The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-21
& CO.,
.l 10 {. Broad :, d. Sire s. }, /,

is placed as upon q magnificent sword
presented by His Majesty. The blade OF
this weapon is OF such fine steel and car
ries such keen edge that it will cut a
thin sheet Of paper In twain as easily as
barber cuts u hair. s,,.
COMMANDED JAPANESE VESSEL.
At tho completion of the surveys which
Colonel Brooke was making for tho
United States government he was ro-
quested by the Tycoon to take command
OF the Kund!mar. a Japanese war vessel,
which was to be used in conveying the
second Japanese embassy to this country,
Col. Brooke, who was then a first lieu
tenant OF tho navy. sought and obtained
from Commodore Tatnnll who was then
III command OF the Asiatic squadron, the
necessary permission, and sailed for San
Francisco. Tho embassy was composed
OF several distinguished men OF the en-
prc, including Admiral KATE. Tho Japs
were not used to sailing long distances,
and they had seen enough OF the seaman
ship OF Lieutenant Brooke TO convince
them that something like his ability was
needed It the vessel were to be gotten
across the Pacific. Before they reached
San Francisco they were moro than ever
impressed with the wisdom Of having
chosen n western sailor to command. On
the trip over Lieutenant Brooke purposoly
took the vessel into the Center Of cy-
clone, and brought her out again, for the
purpose OF showing the Japanese that
/. 1T could be done, which they had not
| thought possible, After this they were
moro than ever delighted with the skill
| Of the navigator.
Col. Brooke recalls with evident pleas.
| ure one of the Japanese sailors man
4 named Tomogoro, who was about the only
Jap aboard who could speak English. To-
| mogoro had been sailor aboard jap
| whaling vessel, and Col, Brooke says he
| was one Of the most active men and ono
Of tho best sailors he has ever known
AS illustrative OF the organization OF the
Japanese navy at that time, and the
cheapness OF human life among them
Col, Brooke recalls an interesting incident
Tomogoro, because of his skill as sailol
and his knowledge Of English, was gver
the power of life and death over the crew
perhaps as a safeguard against any VIC
| lence which the men might plan to IN
fict upon Lieutenant Brooke. who was al
most entirely unfamiliar with tho Japa
nese language, and therefore unable 4
understand any plotting if he overheard
1t. Aaa dis
One day not long after setting sail L
the westward. Lieutenant Brooke gave al
order to some OF the sailors aloft, II
heard some muttering amongst them, blu
did not know its intent, Tomogoro, VIII
was on the deck, ran below, and was gon
, for some time. Not long afterwards h
asked Col. Brooke II he recalled seen
. hmrrgo below, and upon receiving an al
lirmatiye reply, said that he had gone
get his sword for tho purpose OF behead
Ing two OF the sailors who were CROWN
mutlnous. One of the japanese officer
had said 10 him" Better think, Tomogor
better think" Tomogoro said he though
again and concluded that he would spal
the lives oil the sailors. whom he had d.
;ermined to- decapitate on the deck as
warning to all mutineers aboard.
FINE sWoRDsMEN,
When the vessel reached San Francisc
the Japlnese officials who composed Il
embassy We're the recipients of eyel
possible attention at the hands OF the pc
Die OF the city. and Col. Brooke was the
constant companion at all the functio
which they attended. One night he al
number OF the Japs We're returnil
from some kind OF entertainment VIII
1hex gasssa . HYsSX stable the doors