New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-01
J4PAN'S SOIL INVADED.
Policeman Chased a Negro into the
Washington Legation.
IFRoM TIE TEIsUYE srREAr.I

Washington, March si.-The chancellor Of the
japanese Legation IS in great distress over the
publication of incident that took place at Min
lister Takahira's residence few days ago. The &C.
currence Itself did not 10 much but it may,
nevertheless. result in international affair." In
order prevent it from assuming such tremendous
proportions. Chancellor Stevens strained every
nerve to bottle up the and thought for time
that be had succeeded.
The colored porter Of the legation, a bicycle ps-
hceruan and the speed laws of the District figured
prominently IN the first chapter OF this narrowing
tale. The porter, long lmbed. vigorous young
negro. was pcdalling too rapidly along Massachu~
setts-sve. about a week ago. A bicycle policeman
swung around the corner of Fourteenth-st.. the
vision of ebony flashing down the avenue ahead of
him, and gave chase. after emitting two or three
loud cries of "StopI" The porter looked around
measured the distance. concluded that he could out
pedal the policeman and bumped himself" The
chase led down Massa chusetts-ave. to Slxteenthst
north on Sixteenth 10 N-st- and back east on N-st
No. 1910, where the Nikados little inyioable ex-
traterritorial plot is situated BY the time the
porter reached the legation the policeman was
close behind him. on his wheel leaped the porter,
and in less time than it takes to tell about it he
had dragged the bicycle across the sidewalk 10 the
fence, lifted it over and leapea after it The po-
liceman gained him in this manuuvre. and just
the porter reached the top IF the stairway lead
ing the basement the officers hand was on HIS
collar. The porter thereupoa dropped his wheel n
the path oc the polio si,an. and went oowa the
steps The policeman fell the wheel. AMI
bumped down the staics and picked himself up
the porter vanished throIga the door. The pu-=
sued did not have time to close the door after him.
and without pausinx to thin'z OF tn. awful crime
he committing. the policeman dashed IN. He
caught sight porter climbing the stairs TO the
first floor, and, stil unheedful Of his interna tiona
Oriental draperes of the first floor the porter euded
his pursuer, and the policeman, mad clear through
from his bumps. began systematic search or the
but suddenly a comma ding voice brought him 20 a
halt. He found himself surrounded by stern iaceG
Japanese, who looked him through and through
What you doing here?" the Policeman heard
one Of them ask him IN excellent Englisn.
Il looking for the fellow that chased IN
here" stamme-ed the policeman. beginning TO feel
uncomfortable.
DO YOU know where you sre?' the commanding
voice inquired.
NO and / don. care" retorted the policeman.
angrfly. u want to arrest that colored fellow.
This is the japanese Legation. and you are n
trespasser. II may 90 hard with you for breaking
the law of nations"
The policeman triei TO explain his position. but
the officials would listen to no excuses Chanoel.,-
Stevens called in. and af'er conference man
aged 10 appease their wrath sufficiently 10 allow
the matter 10 be dropped for the present, IF no
publication was made of the occurrence" II the
affair became public il was insisted. however, II
would have be taken up automatically, and the
least that could then be done would be the dis
charge OF the policeman and an apology from the
United. States.
But the matter will now have 70 he taken up with
the State Department, for II has become public
property that the sacred soil Of Japan invaded
without authority warrant by officer en-
ployed by the United States The fact that the
officer only a poor. misguided bicycle police
does not seem TO amelioTato the sensitive
situation.