The Portland daily press., 1899-01-03
CAPT. WHITEFIelD'S WAIT.
A Jap Lad Whose Family Became an
Important One In the Orient.

From the Boston Evening Transcript }
Maroellus p. Whitfield of Fnirhsven,
ON the 2sth of October last received a
handsomely engraved invitation to be
present at a reception to be given on board
the new Japanese cruiser Kasagi at Phila-
delphia. The invitation was from the
officers of the cruiser. and included Mr..
whittield's whole family. Not knowing
any one upon the Kasagi the invitation
was mystery until the next day, when
an explanation came in the form Of q
letter from keizaburo Nakabama, Chief
Paymaster of the ship The writer stated
that he was the third son Of MaDjiro
Nakahama of Toxic, Japan. who had been
taken care of and educated by Mr.. Whit
feds father. master of the ship John
Rowland, in ls4l. Under this circum-
stance" he says II have been commits
stoned to find your address by my father,
as have been sent on official service,
and to report all about the Captains
family"
1t seems that Capt. William II. Whit.
field. master of ship John Rowland OF
Fairhaven, while cruising In the Japan
Sea in 1870 or isii sighted bare rock In
the midst of the sea and found five nearly
starved japanese sailors olinging to it for
dear life. They had been there something
like seventy days, and all the food they
had been able TO get was such birds as
they could knock down with clubs and
stones. The Captain rescued them and
carried them to Honolulu. The youngest
of them, boy about 10 years old. begged
to be allowed to remain aboard the ship.
and the Captain finally consented. He
was bright boy, learned the language
rapidly, and soon became quite favorite
on board. By The time the ship reached
Fairhayen Capt. Whitfield was consider
ably attached to til boy, and determined
TO give him such an education as the
town afforded. And in that decision,
Capt Whitfield conferred tar greater
benefsction on Japan and the whole OF
civilization than he imagined
The boy was Nakahama Man jiro,
though he had received the American
nick name "John Num-" or John Nun
gero" he was put into the town schools,
where ne was an apt pupil, learning
faster than many of the Yankee lads.
His residence covered period of about
six years, but before he left the town he
had become naturalized American citi
Zen There was always some prejudice
against him, for he was looked upon rs "a
colored lad, and the color line WAS sharply
drawn In those lays. When he sought TO
attend church with Capt. Whitfield for
instance, he was refused permission TIL
ne went to the Unitarian, and there he
was taken with something like equality,
though not till committee had been APP
pointed to look into the question OF his
color and standing.
In 1916 or l547 he made voyage
| whaling in the bark Franklin. and be.
came somewhat of navigator. Then
came the gold fever in California and the
young Jap American sailed for San Fran
cisco. But he remained in the mines only
a few months. Being SO far en- his way
to the land of his birth led him To long
for one more look at his old life. and once
more to visit his parents. But the law
OF Japan at that time placed death
penalty on any native who had left his
country and returned after visiting for
eign lands. Still he determined to brave
the consequences and boldly set sail,
stopping at Honolulu, where he WAS
Joined by four of his countryinen, two of
them OF the same party with him when
he was rescued by Capt Whitfield.
Nakahama's accomplishments caused
him to be made Samuri, or wearer of
two swords. He translated Bowditch's
Navigator. logarithims and all. into
his native language. and was of immense
service to his country as an interpreter
10 treaty making. He developed the navy
and was the first Japanese to navigate a
ship out of sight of land in accordance
with the laws OF navigation. he was
steadily advanced by royal order. and dur
ing the Franco -Prussian war Vas one of
the seven commissioners sent by the
Mikado TO observe war movements in
Europe. He at this time bore the rank
of Post Captain in the navy, an office
high In the Admiralty.
At the close of these hostilities. in 1870,
Nakahama took the opportunity to visit
america. and he lost no time In calling
on his old friends in New Bedford and
Fairhaven. He was warmly received,
and ona can imagine the feelings of Cant