Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-04-04
JAPAN'S SOIL INVADED.
Policeman Chased Negro into the
Washington Leg

Washington. April 3.-Thc chancellor
OF the Japanese Legation is in great
distress over the publication OF an in
cifcnt that took place at Minister
TAXA tliiaS residence Il few days ago.
The occurrence itself did not amount
to mach. hut it may, nevertheless. re-
suit i'm an international affair."" In
rrler to prevent it from assuming such
tremendous proportions, Chancellor
Stevens strained every nerve to bottle
up the news, and thought for Il tinie
that he had succeeded.
The colored porter of the legation. a
bicycle policeman and the speed laws
of The District figured prominently in
the first chapter of this narrowing tale.
The porter. il long lInbed, vigorous
yong negro, was rcdai!inE too rapidly
along MaSsachus, It's Ave. about Il
week ago. A bicycle policeman swung
around the corner of Fourteenth St.
saw the vision of ebony flashing down
the avenue ahead of him. and gave
chase, after emitting two or three loud
cries OF stop" TIE porter looked
around. measured the distance. con-
c!uded that he could outpedal the
policeman and bumped himself" The
chase led down sachusetts Ave, to
Sixteenth ST.. north on Sixteenth to
N-St., and back east on N-st. to No.
1870, whore the Mikado's little in
viclahle evtrate:ritorial plot is situated
BY the time the porter reached the
legation the policeman was close behind
him. Off his wheel !caped the porter
and in less time than it takes to tell
about il he had dragged the bicycle
across the sidewalk to the fence, lifted
it over and l"i,ped after it.
The policeman gained Oh him in this
manocuVre, and just as the porter
reached the top OF the stairway leading
to the basement the officers hand was
on his collar. The porter thereupOn
dropped his wheel in the rath of the
policeman. and Vent down the steps.
The policeman fell over the wheel. and
bumped down the stairs and picked
himself up rs the porter vanished
through thc door. The pursued did not
have time to close the door after him.
and, without paCsing to think of the
awful crime he WIS committing, the
policeman dashed i'll. He caught sight
of the porter climbing the stairs to the
first floor. and, still unheedful of his
international tresp2SS, dashed after
him. Somewhere in the Oriental
dr3perics of the Crst floor the porter
cluded his pursuer. and the policeman,
mad clear through from his bumps.
began II systematic search OF the
premises. How long he looked he did
not know, but suddenly commanding
voice brought him to Il halt. He found
himself surrounded by stern faced
JananeSc, who looked him through and
through.
What are YOU doing here" the
policeman heard one OF them ask him
in excellent English.
u am looking for the fellow that |
chased in here" stammcred the police
man, beginning to feel uncomfortable.
DO you know where you are" the
commanding voice inquired.
NO. and I don't care" rctortcd the
policeman. anrr:ly. Il want to arrest
that colorcd fellow"
This is the Japanese Legation, and
you are = tr"sraSscr. Il may go hard
with YOU for breaking the law of
natIonS."
The rolicCman tried 10 explain his
position. hut tho officials would listen
to no excuses. Chancellor Stevens was
called N. and after 4 conference man
aged to arpedsc their wrath sufficiently.
to allow the matter to be dropped for
the present, "Jf no publication was
made OF the occurrence" IF the affai'
became public il was insisted however
it would have to he taken up dipln-
matically. and the least that could then
J be done would be the discharge Of the