Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-10


Days I'm japan.
A%fterward we visited the city OF the dead,
a large garden, in the center Of which is
a mausoleum wherein the bodies Of the
Chinese are kept who are wealthy enough
to pay the rent. The charges range from
SIS to $500 per month. These bodies are
kept until a suitable resting place can be
secured. We saw the Chinese viceroy's
wife's coffin. one Of the most expensive ever
made, which cost $4,000. 1t is coated with
three inches OF lacquer.
Tired of sight seeing at Cantor we re-
turned to Hong Kong and after another
day of sight seeing there went aboard ship
and departed at 1890 Saturday, March q,
for Moi. Japan.
The ocean trip TO Moji and Kobe, Japan,
was without incident. We reached Kobe,
2,O46 miles from Manila, at 1850 p. m, April
1. This is the quarantine station for Mol.
The doctor came aboard and cleared us,
and then we proceeded on to Moji. We
entered the harbor Of Moji about 4 p. n.
on one side Of the bay the city Of Mojl Is
situated and on the other the city Of Shin
onoseki. Along the entire front of Moji are
the coal sheds. This town is one Of the
largest coaling stations in japan and the
majority of steamers plying between Orien-
tai ports stop here for coal. Shimonoseki
is the residential portion and the largest
Of the two ports. With the exception Of
about forty Europeans .he entire popula-
ton is japanese.
As soon as we dropped anchor the coal
barges arrived. These boats hold from sew
enty to ninety tons each. They are made
fast to our ship and staging erected. four
on each side Of the ship. The stagings are
| - l. A. for,, - ufone oud nm eaCb qten
a japanese coolie stood, women as well as
men. The coal was then shoveled into
small hand baskets and handed to the cool
les on the steps, then passed on and up
from one to the other so quickly that one
could hardly see them handled. This mode
! Of coaling was continued throughout the
| night and until IL o'clock the next day.
During that time some 1900 tons were put
aboard.
Thursday, April 2, we sailed for Kobe at
4 u. m, taking the route through the In
| land sea. This is the most beautiful water
scenery in the orient. Immediately upon
| entering this sea, after passing through the
s~himonoseki straits, a stretch of calm, lake
like sea of about twelve or fourteen miles
could be seen. This was dotted here and
there with fleets of Japanese sailing tunks'
making a picture of enhancing beauty.
| TneTe were lnTe6 JULIET oNOdhSAS ohSNN ~
us going in the same direction which we
overhauled and passed before shutdown.
Exposition at Osaka.
We arrived at Kobe at Z a. m, April B.
The total distance from Manila Is 2,2S6
miles. This bay was rather smaller than
any other we have entered so far. There
are a number of japanese war ships
anchored here, about seventy in all. and
they make a most imposing and war
like appearance. The mikado reviewed the
navy here the week following our de-
p~arture. We went ashore in the launch
about $50 a. M, learning that fremont
would not sail until noon the next day and
would not stop at Yokohama, as we ex-
pected. We therefore hurried through oul
shopping before 8 o'clock. as we intended
to visit the exposition at Osaka After
having chocolate and cake we jumped into
'rikishas again and hurried to the depot
finding that we had missed the train. we
then went to the other part of the towr
in our 'rikishas to the water falls. We
rested here long enough to view the fails
and returned to the steamship offices. where
we joyfully learned that the ship would no
sail until Monday. which would give ui
three more days here.
We left Kobe at 1000 the following morn.
1 INK DIV tram lOI Obdhds v ACA a.
about an hour. The scenery along the
route reminded us very much OF home
Field after field was a mass of yellow
flowers which resembled golden rod, but
is in reality the Japanese rape plant USED
for bird seed. Upon reaching Osaka WI
rode in 'rikishas to the exposition, a dis
lance Of about five miles, which took III
three-quarters of an hour. Our route wal
through the heart of the city. 1t is secenC
in size and first In manufacturing impor'
lance OF Japanese cities. It has a popula,
ton of nearly 1000, 900. T streets, though
narrow, are neat and clean. The first sigh
we had Of the exposition was amazing anC
far beyond our expectations. The gatewa!
was a huge marble structure. The build
ings were arranged similar to an American
exposition and compared favorably as Il
size and construction Oregon was the onl!
American state represented. The fine art
building contained some magnificent speci
mems of Oriental embroideries, paintings
cloisonne, satsuma, lacquer and bronz,
ware.
We ate ''tifin" at a branch OF the OsakI
hotel on the exposition grounds. We theI
undertook to take in the rest OF the ex
position, spending nearly the entire da!
there. Returning to Kobe by train. WI
were soon again on board fremont.
on for America
We sailed from Kobe at 4 p. m, Monday
April s, for America It was not unit
Monday. April 20. that we again sighte'
land. Just at noon. This was Hesquia
Head. Vancouver island.
The voyage across the Pacific was volt
OF special interest One day was much Xix,
the other. About the only variation wal
when we crossed the 1SOth meridian OF
April - at Z a m. Monday, and conse
Quently had two Mondays IN one day II
mid-ocean. LT3 miles from Manila.
We had to lay to- during the most o
the night upon arriving at Vancouver
Tuesday morning at $40 we dropped anoho
at Peter Head quarantine anchorage
cleared and made fast to wharf at Vic
torta. b. c.. at II a. m. We spent tire,
hours here visiting the town and then lef
for Port Townsend, Wash, at s D. n.
As we left the dock the ship Empress o
China came in. II was still at Hong Konl
when we left there. We arrived at Por
Townsend at Sis p. m. and dropped anchor
The following day, Wednesday. April 2:
we arrived at Tacoma. Wash. and wer
once more at home, The total distanc
!, Travelled by water was 1857 miles, Tacomi
, being that distance from Manila.
\
, WOMEN AND CHILDREN GUESS