Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-03-04
PORT ARTHUR'S CAPTOR
Personality and Home Life OF
General Nogi.
CLOSE STUDENT OF WAR SUBJECTS


Looter, but q Man OF Strong Char
acter and Domestic Attrib1tes.
Great Lover of Horses - Incidents
of His Career on the Battlefield.
Parting with His Sons.
1t was on the afternoon of Oct. 81,
1904, that made my visit to the home
of our devilish officer, General Nogi,
who took or his shoulders the full bur
den of the siege of Port Arthur and
whose commands. issued by the virtue
OF our august emperor, even then were
drowning the laundering voices OF the
cannon and causing mis- soldiers u
march. brave as full grown lions, upon
the very bayonets Of the enemy. says
II Vega, the Tokyo correspondent o.
the Pittsburg Dispatch.
General NOcrs home stands near
AoyIna park. Tokyo, OF the left hand
side 1t is a bamboo heGged house.
something unique in Japan. and at the
gate are two beautiful columns Of
stone, each with the name Eo-i Kitten
on it. Nogi translated means tree, and
in front of the generals house SANDS
Il great old pine tree all alone, which
the day I was there seemed 10 be beck
Oniug to the wind with its green
leaves and to be repeating the harsh
voice OF its owner as he gave COM
mands TO the army.
On the right hand side of the beau
tiful gate and a little way back there
stands small brick built stable, fer
General Nogi has ever been famous
lover of horses. and his one recreation
since he became Il warrior has been
riding. Unlike many Of our people, he
is a fine h0rseman and sits his saddle
with the cleverness of the best riders
l ever saw in Central park when 1
lived in New York. Until he went to
! NIunchuria he always kept four or five
/ chargers in his stable. lie never failed
| to ride daily nor to caress even those
/ horses that remained behind. anXiOuSly
paving for the honor of carrying their
| distinguished general swiftly and safe
! " over the ground. Mr.. NOgi is eco
! n3mical by nature and discipline, bat
/ when he resigned from the army some
! time after the war with China be beg
/ ced that he be permitted to take his
army horses home with him ana feed
3. '
! world not have To spend money on.
( them. That was the excuse lie gave.
! but all his friends knew he made the
! offer because he could not bear 10 be
/ Scrarated from his beloved chargers.
! So you know why he has built mag
/ n.accnt European stable which is kept
! very clean and sweet, and takes such
! pride in giving his horses fine care
After You pass the stable you walk
through Il finely kept garden. showing
/ numerous cherry trees, along neat
path TO the left. ana soon you come
upon the generals home. II, too, Is OF
brick. built in European style, and, like
the stable shows that AIr. NOEi Is pos
Se~sed of progressive mind ana be
Iieres that he and his family should
/ have tie best comforts that he can
give without being at all cNtravagant
Reaching the home, | walked up the
broad white stone steps. which had
Just been scrubbed. pressed the electric
button and was politely introduced into
most beautiful parlor. There was 4
round teak table in the center. with
comfortable leather seated chairs plac-
ed artistically about. ana above the Ia
BE were suspended electric lights On
tin. front wall and almost covering 1t
was II Srcat map Of ASi&tic Russia and
AIaucnugia Hanging by the stove
were the imperial decorations in frames,
while on the shelves We're stuffed birds.
photographs OF relatives and friends
and cannon bafls Everywhere We're
bookcases. all filed with numerous mil
icary books and all looking as if they
had been read over and over until their
contents we're known by heart, as my
American friends would say. The floor
was hidden by beautiful rugs. bear an1
tier skins. while in the entrance were
/ four ancient aIuor cases. a gift saddle,
spears Of all sorts covering the walls.
ana on the haJracll the generals red
hats and other military hats, with gold
bands. and several swords.
was received by the hitsuji care
takerl. an old man Of about fifty years
After the orliuar- salutations and in
rcnIy to my questions he politely in
formed me that the generals family
consisted Of his wife. Shidzo. fOrty-tive
years: Shouten. twenty-siN years. first
SON. and Hoten. twenty-four years, sec
ond son. Tire elder son had graduated
from tho military school two years be
fore had joined the Second armS and
had ended with great honor and yaloT
( at Naushan, where he was promoted L
"a lieutenant after death and decorated
The second son graduated December OF
last year. joined the cavalry and went
In the front with his brother The gen
eral departed soon after. and now tie
wife was at home with four servants.
SO much the caretaker told me. Soon
: / learned that when ShOuten was about
TO leave home il March he turned L
his father and said:
Il am glad I am going to the front
There * no hope of my coming back
and I wish mother TO take the best carr
of herself. II / die please praise my
deeds. You no doubt VIII also 90 10 tht
f-.rs- I,u~ va may t7.vNf IN 7ffT ararl-