West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-06-02
THE BURIAL OF HIROSE
Tribute Paid by Japan to Her
Naval Hero.
AN IMPRESSIVE SERVICE HELD.

AeAte tohamohucr In the Japanese
Navy Who Gave His Life For An
other at Port Arthur Was Hurled
With shinto Rites-Mikado Ordered
That All Honor ne Paid the Dead.
From Tokyo, Japan. under recent
date a war correspondent OF tho In
dianapolis News writes;
The most impressive thing I have
seen I'm Japan so far was the ceremony
at Aoyama. the funeral. according TO
Shinto rites, OF that gallant hero OF the
war; Commander Hlrose OF the Japa-
ncse navy.
The Japanese are a hero loving race,
and fcw nations have had a better op-
portunity FOR hero worship than that
accorded by the funeral OF HIrosc, a
remarkable man, n fine sailor who en-
bodied I'm himself all those qualities
that the japanese most value Ho lost
his life. as Is well known now. in try
Ing TO save Sugino. HIS warrant officer.
and the story OF his exploit is the most
memorable thing in the Port Arthur
engagement.
The body OF Commander Hirose was
buried by the Russians when they
found II in the water, and, like noble
enemies, they gave their antagonist
solemn funeral, with all the military
honors that would have been accorded
TO an officer OF the czar. But that real
funeral was deemed insufficient by
liirose's friends In Tokyo, his old home,
and IL Is oven said that the mIkado
himself gave instructions that all hon.
or should be paid 60 the dead man.
And SO with fitting pomp and won
drous ceremony they incascd all that
was recovered OF Hirosc's body--a mere
shred OF flesh-in plain wooden box.
and this has been left out there in
Aoyama under the cypress and cherry
trees, the grave httingly facing the
rifle range and Aoyama barracks.
In the morning n solemn service con
Quoted by one Tamura. a Shinto priest,
was held at the Marine club in TsukIJI,
and then, after procession had es.
corted the coffin TO the graveside at
Aoyama, another service was held at
which Lieutenant Matsura read let
ter OF coincidence from Admiral Togo,
which was followed by brief speeches
ON the value OF hero 60 the nation by
Vice Admiral Arima and vlscount
Kano
The streets I'm Japan are always
crowded, but / never saw any street in
Tokyo so jammed with humanity as
was the road TO the cemetery. The
throng was thickest ON the slope which
leads from Kojimachi to Akasaka, past
the palace OF Prince Kitasharawa. Here
the procession had to pass through a
lane OF people twenty feet deep on
either side, mostly townsfolk In haorl
and hakama. but with good sprin-
king OF Europeans about also.
When the procession left the club the
gun carriage on which the coffin rest
ed was escorted by about 200 marines
with reversed arms and the members
OF the club. AS IL passed various
streets. evidently by prearrangement,
numerous representatives of.various so
cietlcs joined In until there was, when
the diplomatic and official carriages
Joined In, procession nearly mile
long.
Somewhere along the route, too, a
company OF bluejackets Joined the
cortege, but just where / did not see,
as / rOdeahead and waited at the Gem
etery FOR the procession to come.
II came I'm absolute silence up the
long slope, and as II came the throng
fell silent IL seemed a biz curious 10
see no heads uncovered as the coffin
passed. until one remembered that this
form Of saIutation has not yet taken
hold I'm Japan. There was manifested
plenty Of curiosity. and all the tomb
stones In the cemetery--and the Japas
nose are very fond Of quceriy shaped
tombstones- were covered with people
clambering up 20 get better look.
The dense crowd about the grave
side parted as 900 bluejackets, sturdy
fellows and visibly affected shoul-
dered their way through They took up
positions beside the grave and waited
In silence. Then came carriages, with
elaborate liverics. OF the higher Of
fcinls. civil, military and naval. and
tho diplomats. and these passed on
Then there came In sight an aged
ShiBto priest, dressed all in white and
wearing old fashioned rcd Iacquered
shoes. Above his head a tail blue
jacket carried an immense silkon flag.
on which, In Chinese characters, was
written the name and rank Of the dc
ceased officer Then came company
Of marines carrying red and white ban.
ners and "banzaf flags and young
sakakl, the sacred sbinto tree. covered
with the white paper go-bei
Two naval officers came next, carry.
ing decorations. and behind them the
gun carriage rolled along. draped In
black velvet and drawn BY biuejackets.
Last thing Of all-and that caused an
intake Of the breath, so solemn and
touching was itcame group IN
white; the sister and young niece Of
Commander Hirose. with the mother,
Old and bent. OF sugino. the man for
whom the hero had given his iifo
sons Dedicated 20 Kansas University