The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-08-03
eceived an APOLOGY through the Sec

Jacket OF tur tEat iOOheu line SSdiShii
and his legs were covered with bro
caded skirt The wound under his eye
was bandaged but the part OF his face
which could be seen had healthy hue
ard his exposed eye was bright and
genial Queue and beard were gray
and scant. Ii wanted to talk at once
about his narrow escape and after
asking when l had come from Ameri-
ca inquired If there was any previous
instance where an ambassador had
been shot in the country to which he
was accredited. This was an inquiry
which Ii Hung Chang had put to all
his foreign visitors except the Japan
csc.
| expressed a desire to see the gar
ments the ambassador had worn when
shot They were brought in. together
with the damaged pair of modern, gold
trimmed spectacles. First long, ye;-
low robe with a lining of squirrel fur
was shown. There were dark stains in
front and the sleeve was almost inlSy
with coagulated blood. A blue jacket
that had been worn under the robe was
also bloody, as was an outer Jacket OF
other fur. Several stained handker-
chiefs were shown. All these CHASTITY
relics were to be taken back to China
unclaimed for the delectation of the
Empress Dowager.
The interview, with the Viceroy as
the interviewer. proceeded in this way:
How long will you remain In Jap
an?" he asked.
Until the conclusion of peace, or, if
the war goes on I shall return to Chi
na,'' 1 replied.
Where have you been in my coun-
try?" was the next question.
Port Arthur, Kinchow, Talien-wan,
Yung Ching, Wei-hai-Wei and many
villages. But Your Excellency let me
ask"
Zone moment" put in the interpre-
ter. His Excellency would like to ask
how many soldiers the Japanese had
in the Wei-hai-Wei campaign"
I answered Twenty thousand
"Ah!" put in the old diplomat, then
our troops were greatly outnumbered.
Did our soldiers fight well?'
They made it quite unpleasant for
us at times"
Were you under fire."
Often
Here the American Secretary, Mr..
Pettrick, listened to few words from
his chief and then remarked: His
Excellency says that newspaper man
must receive a great deal of money to
compensate him for the risks he has
to take In war. Would you mind tell
ing him what you get?"
| / named q sum over which the rich
est man in the world ruminated for a
full minute without appearing envious
How many Japanese soldiers are
now in the Shantung province?" was
asked
II could not tell"
do you know how many Japanese
soldiers remain on the island In Wei
hai-Wei bay?"
1.-The force is quite large and there
are a number of guardships in the har-
bor."
The Viceroy sucked his pipe for g
while and had cigarettes passed to the
correspondent. They were an Egypt
ian brand, served on a lacquered tray
After a few whiffs ! asked about hi:
wound.
ut is painful" said he with a smile
it is necessary to shed my blood fol
my country"
That sounded so Fourth of July-lik,
that l mentally charged 1t up to the
American interpreter.
But we were not getting on and re
Numbering that Ii Hung Chang wa!
the man to be interviewed 1 put lead
ing question of Oriental politics.
His Excellency." said the interpre
ter blandly. would like to enquire how
old you are?"
The Viceroy had evidently scored.
1 gave him this important data, a,
he seemed to insist.
The next Vice-Regal questions were
Are you married? How old is you
wife? Have you any children? How
many? Boys or girls or both?"
But, Your Excellency," / put In
"the San Francisco Chronicle desires t,
; know something about the probabl
position of China in this conference
and if the prospects of peace may b
called reassuring?'
His Excellency will answer that lat
err" said the Secretary after passing
a few remarks with his chief, but a
he is deeply interested in the America
press he would like first to ask some
; thing about your paper. You call it tn
) Chronicle?''
Quite right"
us II sold or given away?"
I modestly placed the journal on
commercial footing.
How often is it printed?''
Daily"
: "Daily?"
+ "Daily!'
DO many people buy it?'
Some interesting figures were give
; to the interpreter and while Ii wa
!. bordering deeply the correspondent
4 ventured to ask again about the att
tude of China in the conference
The Secretary turned to an attendar
and said something. The latter hun
$ ried out and brought in tea that woul
e sell. If sold at all. for $50 a pound.
e was a colorless liquid with a faint pei
e fume of rose leaves. We slipped tn
e cheerful drink together and the Vice
i roy. after limiting that If was minde
: to return with him to Tien-Tsin a plac