The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-02-05
RETURNS FROM JAPAN.


Philip II. Powers, for thirty-scyen
years absent from Waterford, this
state, his birthplace. returned TO Jor-
dan a fortnight ago to see his aged and
widowed mother and his only survi-
wing brother Theodore F. Powers, the
Jordan miller.
| During the long period which inter
vened between his departure and re-
turn death had claimed his father,
four sisters and one brother. Within
that time also he has lost his Russian
wife, who has borne him seven chill
dren, three Of whom lay dead and
awaited burial at the same time. His
wife and children died in Japan while
he was a thousand miles away. amid
the SHOWS and the Wilds of Siberia,
whittier he had gone in the interest of
| the Russian Fur company, with whom
for more than thirty years he has been
connected as an active member. He
had not seen his mother and brother
since August g. 1856
| According to correspondent of the
New London Telegraph, Mr.. Powers
sailed on a clipper ship in April, 1860,
from San Francisco for Shanghai, Chi
ma. He was third mate and when the
vessel arrived in port the first mate
was offered command of ship en-
gagged in the fur traffic, which was
ny composed of Americans, but which
is now conformity controlled by Rus
sian company.
AS to the first mates offer of cap
tains position, he accepted it, and in
,sisted that young Powers should ac-
company him as first mate. The latter
readily consented, and both proceed
ling to the captain, Informed him of
their intentions. He refused to release
them unless they furnished substi-
flutes. The first mate was fortunate
lenough to get a man in his place, but
Powers was not The night following
the day Of the first mates departure
from the ship was the night for Powers
to be on watch e &s.s4f,
i A FORTUNATE DISCRETION.
He took his place, and at midnight
lstepped from the vessel on shore and
left for the ship where the former first
innate was in command. His desertion
was beneficial to himself, for inside Of
a short space OF time he was master of
the new ship, while the ship which he
had left went down on her return trip
Z when five days out at sea and lost
many Of her crew. &
The years rolled on. Captain Pow
} ers married a Russian lady, who died
in 1890.
!, He has long been a member of the
company whom he represents, and the
recent amalgamation of the American
. and Russian Fur companies made it
necessary for him to proceed to st. Pc
, tersburg, for which place he left after
. a brief visit with his mother and
brother. He expects to return in
March and will stay a month before
. returning to Japan.
Living among the Asiatic people so
: long, Captain Powers was able to
speak inteligently about them, their
J customs, morals and industry.
: He stated that while the great bulk
, lof the Japanese people were of the
. Buddhist and Shinto belief, travelling
. was much safer there than in England
/ or America He believes the women OF
|; Japan to be exalted types of honesty
hut the men, the merchants, are apt to
tbe shifty in the mercantile relations
This is especially marked when the
; market takes an upward turn.
: The people have many holidays, but
. they are not marked by drunkenness
. Tor debauchery; and though liquors
: mild and strong, are everywhere fol
: SALE there are few cases of depravity
arising from such sources.
II The climate in the summer is excess
. sively hot, but the winters resemble
our October. Crops are in the soil the
: whole year around
, The Chinaman he declares to be 9
!. mortal without patriotism, morals OF
+; hopes Of higher development. Within
l five miles of the city of Shanghai tray
cling at night is extremely dangerous
. Captain Powell was personally ac-
quainted with Father Damien, who
Host his life while nursing lepers in the
4 Sandwich Islands, and considered hin
2 1.-THE highest type of a Christian martyr
AS large portion of Captain Pow
lers' time is spent in Russia, he de-
. clares that the people of that country
: including the crown, are the bes
, friends of America. All Russian mer
J.. lchants and business men whom he has
. lseen and conversed with speak o.
: America in the highest terms. Eng
{ Ilish merchants and business men loca
f ted in Russia and Japan never fail tt
e lpass, remarks Of derogatory nature
: when speaking of this country.
= Mr. Powers noted remark made b!
g a Russian admiral during the Venez
!; uelan controversy in the Cleveland ad
C Iministraton. Many warships belong
!. ling to the different navies of Europe
!, lwere stationed in the bay near. the cit!
i jof Yokohama. Some of the Officers
1 were sitting upon the veranda of a no
f tel overlooking the bay, engaged il
l. conversation on the Venezuelan ques
8 ton and the prospects of war between
Y the United States and England, In re
= lply to an American adrniraPs fear
: that hostilities might eventuate, tn
!; Russian admiral pointed to the war
= ships of his nation and said with EN-
: iphasis, "They are your reserves.
: Mr.. Powers can speak several Euro
s lpean languages, and when at hom
). used the Russian and Japanes
[. tongues altogether. He is fond O
: both of these countries, has a home il
laoah nd To IiT-i5 10 f11o 70 ~,