The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-05-13
THE JAPS OF LONG AGO.
"REMINISCENCES OF a SAILOR ON
AN OLD-TIME AMERICAN
FRIGATE.

nc Teopie AStounCed at tnt
Steam Equipment of the San ia
cinto.
A Well-known Newark man who fol
lowed the sea from boyhood up to
the time of his retirement a few years
ago, and who was on board the San
Jacinto, steam frigate and the flagship
Commodore Armstrong; fleet in
Shlmoda harbor while negotiations for
an international treaty between Japan
and this country were being completed
in 1S55-1856, expressed himself as
greatly surprised to learn through the
newspaper reports of the country what
rapid strides in civilization the Japs
have made during the last half CEN
fury.
Inc NeWarker remem berS with what
CONSERVATION theJapanese watched the
approach Of the American man-ofwar
as she steamed into the harbOr in 1855
bearing Commodore Armstrong, of the
United States navy, and Consul Gen
eral Townsend Harris, who was to rep
resent this country in Japan. COmmo-
dore Perry had been to the country
few months previous with letter from
President. Fillmore to the Mikado, the
object of the communication being to
establish treaty relations between the
two countries, especially with a view
OF protecting shipwrecked mariners, but
the provisions of the treaty had not
been carried out to that time, and Adj
miral Armstrong was sent by this gov
eminent to compel the Japanese to live
up to their promises.
Few of the Japs mad seen a steam
ship at that time and fewer still a
gunboat, and in terror of the American
warships the frightened officials hast
lily agreed to open the ports of Shimoda
and HakOdate to trade with this coun-
try, which had been one of the agree
ments on the treaty signed in 1854, but
which had never been carried out.
Il can well remember how power
fully cur ships impressed the Japanese
in those days" said the old man-of-
wars-man to reporter of the Newark
Sunday Call, land can hardly realize
that Japan has acquired navy OF iron
clads that compares favorably with the
navies of other nations of the earth.
AS we neared the inhospitable coast of
Japan in those early days, a coast on
which so many of our mariners had
been shipwrecked only to be cruelty
treated by the natives or perhaps killed
outright, and came to anchor off
Shimoda, the people lined the shores
and stared at us as though we were
visitors from some other world
They were amazed to see us enter
the harbor and glide up to our moor
ings without sails spread to the breeze,
as we'll as astonished at the size and
of the guns we carried when
later some of the more adventurous
came aboard. 1t was the sight OF
these great war vessels more than any
thing else that impelled Japan to con-
the treaty and Commodore Perry's
gunboat policy followed out by Com
modore Armstrong in his dealings with
The people, proved successful, although
the object of the fleet was accomplish
ed without the firing of single shot
"At first, the MikadC sent an insight
flcant official to treat with Commo-
lore Armstrong, but, as the Commo-
aore came from the president of the
United States, and thought that the
'uler of all Japan himself was none too
good to confer with him, he sent the
little man back with the request to
mis- master to send some one higher
Up. The next diplomat was an i'm
)ortant court official, with whom ne
yotiations were concluded, and aftGS
he arrangements were completed Con-
sui General Harris was put ashore at
5himoda, and the American flag was
spread to the breeze on japanese soil
or the first time in the history Of the
world
THE Mikado's representative was
received on board the San Jacino, the
flagship, with all the hOnors that could
]e accorded him, and was greatly i'm
pressed at once with all he saw. He
vas allowed to use his eyes as he
would, and was escorted about the ship,
hown the engine room and the big
guns, care being taken to let him see
that would tend to impress
Tim with the power and strength OF an
American man-of-war
After the negotiations had been 4
the people generally were
'eceived on board the ship and al
owed to examine her from stem to
KERN. They went over every inch of
Ter, timorously at first, but gaining
courage at they grew more familiar
With the monster, and showed inter-
st in everything Questions were
.SI.nd Of the officers and man that |