The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-09-04

against Chinese patriots" 1t was to
teach Japanese patriots" who were
foreign hating bigots, a wholesome les
son that the United States man-o'-war
Wyoming bombarded ships and forts
at Simonoseki July 49, 1868.
In 1862 the treaty of 1854 between
the Liberals of Japan and foreign ma
lions, by which the ports of the little
kingdom were thrown open to the
world, was abrogated by the National
party and the emperor. At Yeddo some
English residents were outraged by the
antiforeign party, which had the sup
port of the local chiefs or daimios-the
hereditary princes of Japan. The coun-
ell Of Yeddo asserted that the tycoon,
or secular and military ruler, had no
power to open the ports or to protect
foreigners against the national party.
All foreigners except the American
minister left Yeddo. In May, 1863, the
American legation buildings Mt Yeddo
were burned by incendiaries, and the
minister, Mr.. Pruyn, called upon the
council to protect him from further an
noyance. The answer was a blunt sug-
gestion that he could be safe from an
noyance by getting out of Japan.
Just about the time that Mr.. Pruyn
was parleying with the Yeddo council
the emperor of Japan ordered the ty-
coon to eNpel the "barbarians," as he
termed tue foreigners. June "a was
the date fixed for closing the ports
against all the world, and an imperial
edict required the daimios to get their
/ coasts ready for defense and put their
retainers under arms to keep the for
eigners out The American minister
and all the belated Americans took
refuge in Yokohama on board the
American warships, Of which the Wy
Oming was the chief.
On the 25th Of June an American
merchant vessel while passing from
the inland sea to the sea of Japan was
fired upon in the strait of Simonoseki
by two Japanese yessels,aa bark and a
brig that had been rugged out for the
especial purpose of making war upon
the "barbarians." When news of the
outrage reached the ears of Mr.. Pruyn,
he demanded reparatson, but the Lib
eral, or Yeddo. government replied
that the deed had no official sanction.
The attacking vessels carried the flag
OF Prince Choisou, feudal lord on the
north side of the strait. He was in
league with the emperor and the Ma
tional party as against the Liberals
&and therefore hostile to foreigners. In
Y the eyes of all honest men the prince
was naughty and corrupt ruler who
didn't want outside interference with
his private affairs.
The commander of the Wyoming,
Captain David Stockton MacDougal,
was promptly ordered to hoist the
United States colors at the masthead
and read the impudent prince and his
vassals lesson from the iron throats
of American cannon. The cruiser sail
ed from Yokohama July 10. Mean
while a French steamer had been fired
upon at the same place, and Dutch
frigate was bombarded on July IL,
with loss of eight seamen killed and
wounded. The Dutch vesse! was rid
died with shot, and her captain re-
ported that he had encountered the
bark and brig and nine newly erected
batteries of guns ranging from 6 pound
ers up to 30.
The prospect before Captain Mac
Dougal was lively one. On entering
the straits at daylight July 16 he
caught sight of the batteries and the
bark and brig lying under their guns.
Besides there was a new foe to reckon