The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-03-10

and lon2cd to revive the ancient au-
thority OF the mikado by ousting the
shotgun. The signing of the treaty
was made the signal for barring the
two-handel sword in n crusade Of
patriotism.
In 1860, the year when the first
japanese embassy arrived in WASH
ington, the minister who signed the
treaty was as%sassinatcd, and from
that time on the islands were in an
uproar. Foreigners were killed aai
legations burned by individuals and
by rowing bands Of outlaws; but in
June, 1868, the mikado was persual-
ed to issue an edict serving notice to
foreigners that they must leave the
country, and closing all the ports Of
the empire against The world. The
Shotgun found himself caught be-
tween the authority Of the mikado on
II side, the guns Of the treaty pow
crs on the other. His request to be
allowed to resign was refused, and he
was forced to play his difficult role
to the end. AS oon as the imperial
clict reached the Chiosu elan their
chief decided to begin warfare on his
own account, AID began at once to
fortify the Strait Of Shimonoseki,
which lay in his dominion.
Meanwhile the danger to Ameri-
Gems in Yokohama had already BE-
come serious in April Of the same
year, and our minister sent word to
Captain McDougal Of the Wyoming,
that his guns were needed to protect
American lives and property. Nc
Douyal, who had been cruising in a
vain search for the Confederate
cruiser Alabama, brought his snip
to Yokohama, where it became a re-
fuoe for American residents until
safe quarters could be found for them
on shore.
On the l1th Of July word came that
the American merchant steamship
Pembroke had been fired upon with
ont warning in the Strait of Shimon-
oScki, and m had it that sac had
been sunk with all ON board. Me
Duugal had already received orders
to return to America. but, being il
man who knew his duty when he saw
it. he weighed anchor and arrived off
the eastern end of the strait on the
evening of the 18th.
The great inland sea of Japan mar
rows at this point 10 a channel about
three miles long and from one-half
To one mile wide. y small town lies
at the foot Of the bluffs. which So
controls the channel that il has been
called ''the Gibraltar Of the Japan
rSr Mcdilcrrancan.' Through this
channel the tides ruSl, and swirl. con-
rralinm shoals and Suuken rocks 81
dangerous that the place has long been
famous for Shipwrecks, YET il is n
very important waterway for com
mcr"c.
Captain McDouyal. therefore. hal
to face the problem nf succeeding
With his armament Of six guns. OPP
posed to him were three armed YES
sells. mounting eighteen guns, with Il
string Of batteries mounting thirty
guns. which he could not reach from
the narrowS. Without charts. all he
could depend upon was the fact that
the Lanccticll. which was the largest
of the cncmy's vessels, drew as mucn
water as his own. The two Japanese
pilots that he had aboard proved
rather worse than useless.
AT 5 on the morning Of the 10Th
the Wyoming got under way. Signal
guns announced her entry into the
straits. and as Sonn as she came with
in range the batteries opened fire, to
which the American made no reply
until the real knot Of the straits vas
reached. There lay the larger bat,
tcrics commanding the narrowes,
part Of the channel: beyond. in more
open water were the three mcn-of-
war. all heavily manned. with thci,
crews yelling defiance. These ships
were the bark Daniel Webster. the
bri" Lanrick and the steamship
Lancdirld, all oddly enough Amcri-
can vessels purchased by the Chiosu
clansmcn. In the batteries, too. wert
fine cight-inch Dahlgrcn guns. which
had been presented by The United
States to Japan. with little thought
Of their future use.
As McDougal approached the mar