Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-06-30

a fine view OF the temple GROUNDS
showing the Japanese temple, the
priests quarters and a belfry truly
Japanese in its qpaintness, with tiled
roof, In which was suspended great
bell, eight feet long and two feet wide
which was rung by striking 1t with a
suspended beam, drawn back and
forth by rope. Its beautiful Tone
said the admiral, could be heard two
miles away"
Commodore Perry" continued Ad-
miral Robie, wished to impress the
people of Japan in a way that would
carry with it an irresistible force of
conviction, and among other things he
conceived the idea of showing them
their own photographs, taken by the
daguerreotype process. Our artist,
however, had either forgotten some
Of his art, or was not entirely familiar
with the daguerreotype process, and
his work was a failure. knew some
thing Of the daguerreotype business
myself and volunteered to the commo-
dore to try to take a picture. He con-
sented, and in q short while my ma
terials were prepared and I got good
picture Of him.
1T was the first sun picture ever
taken in Japan, and the success of my
efforts greatly pleased him.
Il also erected the first electric tele-
graph line that was put up In Japan
1t was 1900 feet long. One end was
attached at the temple and the other
at hut in the woods, the wire being
supported along the route by trees
Do you know that within twenty-four
hours after we had put up that tele-
graph line the Japs had learned enough
about it to send a message over 1t
themselves.
1.-The Japanese struck me then, as
they do now, as a most remarkable and
intelligent people.
IT also assisted in building the first
steam railroad there. 1t covered the
circumference Of a circle 500 feet In
diameter with a fourteen-inch-gauge
track, the equipment being about
quarter Of the full size. I was the
engineer and ran the train, and 1t was
amusing to see the Japs sit on top OF
the one little car Of the train and ride
around the circuit. They surprised me
again, for in very short while they
had even mastered the details Of oper-
ating the road and running the engine.
The track and equipment had been
carried out by Commodore Perry as
one of the things to impress the peo-
pie.
1T was, Of course, the desire and in
tention Of Commodore Perry to effect a
treaty with the Japanese government;
but that was a difficult thing to ac-
complish. We had evidently impressed
them but they were slow to sign a
treaty. They promised however, to
give it consideration.
"In the meanwhile we were obliged
to leave the Japanese shores and go
to Shanghai to protect American inter-
ests. At that time (1S53) the great
Tai Ping rebellion against the Chinese
government was in full swing. 1t
was an immense insurrection, and more
lives were lost in it than in our civil
war.
I'VE returned to Japan, however, In
February, when we found the Japanese
commissioners ready to make the de-
sired treaty. Two Of the lithograph
pictures on the wall represent our land
ing and experience then.
1T was a wonderful accomplishment
t. win over these people, and my recol-
lection Of them and my experiences
among them will always be among the
pleasant ones of my life.
1--WE had with us on that expedition
fifteen vessels in all. There were near
" 200 officers in the feet, but only five
of them now survive. They are Will
liam Speiden, who was purser's clerk;
Chief Engineer Fithian, then Of the
Susuuehanna Rear Admirals ]. H.
Upshur and o. F. Stanton and myself"
Washington Star