Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-04-05

traOrdinary disaster that be-
fel large company of Jap.
anese soldiers in January are
brought by steamer from Aomori, the
terminus Of the TokaidO Railway north
Of Toxic. A detachment Of 219 troops
ander command Of Major Yamaguchi,
set out from their garrison at Hirosaki
tor winter march over the mountains
to Toshikimura on an expedition un-
iertaken to demonstrate measures
necessary to transport military bag.
gage through the snow. The detach-
ment was caught in a snowstOrm, and
as further progress was impossible they
bivouacked. With the exception of
Captain Kaminari, Major Yamaguchi,
Captain Karaishi, Lieutenant Ito and
two non-commissloned officers and four
privates, the troop was lost, some being
the deep snow.
They left the garrison on, January
%, and as not a man returned next
day an inquiry was instituted, and on
the 9th the terrible fate of the detach-
melt was learned. The entire Fifth
Regiment, of which the missing detach-
ment was the second battalion, and the
townspeople of Hirosaki organized n
searching party, and on the morning
of the 2Sth Captain Kaminari and two
sergeants We're found in precariohs
condition lying in the snow three miles
from the town of AOmori, where they
had struggled to carry the news of the
disaster and been Frustrated.
When revived they told how the de-
tachment had been overtaken by the
storm soon after starting. They had
reached TomOkino with difficulty and
1t was found impossible to proceed fur
ther. 1t was decided to camp, but the
men were short of fuel, for fires and
rations were carried for two days only.
1t was found impossible for the whole
force to move in one body and Major
Yarlaguchi ordered his men to break
UP into small parties, which was done.
The snow had fallen so deep that the
troops could not use their sleighs, anC
had to carry their outfits and goods in
packs through the snow.
On the oath forty -One men were miss
ing from the main body and scouting
parties sent to seek them We're ais,
lost. The snow was very deep, and
the thermometer registered twenty de.
grees below zero. At night the detach-
hi = tn, I
next morning when the march was re-
sumed the track was lost. One by one
the men fell exhausted in the snow,
which was a grave to many. Others
fell out and made fires Of their haver-
sacks, the stocks Of their rifles and eX-
ira clothing il the attempt to keep
alive. The terrible march kept taking
It's victims until all were down in the
snow.
A sergeant and three privates were
found in a charcoal burners hut where
they were lying ON the floor exhausted.
Captain Kaminari was found where he
and two others had tried to make fire
while struggling toward Aomori for as
sistance. Captain Karaishi was discOv.
cred standing in snow to his breast.
He told rescuers that Major Yama-
guchi and others were somewhere in
the neighborhool, and he ordered the
rescuers to leave him and search for
them. While some Of the soldiers car
ricd the captain away others found the
major ard Lieutenant Ito near a rock
little below where the captain had
been caught II the SNOW.
Major Yarlaguchi was sitting amid
seven dead slldiers and Lieutenant Ito
lay Incc 1sclous near by. The major
was wearing two blankets over his
shoulder anI another strapped about
his waist, having evidently been put
there by the rlcl who wero eager to
save their commander.
The Elel were at first Unable to lift
their commander. as his body was fro
zen to the grounl. A Ratchet was used
to cut OF the blankets and overcoats
before h, could be taken to an ambu-
lance. The major, who was il weak
sta G and could hardly articulate, shed
tears and told the rescue party that the
only reason he wished to live was so
that he could place full report Of the
disaster before the military authorities.
The self-sacriflce of these troops who
were dying in such terrible circum-
stances was she wn again ana again.
Instances We're told by the survivors Of
how the men had carried their com.
handing officer, when he became I'M
conscious, to the best shelter avail
able by the large rock. and seven had
died beside hin after burning their ex.
ira clothing to supply warmth.
At point 700 metres from Yesukino-
mort the bodies of Lieutenant Nakano
and eight men were taken from the
snow. Only portion Of their caps and
overcoats was visible. When they
were discovered they were all lying on
their backs with folded arms and their
eyes were open. In no case were any
gloves or shoes found on their bodies,
nor were there any rifles or haversacks
near by. These had been burned. Cor.
poral GatOs was found near by buried
to the waist Ii the snow, and sixty
feet from Corporal Gatos's body the
body of Captain Maninari was found
under four feet Of snow. When dug
out his face was covered with Ice and
his body was cold. When restoratives
were applied the captain sh ,wed signs
Of life. but died without regaining con-