The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-03-02
SOLDIERS LOST IN TIE SNOW.
Details OF the Tragic End OF q Practices
March In Japan.

Victoria, b C., Feb. 24.-Details Of tho
tragic and extraordinary disaster that
befel a large company Of Japanese soldiers
ia January are brought by steamer from
Aomori. the terminus of the Tokaido Rail-
way north Of Toxic. A detachment OF
2l0 troops. under command Of Major Yama-
Guchi, set out from their Carrie N at Hiro-
sHki fora winter march over the mountains
20 ToshikimuIa on an expedition under-
taken to demonstrate measures necessary
TO transport military baggage through the
snow. The detachment was caught in a
snow storm, and az further progress was
impossible they bivouacked. With the ex-
oeption Of Capt. kaminari, Major Yama-
guchi, Capt. Karaishi, Lieut. Ito, and two
non-comm STONED officers and four pri-
Yates, the troop was lost, some being frozen
TO death and others buried In the deep
snow.
They left the garrison on Jan. %, and as
not a man returned next day, an inquiry
vas Instituted. and on the 9th the terrible
fate Of the detachment was learned. The
entire Fifth Regiment, Of which the missing
detachment was the Second battalion, and
the t~ownspeople of Hirosaki organized q
searching party INC OF the morning Of the
2Sth Capt. Kaminari and two sergeants
were found in a precarious condition lying
In the snow three miles from the town OF
Aomori where they had struggled to carry
tie news Of the disaster and been pros
trated.
When revived they told how the detach-
ment had been o%vertaken by the storm
soon after starting. They had reached
Tomokino with difficulty and it was found
impossible to proceed further. 1t was
decided to camp, but the men were short
Of fuel for fires and rations were carried
for two days only. il Was found imIos-
Rihlc for tie vi ole force TO move in ore
body Grd MAJOR Ngnafuohi ordered Lis
men to break up into small parties, which
was done. The snow lad fallen so deep
that the troops could not use their sleighs
and had to carry THEN outfits and goods in
packs through the snow.
On the GATH, forty-one men were missing
from the main body and scouting parties
sent to seek them were also lost. The
snow was very deep aud the Thermometer
registered 20 degrees below zero. At night
tie detachment hivou1cked In two bodies
and next morning when the march was
resumed the track was lost One 10y one
the men fell exhausted IN the snow, which
was a grave TO many. Others fell out and
made fires Of their hayeTsacks, the stocks
Of their rifles and extra clothing in the
hl1t1ilIA 70 h'fH tiNfs INT ltIIlblt IIldTcn
kept taking It's victims until all we're down
IN the snow.
A sergeant and three privates were found
In a charcoal burners lut where they were
lying On tho floor exhausted. Capt Kami-
mari was found where he and two others
had tried 20 make a fire while struggling
toward Aomori for assistance. Capt.
Eoraishi was discovered standing in snow
TO his breast. lie told rescurrs that Major
NauaguChi and others were somewhere
in the ueighboiloDd and he ordered the
rsscuers TO leave him and sea rch for them.
While some Of the soldiers carried the
Captain away others found the Major nd
Lieutenant To near n rock a little below
whore the Captain Lad been caught In
tho snow.
Major Yamaruchi was sitting amid
seven dead soldiers and Lieut. Ito lay I'M
conscious nearby. TIE Major was wear
another strapped about his waist, having
evidently been pat there bv the men who
were eager 30 save their commander.
The m"l were ~ first unable to lit their
commander, Gs his body was frozen TO
tire ground. 4 Ratchet was uscd 20 Gu.
oil the blankets and oVorcoats before ha
could be taken 10 an ambulance. The
Major, Wlp vas Ia = w'gk -taie aud could
hardly artiDJia'". Sled tears and told Inc
rescue party that the only r'HtoU be- wished
10 live Was 20 that Ice could plao" 4 fIll
report O! the disaster before the military
authorities.
n S'.-sGcrifce Of those troops WHO
were dying Co. such terrible circumstance
was shown again ard again. li-tar-e-
Were told 10y the survivors ~ how thc men
had carried their cnmmaLdilg officer. when
he beam" unconscious, TO Tire b'si shelter
available by the aryr rock, ard seven Rad
died beside him after burning their extra
c,utAtl 90 supply warmth.
Al q point 400 metre, from Icsukiromori,
tn" bo' p uf Lieut.. NiFlAO AID eight men
Nsro taken from the STOW. Only "A portion
Of their caps and oNorooats was vI-ibl,
When tlcy were discovered they were all
lviIg on their backs with folded arms and
their eyes were open. H. 40 case were any
gloves or s.ocs found on !hc,r bodies, nor
were there any rifles or haNCrslCk- near 10y.
These had been burned. Corporal GatOs
was found nearby buri,d TO thp waist in
the snow md sixty feet from Corporal
GJto-'s body thc body uf Capt. Maiiuari
wys found under four Zee, 81 SNOW, When
dug out Hi- face Wac covered with ice aud
HE body was cold. When rastoratives were
applied, the Captain showed sigus Of life,
but died without regaining consciouness