The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-11


CounseI-The Insignia of Decoration
was Earned for Valuable Services Rem
dered the Japanese Army ir Giving
Them information by Which They Cap
tured the Capital.
Mr.. c. H. Davidson, vice president
of the Kansas National bank Of this
city is in receipt of letter from ia
pan announcing a distinguished honor
being conferred on his son James
Wheeler Davidson by the emperor OF
Japan.
4 Mr.. Davidson, who is war cores
pondent in the Orient is attached to
{ the japanese forces at Formosa and
was honored on Christmas eve by hav-
ing the order of the Rising Sun con-
ferred on him to express the imperial
thanks for services rendered the Japa-
nese troops on June Is, 1895.
In the absence Of an American con-
sui in Formosa the insignia was for
merly handed to Mr.. Davidson by
Governor General Count Kabayama on
the 24th of December, at the capital,
Taipehfu.
This young journalist is a cousin of
Major Pond, the we'll known New York
lyceum manager, and was connected
with the American tours of Sir Edwin
Arnold, Max O'Reill, F. Marion Craw-
ford, Lieutenant Peary, and other Gel
ebrities. He was a member of the
Peary Arctic expedition Of 1884, and
while in North Greenland, on the eter-
nal ice-cap, narrowly escaped with his
In inc nil
b snow drift, his left foot was badly
frozen, although the foot was saved,
1t never healed properly, and hindered
him greatly in his work in FOrmosa.
Upon returning to America from the
expedition, he left for Japan as cor
respondent Of the Inter Ocean, arriv-
ing there in December, 1894. In March
1895, he reached FOrmosa where he was
attached 10 the Chinese army, until the
arrival of the japanese three months
later. Mr.. Davidson at once Joined
the japanese troops, having been gran
ted permission by COMMANDMENT
chief Prince Kita shirakawa, Of the i'm
perial body guard, and was in the field
with this division for four months,
when he was transferred to the second
division, with which he will remain I'M
til civil control is established. He
has been the only foreign correspond
ent in Formosa, and through his syn
dictate, including Oriental papers, has
practically supplied the world with the
only news from that island.
1t was shortly after his Joining the
Japanese forces June 16), that he and
two other foreigners made their haz-
ardous ten-mile trip through the reb
els country, to reach the Japanese
. Ea Of Er,f inc ha
commander Of the true condition Of the
capital, and to request him to send
troops at once, that lives and property
might be saved, for which service the
Emperor Of Japan conferred upon him
and his two companions, the order of
the Rising Sun.
This honor came to Mr.. Davidson
during the Christmas week, when on
December %, Mr.. Sano, one of the gov
eminent officials, called at his quar-
tiers and made the following little
speech: '-dr Davidson: l come to
you today, officially, as the represen-
tative of His EXcellency, Count Kaba-
yana- / have been entrusted with the
honor Of presenting you with the in
sigma and diploma of the order of the
Rising sun, conferred upon you by
His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan, for
NciuablE services TeuueItu the JdlBdL-
csc army in F'ormOsa."
The decora ton, or medal, is most
beautiful In the center of the pend
ent is a very large carbuncle-a beau
tiful gem of the purest color. The
pendent is made of gold, with enamel
work, and twenty gold rays and
twelve silver rays running out from
the center. The diploma is on heavy
parchment, with the emperOr's seal
and signature, and translated, reads
a. folfows-the numerous official seals
and signatures are omitted:
we, the emperor of Japan, who sit
with the heavenly Improvement on the
Imperial Throne of the Perpetual Dy-
nasty Of Unbroken line, are pleased TO
grant to James Wheeler Davidson, an
American citizen, war correspondent
Formosa, the insignia Of the Order of
the Rising Sun Of fifth class. in order
to express our well wishes.
Sealed at Toxic Palace, this fif-
teenth day Of the Eleventh month, on
the 2Sth year of Meija, or 2565th year
from the ascending to the throne OF
Jimma TennO."
The last comforting of the order of
the Rising Sun by the emperor of Jap
an. previous 20 Mr.. Davidson, was up
Edwin Arnold. in 1891.
Mr. Davidson is a young man of
only twenty-three, and was barely
uweuty-one when selected by Lieuten-
ant Peary as one of the members of
his Arctic expedition. He is said TO
be the youngest explorer that ever
crossed the Attic circle. Probably
there is no other man of his age in
America who can show so wide. eX-
tensive and eventful a record as a
traveller.
The following is an extract from the
Japan Daily Herald published in Yo-
kahoma. Japan, concerning the deco
ration:
Perhaps one Of the most brave. most
heroic, exploits of the whole campaign
in FormoSa was the relief Of Taipehfu
and suburb Of TWatutia, where the
foreieners carry on the tea business.
Il seems the Chinese soldiers who were
heaten and driven from Kelung fed
10 TwatUtia along the railway lines.
Upon reaching here they all Joined
IN a general raid, looting, burning,and
numbering among the islanders and
their own countrymen. Twenty thou
sana men. smarting under defeat, was
an ugly crowd 10 have near Twatutia,
SO Il occurred 10 the foreigners there
that The sooner the Japanese came the
bel0er- A meeting was held, and three
young' men (Air. James W. Davidson,