The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-30
THE LAST HOURS on
TWO JAPANESE SPIES
Story Of Final Moments Earth of Colonel and Captain of
Nikados army Who Were Caught Trying to Bloc Up
Bridge Under the Noses of the Csar's Sol
die1S Near Ha,biu

try and my maker. You have only
earned the thanks of your country"
What do you mean, captain?"
Il have often thought, colonel, of
what you have told me of Christiani-
ty You boast Of it's superiority to my
creed. Well, I find that you are not
in accord with your Christ's teach
ings I, on the contrary, have Moth
ing to reproach myself WITH
You are perhaps right, captain.
But now have a favor to ask of you.
Will you authorize me to perform the
first really Christian act which has
been allowed me in my life. You,
notes of the Chinese bank. There are,
perhaps. a thousand rubles. I want
to hand over this money personally
to the commandant to give to the
Russian Red Cross for their wounded.
Do you agree to this 2"
Then he said:
II have always felt great affection
for you. colonel. and if this makes
you happy, give the money to our
enemies
When the commandant returned to
the prisoners, Jokka handed him a
sheaf of white bank notes with red
Inscriptions, saying:
There are about a thousand rubles
here. We beg you to give the money
to your Red Cross"
But had I not better send it to
your families ?''
ooh, no! mol" the condemned men
cried with one voice. THE mikadO
will not forget our wives and children
Do not refuse us this satisfaction %
added Jokoka: "divide the money
among your wounded.
The commandant still insisted that
the officers should send home to ia
pan all they left. For one moment
Jokk1 appeared to waver. He glanced
at his comrade in misfortune. The
amends in this way for the wrongs
committed in his life. The captain
bent his head, acquiescing at last.
Our commandant yielded. He then
asked the two Japs whether they
wished for anything.
The Buddhist's reply was: II should
na st J 1is ds bat after that we will
A bathroom Is. an unknown article
in Hardin, and the commandant could
only send for a couple Of pals of
water.
The Christian colonel earnestly
begged to be allowed to see a clergy
man before going to his DEATH
| AS there was no Lutheran chaplain
on the spot, the Russian priest of the
regiment was sent to him. Jokoka
begged him to read out the sermon on
| the mount. This was read in Rus
sian, Jokoka following the text in his
| Japanese Bible, which had been left
| with him in his cell. When the priest
came. to the words:
For If We love only those who love
We, what reward will We have? And
| If We welcome only brothers, wherein
| WRIT tn o1o IL
head a moment, his lips SIN moving os1ngu :
'Jokki,' he said, you are right
You die more peaceful than I, for
have never felt so strongly how much
my life has been in discord with
Christ's teachings"
The carriage which was to take the
two men to their death was now walt
ing. Outside swarmed the crowd
that hideous crowd, always alike al
| such Observation-Disclosures out Of work
| seedy Adventures who had hocket
out to the far east on the lookout fol
! an odd job.
The two Japanese went to thei1
painful thoughts. Both lighted thei1
cigarets, and asked not to be tied tt
the posts.
The conmandant took a couple O.
handkerchiefs from his pocket ant
handed them. to the prisoners. 10
koka himself bound his eyes, bu
Jokki refused disdainfully to do SO
declaring he wished to watch the
operations.
Twelve soldiers were posted In from
Of the colonel, another twelve in from
Of the captain.
IF you have any pity on these un
fortunate men," said the command
ant to- his soldiers, "aim at theil
hearts. Death will be instantaneous
Jokoka fell to the left. Jokki
| without having twitched his eyelids
fell forward.
Both were riddled with bullets
Our good soldiers had taken pity or
them.