The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-01
CAPT. WHITFTELD's WAIE.
A Jap Lad Whose Family Became an I'm.
portant One in the Orient.
From the Boston Evening Transcript.

poTtaub ouc II hC oTiCht.
From the Boston Evening Transcript.
Marcellus P. Whitfield OF Fairhaven. on the
2sth of October last. received a handsomely
engraved invitation to be present at q recep-
ton to be given on board the new japanese
cruiser Kasagi at Philadelphia. The invitation
was from the officers Of the cruiser. and included
Mr.. Whitfeld's whole family. Not knowing
any one upon the Kasagi. the invitation was a
ton came in the form OF a letter from Keizaburo
Nakahama, Chief Paymaster Of the ship. The
MMF anjIro s'S Nsfa Shas e oi T Eas tn Japan ahlra wh son had d
been taken care Of and educated by NJ. Whit
Il have been commissioned to find your ad-
dress by my father, as 1 have been sent in
Captain's family W t'p''' Il" O'' '"0
It seems that Capt, William H. Whitfield.
while cruising in the Japan Sea in 1910 or 1871
sighted a bare rock in the midst OF the sea and
e 9H%af sV to f t for DEAR SsarH lie. ' fR e had Sa besn
there somsthipg like seventy days, and all the
stones. The Captain rescued them and car
ried them to Honolulu. The youngest OF them.
Captain finally consented. He. was a bright
Seea%e quite a tayorite on board. by the tine
the ship reached Fairhaven Capt. Whitfield was
G %Ined t9 1--WE stf him such sG an sne ed SSsii fnd as aet the
town afforded. And in that decision. Capt.
w Whitfield .t t . S@P fer %ho q Tar az g IriIftsTi 6enf fh.a on
The boy was Nakahama "anliro. though he
Nun" or John Mlneero." Ho was put into
the town schools, where he was an ant pupil,
His residence covered a period Of about six
years, but before he left the town he had be-
S %as sl a aa' S6me paej A a sFai fisizSS in. T for he
was looked upon as a colored, lad, and the color
line was SHARPLY drawn in these days When
for instance. he was refused permission till he
went 70 the Unitarian, and there be, was taken
TIL a committee had been appointed to look
into the guestion Of his color and standing:
the bark Franklin. and became somewhat Of a
navigator, Then came the gold fever n Cali
San Friancisco' But he remained in the s'q mines
the land Of his birth led him to long for one
his parents, But the law Of Japan at that time
placed a death penalty on any native Who bad
eiGn lands. Still he determined to brave the
consequences and boldly set sail. stopping at
countrymen, two OF them of the same party
with hin when rescued by Cart. Whitfield
he Sa mn5s sa %ee1npo or hn. rnt Is caused tm@ sn him to
He translated Bowditch's Navigator" iosarit-
THUS and all. into his native language. and was
prefer in treaty making. He developed the
navy. and was the first native Japanese to nav
igate a shin out OF sight of land In accordance
with the laws OF, navigation; He was steadily
advanced by royal order. and during the Franco
Prusslan war was one q the seven commits
movements, in Europe. He at this time bore
the rank OF Post Captain in the navy, an office
Al the close Of these hostiities. In 1870.
Nakahama took the opportunity TO visit Amer
lea. and he lost no time jig calling on his old
friends in New Bedford and Fairhayen. He was
warmly Ieceiyed, and one can imagine the, feel;
Of the Japanese statesman whom he had saved,
q poor sailor boy, from a sure death in tho
Pacific.
Since his visit to this country nothing has
been heard from Nqkahama. Now he Is an
old man. retired and living at case on his es-
tate in japan. with an honored and progress
sive family OF sons growing IN around him.
Capt. Whitfield died several years ago. hut the
japanese nobleman has not forgotten him or
his family, Now that one, Of his sons was to
visit America, he was specially charged to look
up the CAPTAINS descfpdants. which he APP
Young paymaster, sent with his letter. to Mr..
Mhltheid several large photographs Of mem:
bers, Of his family, one OF the old man, one OF
an elder son, who wears some sort Of imperial
decoration. and one OF himself. also similarly
decorated,