The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-09-22
AN OUTRAGE
ON THE FLAG
IOriginal. i

OF Japan. The intent of my journey
was to witness the sea fight that was
to decide the fate of the japanese en-
pire, but I was too late. The fight
was over and peace commissioners
were on their way to Portsmouth.
After visiting some of the warships
captured by Admiral Togo l resolved
to make circuit of the island of Nip
Don.
One evening just before sunset as |
was about to enter the strait between
Sakhalin and Nippon junk crossed
my bows and signaled me to heave to.
Since she showed no flag, l kept on,
when a shot came skipping along the
water. Being defenseless, shut off
steam and waited. A boat pulled
from the junk, and on reaching the
yacht an officer in the uniform of
lieutenant in the Japanese army came
aboard. While his color and his hair
were Japanese his features were Eu-
ropean. He was young and spoke
with a soft though decided voice.
His crew, which l expected would
prove to be Chinese, We're all Japs.
II must ask you for the loan of
your yacht" he said in broken Eng
lish.
Are you pirates?'' | asked.
Certainly not" he replied indig
nantly.
"Then what are you?"
"A nartC Of Tononoca honf on
expedition on yonder island" pointing
to Sakhalin.
I had but Il dozen men in my crew
and could only plead my citizenship,
which, strange to say, had no effect
on the officer Indeed, considering
the friendship of the United States to
Japan, was surprised that / should
have been molested. I was obliged
to yield, for while we were speaking
boat after boat pulled from the junk,
and a hundred men were soon on my
decks.
"You have nothing to fear" said the
lieutenant, whom his men addressed
as Shioya. 1--WE only want your boat
for transportation and because she is
much faster than that tub we have
been using"
AS soon as the force was aboard
every man was splendidly armed-I
was ordered to proceed and, instead of
going through the strait, skirt the west
ern coast Of Sakhalin. | occupied the
bridge with only Lieutenant Shioya,
WI oT4-0 cd
like a soldier.
II wish to use all my men in al at
tack | am going to make" he said,
''and, knowing of the high sense of hon
OF of Americans, will take my entire
force if you will give me your word to
remain till we return"
I was pleased at the compliment paid
my cOuntrymen and curious to learn of
the success Or failure of the eXpedi-
ton, besides it's object, so I gave the
desired promise. About O'Clock in the
nserning | was ordered to put into q
little bay. Every light was put out,
and when we reached the shore the
Japs disembarked as silently as if they
were ghosts rather than soldiers.
After they had marched away-they
departed SO silently that | would not
have been aware of their going had |
not seen their SilhouetteS family against
a dark sky-I gave way to wondering
what it all meant. I did not believe
my flag would have been outraged by
a regular Japanese force, yet the sol
diers We're surely regularly organized
troops. The object Of the expedition
| inferred to be a reconnaissance pre-
paratory to Japanese occupation Of the
island, which was really accomplished
soon after. | kept turning the matter
over in my mind till suddenly | heard
rattle of mxsketry. 1t did not last
long, and half an hour later, as dawn
was breaking, l saw the force return
ing.
The lieutenant was not in COM
mand, but was carried by two soldiers
1t was plain that he had been wounded.
soldier carried a ball and chain fas-
tened to the mans leg. When he came
aboard l noticed that he was white
skinned. 1t flashed upon me that SAX
halin island was used for prisoners by
the Russians and the expedition had
released one of them.
The wounded Shioya was laid on the
deck, and the prisoner bent over him,
took his hand and spoke to him in Rus
sian. l did not understand the words,
but the tone was such as man would
use to a woman he loved. Then the
lieutenant called to me, and l joined
them.
II am indebted to you," he said,
more than any one on earth. 1 am a
woman. This is my husband, who has
been confined on this island for a politi-
cal offense. 1 came to Japan, dark
ened my skin and hair and sought ali
opportunity to liberate him. The Japa-
nese government was hesitating wheth-
er, in view of the peace efforts of your
president, it would be diplomatic to
occupy Sakhalin. They gave me these
troops to make the rescue because of
the information l would bring them
and because they could disavow any