The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-17
Frsderick Walters. ra,e Of Voc.

Vancouver. B. c.. Jan. 15.-Among the
passengers by the Empress OF Japan waS
Frederick Villiers, the war correspond
ent ana artist, who arrived straight from
the seat Of war. When asked by the As
sociated Press regarding the truth of
the story OF the massacre at Port Ar
thur. Villiers said unfortunately IL was
only too true. On the 21st of November
when Port Arthur was captured oyama
decided that thu japanese should occupy
the town. and Yamagi's Sama regiment
was ordered to perform this duty. They
entered. Villiers London Standard.
Creelman (New York Worid), and Cowan
uondon Times). being with them. just
inside the gate were three mutilated heads
of japanese stuck on poles. and no socn-
er had the troops seen these than they
lost all control and Unfortunately
brstchered everybody they found. Cyama
had issued a proclamation that none of
the inhabitants should be molested, so
the natives We're standing in groups on
the streets watching the entry OF the
soldiers. They were driven like sheep
into groups and shot down In cold blood
That was kept up all the first day. On
the second day the soldiers broke open
the stores and houses and shot down
men, women and children who we're hid
Ing. No one WAS spared, youth and old
age not even escaping. The third and
fourth day the butchery continued, the
officers not even attempting to check
the men. Many bodies were horribly
mutiiated. On the third day of the mas
sacre the japanese officers recognized
that they had made mistake and at
tempted 10 conceal the butchery by
throwing clothes OF Chinese soldiers OYER
the bodies. One officer pointed out a,
body to Villiers. stating that 1t was a
Chinese soldiers but on examining It
was found to be that of little boy with
pair OF soldiers trousers thrown over
him. Filliers, Creeiman and Cowan wit
messed the killing OF many, and yilliers
has taken several snap shots which bear
undeniable evidence of the truth of the
butcheIy.
When shown statements sent out by
the Japanese legation at Washington
City. 1ustlfyang the massacre. yailiers
said 1t was impossible 10 justify ii, as no
resistance was offered The first day
might have been inexcusable. as the
soldiers lost control on seeing the mutt
lated bodies. but after they had
time to reflect there was no excuse. w.
Hers says tire town has a population OF
1850 TO 2,0oo. and but thirty-five or forty
persons were left alive, and these had
tickets signed by Japanese officers, sagni-
flying that they were not to be killed II
was a terrible sight and made the COR
respondents very depressed, as they haa
formed high opinion of the Japanese
from their previous conduct. At Kinchow
the inhabitants welcomed them and called
them angels from heaven" and evsry
where else they had acted in a ciyil;zaa
manner. The conduct at Port Arthur
however, showed that they were stip
savages.
DeGuerviiie the New York Herald r,or-
respondent, is strongly denounced by yi,-
Hers, who claims that he is In the pay
OF the japanese government 10 defend
them for their conduct at Port Arthur
peGuervlie, he says. was rot a, the front
at all. but stayed with Field Marshal
Drama, tn the rear, living in comfort
and obtaining aearsay reports. he also
denounces him for Informing the Japan-
csc government that CreeInaa vas a
Chinese SPY. as thereby their lives wera
esf@angeret. He promises TO ex.sose him
On his arrival IN New York All d.
GEe.yiiie did, saws yisEers. was 70 col
3ect trophies ard driny vine
we.haiwei. yiillers says. win be can
turei this Writer, but relsin win nat h.
reached Creelmsn returns home on tho
next Empress.