The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-11-10
Held BY Japs Until Expedi-
ton of Capt. Glynn.
FIRST EXPEDITION FOR THEIR
RESCUE PROVED A FAILURE AS
AMERICAN OFFICER WOULD
NOT ACCEPT JAPANESE Apollo.
GY-EXPEDITION OF COMMO.
pCRE PERRY IN 1853.
Special to Tire journal.

N~cIIuSlOh, u ", NON- J. ne
little furry the government is having
with Japan just now, recalls to mind
some Of the other troubles we have
had with that island empire For
several centuries Japan would have
no dealings with other nations except
Portugal and China. Shipwrecked
sailors of any other nation, unfortun-
ate enough to be cast upon the island,
we're enslaved, or at least kept as
prisoners. During the administration
Of President Polk the government re-
ceiyed information that quite a num-
Der Ct American sailors were thus
held in bondage, and it was determ-
med to make an effort to secure their
release, and, if possible, establish a
treaty relation with Japan.
First Expedition.
A naval expedition was fitted out
under the command of Commodore
nludle. Among his instructions was
one charging him to be careful and
DO nothing that wound offend the
Japanese. He tried to enter the har-
|hor at Nagash and open cOmmunica-
ftiOns with the authorities, but in this
'he was baffled for some time. At last
he succeeded in getting to an anchor
age, when he was visited by several
Japanese officials. During his visit an
American officer stepped on board one
Of the Japanese junks, which was a
Violation of Japanese etiquette, so the
American was promptly knocked
Gown and thrown overheard. For
this Commodore Biddle demanded an
apology. The next day he was mott
fed that at noon the offending Japan
csc officer, with his father, mother,
sisters and brothers, grandmother,
wife and wife's sister, would present
themselves on board the American
flag ship with orders to disembowel
themselves in the presence of the
commodore and his officers, as a salts
faction for the insult offered the
American. OF course the American
commodore would permit nothing OF
|the kind, and this refusal cost the
failure of his expedition as it gave
|'ae laps. such a poor impression OF
|the power and dig nifty Of the United
|States government that they ordered
iddle to leave at once, without the
|'hipwrecked American sailors.
GIynn Successful.
The next expedition was under the
command of an officer of different
|aliber from Biddle. Captain Glynn
who commanded, was a rough ano
|feady sailor. with but little diplomacy
about him, but possessed of a great
|oeal Of determination. AS he ap
Preached the harbor of Nagasaki he
was met by a number of Japanese
boats. the foremost holding out to the
American vessel a parchment. on the
end Of a long reed. Captain GlynI
|lOck the parchment, and without look
ing at il. CONTEMPORARY tossed it into
he sea. At this a number of Japan
Csc officers plunged into the water
H. rescue the sacred writing. Glynr
Pushed on to an anchorage, but thai
pot Suiting him proceeded farther III
Tue ba" in search OF another. At thi:
he laps protested wildly, the inter
prefer shouting out: Go no furder
90 no furder,' To this Glynn tartly
|rreplied: Stranger, I'll &C just where
please, and do not mean to speal
10 single person Of less rank thar
prince, or a governor" and ther
sailed on until he found an anchorage
may suited his notions of comfor
and safety.
Shown All Honor.
me next day the governor called
Gu 10 show him all honor, the Amerl
'sn commander opened a case o
.s',nI algne. The interpreter inform
.,, MN that the prince never drank
ne Is with me now, and mus
nihA' was the reply, and drink h
SN Captain Glynn then informed
a.m mat he had come for the Ameri
% Iu sailors then held in slavery, ant
No. ne did not intend to depart with
A., mem, and that he should sail IL
,uSl three days The governor pro
eS'ed that 1t would take forty day:
=. ~ send to Yeddo and get an order fol
~ az release of the sailors, but Capt
uHhn Sternly announced that thel
nus be on board of his vessel b!
IOcn OF the third day, or he would
oOmoard the city. He said this will
much spirit that it impressed
bt1S'e IN the governor, and some
No''S before the allotted time elapsed
CONTINUED on Third Psuel