The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-06


In 1857 Nr- Harris, consul general OF
the United States. made a new treaty
by which the port of Nagasaks was
opened TO the United States the
friendly power. as the United States
was always styled in the diplomatic
correspondence with Japan. Then
came Great Britain with a treaty by
which the ports Of Neegata and Hiogo
were opened. France and The Neither
lands also obtained treaty ports. It
was these treaties which caused the
trouble that led up to the battle in 1863
The treaty-making powers did not un-
derstaQd the internal political divisions
Of Japan.
Too Many Chiefs.
These treaties were negotiated with
the tycoon, supposed 10 be the sover-
eign ruler Of the empire, and such was
the supposition for ten years. AS
matter Of fact, the government of ia
pan at that time was fcudal in its
character. First there was the mikado.
the titular ruler of the empire; then
the tycoon. exercising executive power,
and last but not least. petty princes,
styled daimios. who ruled over thirty
seven provinces. had their retinUes and
We're really the bone and sinew of the
military power of the empire. Some
OF these princes sided with the mikado
against the progressive policy of the
y coon. Others sided with the tycoon.
and Japan was in commOtion; for ten
years or more civil war ragged. In the
excitement of the times the United
States legation was burned, the British
legation was assailed, and several of
the British were assassinated.
For this Great Britain demanded
S400.000 indemnity and it was paid.
France and The Netherlands also had
trouble with the daimios. The remark
able thing was that through all these
struggles not one Of these treaties was
valid or binding. not having been
signed by the mikadO. the. real sover-
eign of the empire. 1t turned out that
the tycoon was using his best endeav-
ors TO act in good faith with all the
treaty making powers. while they. in
turn. supposed he was practicing du-
plicity and stirring up strife in order
To avoid the treaty obligations. He was
finally assassinated by those opposed
10 the opening of Japan to foreign
trade. One of the most powerful
the daimiO of NagatOFan and SuO-
Fired on Old Glory.
The inland sea of Japan and the
straits of Shimonoseki formed contin-
UCus waterway from the eastern TO the
N GSlcI II pOulludI9 o. the empire. ne
straits at their ndrrOwest point were
only one-fourth Of q mile wide. and
there are daimiO of Nagato erected
Notifications and placed his war yes
sells. In June, 1863. the Pembroke, a
small American steamer, freighted with
merchandise and bound from Yoko-
hama to Nagasaki, was nearing the
eastern entrance to these straits with
the American flag flying The power
frr1 haf Of h. ..
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 trouble over the treaty ports
and at once the United States minitser,
Mr.. Pruyn, under orders from Wash
ington, sent the Wyoming to the scene
of the attack TO demand satisfaction
for the insult to the flag.
The Wyoming was in command of
Commander David stockton McDougaI.
who died a rear admiral. He was
cruising in eastern waters in search of
the Confederate vessel Alabama He
a. once started for the straits of Shi-
mOnOseki. He entered the straits on
the morning of July Is. 1868. TarpauI-
ms covered the port holes of the Wyo-
ming and she looked like a merchant
vessel. Inside the narrow entrance
could be seen two square rugged vessels
and a steamer anchored close 20 the
town. As soon as McDOugal saw them
he held consultation with his officers
and said:
Gentlemen. we will either blow
those ships out of the water or sink
ourselves" He then gave the orders
to go ahead. Noticing that the center
Of the channel was marked by a stake.
he suspected that the guns Of the forts
We're 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.
Usual Result.
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 Wyoming. but the ShreWd move of
Captain McDOugal, i'm going inshore,
had disconnected the Japs in their aim.
As il was, two sailors and a marine
were killed before the Wyoming could
get past the forts. She then made a
dash for the japanese vessels. They
We're the steamer Lancefield. the brig
Lanrick. both of English build. and the
American built brig Daniel Webster.
Captain McDOugal ran in between
these vessels and the Lanrick poured
three bToadsides into the Wyoming
She replied with such vigor that the
Lanrick was soon in sinking condi-
ton. The two vessels had been so
close TO each other that the faces Of
the Japanese gunners could be dis
tinctly seen. Soon the Lanrick went
down and the Daniel Webster was no
better off. The Lancefield attempted
10 escape. but the Wyoming gave chase
10 her. with the result that after a few
we'll directed shots she was blown up.
Captain McDougal turned and sailed
out of the harbOr, after silencing the
fCrts, killing over 100 japanese and
loss was four men killed in action and
seven wounded, one of whom after
wards died. The hull of the Wyoming
had been hit ten times, her funnel had
six holes in it, two masts were injured
and the upper rigging badly cut
Money Returned.
Following this battle in 1864 Japan
paid to the United States the sum OF
three-qUarters of a million dollars as
an indemnity fund Out of this fund
claims We're to be paid 20 these SUI
fering the damages from the daimios.
but. as a matter of fact, nothing was
done This fund remained on deposit
with the state department and was in
vested in United States securities un-
til i'm 1888 IL amounted TO the sum of
81, 770.364. Finally in that year the sur
v;Vors of the Wyoming expedition were
paid certain sums out of this accumu-
latiOn. and S7S5, 600 was ordered re-
turned to Japan. 1t took considera BILE
fighting in congress before anything
was done with this fund. In fact. the
claims of the Wyoming men were be