cigars. and
nibbied al several Korean dainties. All
these I was naturally surprised to find in
this remote spot, though of course the pres
euce of the little flock of tourists explained
it, and showed an astonishing up-to-date
business faculty in the priests.
while we feasted on foreign articles
in this weird, almost unknown spot in
a remote country, the effect was increased
by the strange music that, although 1t at
times became monotonous, would occa-
sionally swell up and hejghten the wild
effect of the rugged Surroundings. After
two hours of this entertainment We strolled
out to get q better look at the queer old
forfroSs vvhfsh I Int tn h<, a