The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-05-26
JApAN'S NAVAL. HERO.
Whole Land Rings With Praise
of Captain Hirose.
HIS POEMS REOITED EVERYWHERE

Commander Who Was Killed I'm
the Second Attempt to Block UP
Port Arthur-Loved "a Russian Girl,
but Would Not Wed - Defeated
Three Russian Giants at WRESTLING
Edwin Emerson, Jr., staff CORE
spondent Of the New York World at
Tokyo, Japan, sends to his paper the
following sketch of Japan's naval he
70 of the present war:
All Japan rings today with the fame
of Takeo Hirose, the first great naval
hero Of Japanese-Russian war The
mikado has conferred posthumous hon
ors on him and his name; a life pension
has been granted to his family. The
poets Of Japan are singing his praises
In stirring ballads. His own poems,
breathing purest patriotism, are being
recited everywhere.
Pictures of HirOse adorn all the book
stalls; highly colored prints immortal
izing his exploits are hawked about by
gogai men and vendors on the streets.
The Navy Club OF Japan started
movement to erect a bronze statue to
Hirose in Hebiya park at Tokyo, and
within a week after the hero's death
enough money was subscribed to in
sure the erection of the statue. Mukai
Katsuyagi, the great sculptor of the
Japanese nation, has promised to COM
plete the statue within two months,
and has refused to accept money for
his labor of love.
killed in Admiral Togo's second at
tempt to block up Port Arthur on March
q; who was leader of the forlorn hope,
who set out to sink themselves and
their ships in the harbor's mouth; who
was literally blown to pieces by pro-
while seeking to save the life of his
friend and companion and subordinate,
Petty Officer Sugino.
1t was Hirose who led the first at
tack at Port Arthur on the night of
March %, and for his remarkable gal
lantry then the mikado promoted and
dOubly decorated him, honors which
reached him only day before his la
mented death.
Hirose, in his poetic temperament as
well as in his dauntless spirit, truly
represented the old warrior class of
Japan, the samurai. He was a scion
Of the family Of Kiku Chi, one of the
ancient fighting clan Of Japan. Born
at Oitaken, near Takeda, in the first
year of the Meiji era QS6S), he grew
up in the country and received his
early training in country school,.
Entering the naval academy at the
age Of nineteen, he distinguished him.
self in nowise except by his passionate
fondness for swordsmanship, as taught
with the cutlass by an English fencing
master, and by his prowess as
wrestler.
Hirose first proved his bravery in thA
war with China. Then he first met
Sugino, common sailor, who dived
overheard after a live torpedo, which
had been thrown into the water, that
he might disconnect the fuse and so
render it harmless to the other Japa-
nese torpedo boats. After the war
with China Lieutenant Hirose, who
spoke Russian and French we'll, was
sent as naval attache to the Japanese
legation at st. Petersburg. He came
into prominence there through a
wager.
At banquet a Russian officer de-
clared that Japanese, so small of stat
IRE, could not, as individuals, hold
their own in any war. Hirose smilingly
defied any three Russians to overcome
him at wrestling. Roars Of laughter
greeted the challenge for Hirose's
prowess was little suspected in the
Japanese art Of self defense, jiu jitsu.
At last, for the fun Of it, the Russian
officer sent for three large and sturdy
soldiers. One after another the little
Japanese threw the giants.
The story spread quickly through the
military and naval clubs. 1t reached
the cars ears. When Hirose next at
tended court function the car asked
him to give a private exhibition of jiu
jitsu by wrestling with man famous
for his skill and strength. Again the
small Japanese proved himself the bet
ter man.
Hirose remained in St. Petersburg
three years. The daughter Of a Rus
sian naval officer who is now a rear
admiral fell in love with the gallant
young Japanese. Her father, who
greatly admired Hirose, let it be con-
veyed to him that he would not be un-
welcome as the young girls sutton.
Hirose struggled with his affection for
three days. Then he wrote to his
sweetheart's father, pointed to the in
evitable war between Russia and ia
pan, and said:
when my country calls me to duty
I shall have to turn to account all the
valuable professional hints received
from your kind lips and SO help to do
mortal hurt to your country's ships.
Thus Ill must patriotic duty make me
repay all your kindness. With this In
my mind and in my heart, how can I
presume to sue for your daughters
hand, knowing that after the outbreak
Of the most likely Of wars the stern
hand Of fate might DESTROY tho hanni-