The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-27

tycoon, supposed to be the SOVEREIGN ruler
of the empire, and such was the SUPPOSE
ton for ten years. AS a matter of fact
the government Of Japan at that time was
feudal In its character. First there was
the mikado, the titular ruler Of the en-
pire; then the tycoon. exercising executive
power, and last, but not least petty
princes styled daimios, who ruled over
thirty seven provinces, had then retinues,
and We're really the bone and sinew4 Of the
these princes sided with the. nikado
against the progressive policy Of the ty-
doom. Others sided with the tycoon, and
Japan was in commotion; for ten years
or more civil war ragged. In the excite
ment Of the times the United States lega-
ton was burned, the British legation was
assaled. and several Of the British were
assassinated.
For this Great Britain demanded $780,
900 indemnity and it was paid. France
and the Netherlands also had trouble with
the datmios. The remarkable thing was
that thru all these struggles not one OF
these treaties was valid or binding, not
having been signed by the mikado, the real
sovereign Of the empire. It turned out
that the tycoon was using his best en-
beavers to act in good faith with all the
treaty-making powers, while they, in turn.
supposed he was practicing dupltcity and
stirring up strife in order to avoid the
treaty obligations. He was finally assas-
sinated by those Ops ootde. vbgkqjjhjh
Japan to foreign trade. One OF the most
powerful princes opposed to foreign trade
was the daimio Of Nagato and Suo.
The inland sea Of Japan and the straits
OF Shimonoseki formed a continuous wa
terway from the eastern to the western
boundary Of the empire. The straits at
their narrowest point were only one-fourth
NJ q nj $IA 5oJ,o t. 80
Nagata erected Notifications and placed
his war vessels. In June, 1868, the Penn
broke, small American steamer, freight
ed with merchandise and bound from ,Yo-
kohama to Nagasaki, was nearing the
eastern entrance to these straits with the
American flag flying. The powerful bat
teries of the forts and the war vessels
opened fire on her, and she was compelled
to put out to sea again. This was the
first time the United States had had trou-
bic over the treaty ports, and at once
the United States minister, Mr.. Pruyn, un--
der orders from washington, sent the Wy
oming to the scene of the attack to de-
mand satisfaction for the insult to the
flag.
The Wyoming was in command of Com
mander David Stockton McDoueal who
died a rear admiral. He was cruising in
eastern waters in search Of the confed-
crate vessel Alabama. He at once started
AL LAC Sl1dtLS VI olllIIlOI1OSeRl. lie en-
tered the straits on the morning of July
16, 1868. Tarpaulins covered the portholes
OF the Wyoming, and she looked like a
merchant vessel. Inside the narrow en-
trance could be seen two square-rigged
vessels and steamer anchored close to
the town. As soon as McDougal saw them
he held g. consultation with his officers
and said: 3
Gentlemen, we will either blow those
ships out Of the water or sink ourselves
He then gave orders to go ahead No
tic1ng that the center OF the channel was
marked by q stake, he suspected that the
guns Of the forts, were trained on this
point, SO he gave orders to run in close to
the northern shore. The American flag
had been run up, and the little wyoming
made for the ship inside.
She carried only six guns, while the
combined armament OF the Japanese ships
and the forts amounted to forty eight
guns. The forts opened fire on the wy
oming. but the shrewd move Of Captain
McDougal in going inshore had discon-
certed the Japs in their aim. AS 1t was
two sailors and a marine were killed be-
fore the Wyoming could get past the forts
She then made dash for the Japanese
vessels. They, were the steamer Lance
field, the brig Lanrick, both Of English
build. and the American-built brig Daniel
Webster. Captain N1oDou8aI ran in be-
tween these vessels and the Lanrick
poured three broadsides into the Wyom-
ing. She replied with such vigor that the
Lanrick was soon In a sinking condition
The two vessels had been so close to each
other that the faces OF the Japanese gun
Lanrick went down>and the Daniel Web