Evening journal., 1905-06-15

Cambridge. Nd June i5-Dr. Thomas
Buchanan steele, one Of the seven known
surviving officers Of Commodore perrys
expedition TO Japan in 1853, IS passing his
declining days Ia this pretty little East
crn Shore town. He IS now 50 years old,
and his once vigorous form shows the
signs OF time. He Is confined TO his room
under the care OF his son, Dr. Guy steele.
Ho pines for the familiar scenes down In
tho town. and an the children miss this
courteous gentleman of the old school
Or. steel is prominently connected in
Baltimore and other sections of the State
besides tho Eastern shore. lie is a son
OF the late John hewitt steele. member
OF Consress IN lS35-lsI and Whlg candl-
date for Governor OF Marylund IN iSW
against William Grason. OF Queen Amos
county Ills mother was Anne Ogle Bp-
chanan. daughter Of Thomas Buchanan.
OF Haecrsiown, and through her he is de-
secluded from Samuel Osle. twice Pro-
rrietary Governor OF Maryland between
1881 and 1l52 Before his recent decline n
health he was fun OF dollshtful cxpcr-
cnccs Of his visit TO Japan, many of
which he related TO hts friend, Colonel
Clement Sullivan. or Cambridge.
WAS SURGEON IN THE NAVY.
In isiS Dr. sterile was appointed assist
ant surgeon of the United States Navy.
and Joined the fleet ia the Gulf of Mex
leo then assisting in the American inva-
sion Of Mexico Ia 1880 he sailed on the
United States sloop Saratoga for China
and remained en- the Eastern station until
the successful close OF Commodore Per-
rvs expedition 10 Japan, returning home
in August. 1904 Previous to sailing on
The Saratoga he had married his cousin
Isabella =. Henry daughter OF john
Camrhca Henry of HambrcolSs, aud
granddaughter Of John Henry. Of Weston
Governor of Maryland and later United
States Senator. he and Charles Carroll of
Carrollicn having been the FIRST two Sem
otors sent from this State TO the nation.
al councils.
AS Colonel Sullivan remembers Or
Steele In his youth he was a sp.cndic
specimen Of physicai manhood and wa.
considered one OF the handaomcst on.
GERS IN the navy He was noted for hl.
remarkable resemblance TO the Bona.
parties. n being so extraordinary that D.,
was frequently accosted as mcmbor o
thar family while serving in the Mcdlter.
rarcan.
AS lie RECALLS JAPAN.
Or. steels was much Interested IN IN,
Japanese-Russlan war; and he frequent
~ discussed the outcome with Colonc
Sullivan and other friends This lcd uroi
O recent occasion TO his referring to hi.
own visit 10 Japan. He said.
Though over fifty years have passe,
since sailed with Perry into Yeddo ia,
and bore an humble part in opening Jap
nn 20 the civilization of the west th,
events of those days. SO long ago, coml
vrldly before me as our talk recau
thm While my ss years have dimme,
riy memory as TO more recent occur
rcrcos1 can stnl see very plainly am,
ccarly remember well my shipmatcs an,
comrades Of Pcrry's expedition.
'1lme has gathered most OF us IN hL
relentless harvest and / am one or th
six or seven surviving officers OF th
whole squadron-the last Of my own shh
-arl I must soon in the course Of ma
tarc follow them 60 the bourne whcnc
no traveller returns. / was married O.
Jrne 1850, and SO August of the sam
yror received orders to the United state
sloop Saratoga, then at Norfolk httin
out for the China station.
NO sUEz CANAL THEN.
shortly after joining her we sanc
for the East via Rio and Cape Towr
OF course, the sucz Canal was nm
thought OF in those days, and an cruise
to China were by way Of the capcs-
Cape Of Good Hope or Cape Horn. Th
Saratoga was a sloop OF war Of % guns
commanded by Captain William S. walk
cr-'Old Wcst- Sou West the sailors usc
20 can him from his initials, w. S. w.
on each piece of his numerous baggag,
John r. Goldsborough. William S. Maur,
and William Wayne were lieutenants. ID
Thomas J.. Smith was surgeon I assist
mt surgeon, and J. George Harris va
purscr Oui cruise out was long. thoue
rot without pleasant incident. Especial
90 I remember our pleasant sojourn
Cape Town and our bear and osirlc
hunt into the interior OF Cape Colon
while there.
In the spring OF 1858 the feet rendc
voused at the Loo Chow Islands. an
thence sailed direct for Yeddo BAY.
consisted Of the Mississippi (nagship) an
spsluehanna. sidewheel steamers, ar
the sloops of war Saratoga and Pl
mouth. and in three or four days we ca
anchor in the bay on sagami Point !
We sailed up the bay we could only spc
ulate and wonder what our recept'
would be, but we knew that the Japauo
were brave and warlilSe people. intens
ly patriotic. and ready to defend Inc
country from what was TO them an "a
welcome visit. our mission was peac
fui. and we were instructed TO careful
avoid giving offense, ana use an our an
and wiles TO win their favor. sim i
pE0ffrEN pnrrc RI pAt 1fn1pp