Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-12-27
\ N EPISODE OF
n THE LATE WAR
IOriginal.1

before the battle Of Mukden. 1 was re-
ceived by member Of the staff, who
examined the passport, comparing me
with it very carefully. Notwithstand-
ing that the Japanese are a secretive
people, / noticed that the officer had
something on his mind, and that some
thing pertained to me. However, when
ed it back to me, apparently satisfied.
and asked me what he could do for me.
1 replied that 1 had come all the way
from America to see some Of the war
from the Japanese side. He promised
to report my arrival to Marshal Oya-
ma. He did so, and when he returned
bore an invitation from the marshal
for me to ride with him on a tour of
the outposts.
During the ride / was under the eS-
pecial care Of the man who had re-
ceived me, Major Seshimo, who point
ed out the different objects of interest.
was introduced to the marshal. who
expressed himself sensible of the SYM
pathy the Japanese cause had received
in America. When we returned to
headquarters / was about to take my
leave when Major Seshimo told me
that tent had been provided for me
with the staff 1 much preferred to re-
main Independent and declined, but
the major Informed me that a refusal
of an honor that was intended for me
as an American and not as an individ-
ual would be displeasing to the mar
shall, and at once accepted the hospi-
tally.
The next morning Major Seshimo
asked me to come to his tent for a
smoke, and while l was there a Rus
sian prisoner was brought up. The
major asked me if 1 spoke any Rus
sian, and I replied that l did not. He
then began to question the man him
self in that language and seemed to
get on fairly well. listened to what
did not understand. Suddenly the ma
jor turned to me and asked:
"What do you think of that?'
"YOu forget, major, that I do not
speak Russian" replied
''True," he said, 81 forgot"
Somehow I got the idea that he was
trying to betray me into admitting a
knowledge of the Russian language.
The next morning 1 told Major Seshi-
mo that had seen all desired to see
Of an army at the front and was about
to take my leave, thanking him or the
marshal through him for his hospi-
tally. He said that / must by ali
means wait over another day-that
party among whom were several ladies
were expected to visit headquarters
and the marshal wished me to meet
them. Since he would take no refusal
consented.
The party were English with the ex-
ception of one very pretty woman, a
Bulgarian We all dined with the mar
shall, the Bulgarian lady being assigned
to me as a dinner companion Dur
ing the meal she whispered to me: Il
know who you are. You are thus far
safe. When you leave take with you
the paper 1 have slipped into your
pocket 1t contains information for
which 1 am to receive a hundred thou
sand rubles. 1 will give you two-thirds
Of it. If get away 1 will meet you at
Vladivostok. But 1 am suspected and
have little hope. If 1 am lost all will
belong to you"
What coued do? Betray a woman to
death who had placed her life in my
hands? 1 sat, cold chills alternating
with fever till the dinner had ended.
The next day the party were taken
about to see what was interesting to
them, and saw clearly that l was ex-
pected to accompany them. L did so,
but before leaving destroyed the paper
the woman had slipped into my pocket
She did not attempt to communicate
with me during the ride except as any
one else would do So When we re
turned to headquarters l noticed that
something had happened during our alb
sence. By the interest which seemed
to attach to me l could not but suspect
that this something pertained to me-
A certain cOnstraint that / had noticed
in every one met seemed to have dis
appeared. Indeed, all seemed DESTROYS
to atone for something. l announced
my intention to leave during the day,
but all joined in a sincere request that
would remain for one more dinner. /
consented, and we made gay party
that night at table
1 was placed beside the Bulgarian
woman again and dreaded a repetition
of the events of the previous night.
While the dinner was in progress the
marshal addressed me:
what did you do with the informa-
ton for General Kuropatzin?"
1 looked at the woman who had
given it to me, then at the marshal.
My heart was beating the long roll.
Burned it." / replied.
''Wisely done. L owe you an explana-
ton and an apology. The day of your
arrival among us we got wind of a
Russian spy answering your descrip-
ton. We did not like to offend an in
nocent person, especially an American,
so we have kept you under surveil-