The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-06-04

[otlelnaIl

Ington Jiiigo iIitoui was called Into
The Office OF The chief of tbc secret sery.
leo with which the embassy was pro.
vidcd and received the following order:
"a cabIcgram has been received from
Tokyo stating that the Russians have
succeeded In getting and decIphcring
the imperial dispatches 10 our pence
commissioners now IN Portsmouth. !
have been directed 10 forward an I'm
portant message lscnt here by an old
code not used for many years) BY mes
srnger to the commissioners wish
you to take II, starting by the next
train.
Every man leaving this embassy, as
you know, Ii sliadowed by persons IN
the pay Of the Russian government.
You win be followed and possibly Il
may be known that you are mes
senrer. for we have spies right here In
The embassy. hope that you will get
the dispatch through. but I doubt 1t.
Take no weapon except these bank
notes. These Americans nre not 10 be
fought. They must he bought"
The dispatch Tas written on tissue
paper. and. taking OF his shoe. Hltomi
placed II on tlie sole where II would be
under his foot. He asked for dummy
dispatch of inrge proportions bearing
the embassy Imprint and placed 1t In
his side coat pocket. The bills, amount.
Ing 10 $4,000, he distributed about his
person. Then a cab was called. and he
set out Tor the station.
He had not turned the first corner be-
fore a man who had been standing BY
an automobile jumped Into II and start
cd after him Hlt0ml had gone but q
short distance when he felt shock.
and the rab was knocked Into kindling
wood. Hitomi. who. slngularly enough.
was very little hurt. disentangled him
self to sec AN automobile speeding
awny chased by policeman. Calling
another cab. the messenger. first shov'
Ing I've 500 bills Into the hands OF the
owner OF the wrecked cab, pushed on
to the station. which he reached In am
pie time.
Nothing occurred ON the trip till tho
train had passed Newark and was
within five or six miles OF Jersey City.
Then a man took a seat beside the
Japanese and ten minutes later cried
out:
"You tbiefl Give mo back my
watchw
Piunglng bis hand Into the lower side
pocket Of HltomI's sack coat, the man
pulled out watch and chain and held
them up 10 the gaze OF the passengers.
Conductor" shouted the stranger,
"givo me some tralnmen when l. gst TO
Jersey City 10 hold this man I'LL can
get d policeman to arrest him"
When the train rolled Into the sta
tion, a policeman was called. who took
the messenger In charge. the man VINO
claimed to have been robbed agreeing
to appear against him In the morning
But ou the way to the police station u
fifty dollar bin passed from Hitomi to
the policeman. and the Japanese cross
cd the ferry without any great delay.
When the boat reached the New York |
Side and the passengers were crowd
Ing forward to leave, three men stand
lng toeother near Hltomi began dis
pute. during which they jostled Hito-
mi. A moment later the gate was open
cd. and they hurriedly left the boat |
They also left u slit In the outstie Of /
breast pocket They had -
lieyed him of the dummy dispatch.
This made the little Japanese feel
easier, He hoped that be-
fore his enemies could discover their
mistake he might get 10 the Grand
Central depot A policeman stood In
the street, keeping back teams, while
the boats passengers got ashore, and |
Hitotnl offered him $1,000 to escort |
him to the depot. The man couldn't |
leave his post. but called another oiii-
cor, who did the Job and received the |
which he doubtless divided
with the one who had called him.
Hltomi got on IN evening train for
Boston feeling sure that new efforts
would be made to delay him and get
his dispatch. While waiting In the
ear for the train to leave a man en-
lered II, with young girl. Placing
her In a seat near Hltomi, he bade her
yoodby, wishing her pleasant jour
ney. When the train had got under
way, the girl took up lunch box and
began to eat dainty supper. Hltomi
lad not tasted food since breakfast
ind looked at the girls snack longing
v. Seeing him do so, the girl offered
lin a sandwich, which he accepted
md ate. Then she drew forth a flask
" wine and asked him to wash down
he sandwich, He did so. but bitter
aste In the wlne stopped him before
10 had swallowed all Of 1t, and he got
Id OF the balance In his handkerchief.