The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-06-09
ECHOES FROM THE WAR
Striking Example of Japanese
Prisoners Patriotism.
EAGER TO SHARE In BEATING FOE

Sentenced to Be Hanged, He Sent
Money Saved to Buy Sake to War
Fund-Government Refused Coin,
Then Prisoner Told Warden to
Give 1t to Some Soldiers Wife.
Calamity of n Stoker.
From time to time interesting Incl
dents have been brought out by the
Russo-Japanese war. Here are a few
Of them:
Yoneichei Endo, whose first name
means lone grain Of rice" has lam
gu1shed in one Of the Tokyo civil pris-
ons since four years ago, when he
killed a man at Migata, says Will
Lexington Comfort, the Tokyo CORE
spondent Of the Pittsburg Dispatch.
There must have been some extenu-
ating circumstances, because the trial,
begun a few days after the killing, was
recently terminated. Endo was SEN
fenced to be hanged.
At the same time he learned that his
country was at war. He had pennies
to the amount of 81 gold, with which
he planned to buy cakes and sake on
the day Of his death. The ideas Of war
upset this purpose. He gave the ward
en- his money to turn into the war
fund. The prison officer accepted the
amount and carried it in person to the
war Office Endo's mite was refused.
A convict is one from whom the gov.
eminent can accept no favors. The
prison warden was distressed at the
thought Of returning the money to the
prisoner, but there was no other way.
"Buy sake with 1t. It will make the
end easier" the warden advised
II do not care about PAIN" said
Endo, "but 1 would like to do my part
toward beating Russia since I cannot
fight Give the money to some soldiers
wife and do not tell her whence it
came lest it be refused"
The warden obeyed. Moreover, he
told the story to reporter Of one Of
the Japanese papers, who wrote four
lines about it. Perhaps he had better
conception Of the story's value than I.
At least what he wrote was enough to
make me call upon Endo at the Ichi-
gawa prison on the day of his execu-
ton. / found a trim little man Of
twenty-seven, whose face was whiten-
ed by confinement, but very good to
look upon. Through an interpreter I
told Endo that l thought he was
brick or something similar and that
he looked pretty cheerful for a mar
just about to go out.
He replied that the going out matter
was a mere bagatelle. The thing that
bothered him was the means. He had
the Japanese hatred for hanging. He
invited me to stay and witness the
proceeding, and the warden added
courteous pressure.
Sake is very good. 1t is more power
full than wine and less potent than
whisky. 1t is also very cheap. You
can buy barrel of it for the price Of
bottle Of wine. Endo did not drink
q
sured that he dropped into Nirvana in
high and proper spirits.
A striking example Of gallantry was
shown By stoker on board the cruiser
Asama on March 6, says the New York
Globe While the japanese squadron
was proceeding to Vladivostok one Of
the pipes Of the cruiser connecting
with her machinery became clogged
with Ice The situation was difficult
one, as the sea was running high and
the weather so severe that the decks
and sides Of the vessel were coated
with ice. But in neither arm Of the
japanese service Is there ever any
dearth Of volunteers for an enterprise
involving peril to life or limb.
Second Stoker Keizaburo Miyazaki
stepped forward and a moment later
was slung overheard and quickly broke
away the ice from the mouth of the
pipe. Hardly had he completed his
chilly task than he was struck by a
huge wave, which severed the rope
and carried him sway to an awful
fate in those icy northern waters.
The Japanese papers are now full Of
heroics, some of which ring with pa,
thetic simplicity. The following is an
instance:
Keno Umehari, a second class engi-
reer, was one of the desperate seventy
seven who sailed forth to block the en-
trance to Port Arthur by sinking their
ships. He has died of his wounds. His
aged father, when he received the news
Of his sons death, addressed his fam
lily as follows: "Now, boys, your elder
brother died an honorable death at the
blockade of Port Arthur. His death
was for the sake of our country, so
we must not weep. but rather it should
make us proud. Suppose that he
should hear our sorrowful voice, GER
tainly he would not be pleased: there
fore you must not drop tears"
After saying this he lit small fire
and burned incense sticks to commem-
crate the brave sailors death accord
ing to the Buddhist custom. All his