The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-02
TIE EVENING STORY
An Outrage on the F7au.

An Outrage ON the Flag.
As soon as the weather warmed up
after the battle oS Mukden put my
yacht in commission, sailed away from
an American coast and after a long
voyage found myself in the sea of
Japan The intent Of my journey was
TO witness the sea fight that was to
decide the fate OF the japanese empire,
but was too late. The fight was over
and peace commissioners were on their
way to Portsmouth. After visiting
some of the warships captured by Ad-
miral Togo resolved to make circuit
of the island os Nippon.
One evening just before sunset as
was about to enter the strait between
Sakhalin ana Nippon junk crossed my
bows and signaled me TO heave to,
when shot came skipping along the
water, Being defenseless, I shut off
steam and waited. A boat pulled from
the junk, and on reaching the yacht an
officer in the uniform of a lieutenant
in the japanese army came aboard.
While his color and his hair were Jap
anese his features we're European. He
was young and spoke with a soft though
decided voice. His crew, which l ex-
peeted would prove to be Chinese, were
all Japs.
I must ask you for the loan of your
yacht he said in broken English.
Are you pirates?" I asked
Certainly not" he replied indig-
Enantly.
''rhen what are you?"
a party of Japanese bent on an eX-
petition on yonder island, pointing to
Sakhalin.
had but a dozen men in my crew
and could only plead my citizenship
which, strange to say. had no effect on
friendship of the United States to
Japan, I was surprised that 1 should
have been molested. was obliged to
yield, for while we were speaking boat
after boat pulled from the junk, and
hundred men were soon on my decks.
You have nothing to fear, said the
lieutenant, whom his men addressed as
Shioya. I'VE 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
was Orderedst0 proceed and, instead Of
going through the strait skirt the
western coast of Sakhalin. I occupied
the bridge with only Lieutenant
Shioya- who appeared like a woman
and acted like a soldier.
It wish to use all my men in an at
tack I am going to make" he said,
and knowing of the high sense of
honor of Americans, will take my en-
tire force if you will give me your
word to remain till we return"
my countrymen and curious to learn
Of the success or failure of the expedi-
ton, besides its object, so I gave tn ;
desired promise. About 2 o'clock in t.4s-
morning 1 was ordered to put into
little bay. Every light was put out,
and when we reached the shore the laps
disembarked as silently as If they were
ghosts rather than soldiers.
After they had marched a-way-they
departed so silently that I would not
have been aware OF their going had I
not seen their silhouettes family against
a dark sky gave way to wondering
what it all meant. I did not believe
a regular japanese force, yet the sol
diers were surely regularly organized
troops. The object of the expedition I
inferred to be a reconnaissance prepare
tory to japanese occupation of the is
land, which was really accomplished
soon after. I kept turning the matter
over in my mind till suddenly I heard
rattle of nusketry. It did not last
long, and half an hour later, as dawn
was breaking, I saw the force return
ing.
TIL lieutenant was not in command.
but was carried by two soldiers. It
was plain that he had been wounded
Beside him walked a man in rags. A
soldier carried a ball and chain fasten-
ed to the mans leg. When he came
aboard I noticed that he was white
skinned. It flashed upon me that SAX
hahn 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. did not understand the words.
but the tone was such as a man would
use to a woman he loved. Then the
lieutenant called to me, and I joined
them
I am indebted to you" he said.
more than any one on earth. am a
woman. This is my husband, who has
been confined on this island for a po-
litical offense. I came to Japan, dark
ened my skin and hair and sought an
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 would bring them
and because they could disavoW any re-
sponsibility for my acts. God bless you
and your countrymen, who condemn
our tyrants but are friendly to the
Russian people.
The first thing I did was to send be-
low for a mechanic to strike the fet-
tiers from the rescued mans legs and
the second to open my medical and
surgical case for the treatment of the
heroines wound, which, am happy to
say, did not prove mortal. These two
being dispensed with. I ordered up a
good supper for the man, who was near
~ famished.
RUSSELL THORNE.