davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1908-11-22
JapS Frightened by First EngliShmen

Just ninety years aga forty years be-
fore Commodore Perrf"s arrival the
japanese sighted the first foreign ship
on their shores. Now they have en-
tertained Admiral Sperry and the
American naval officers and bluejackets
vitH all the suInpguou of am ad-
vancel civilization. II ISIS Japan was
not SD CORDIAL u tle stranger on De.
coast, says the L,E;ol Herald.
This is the fact disc overed by d docu-
ment al the Museum OF zine Arts
brought TO notice by J. Arthur Mae
Lean. assistant curator Of the Oriental
and japanese department. 1t is an ua-
signed Japanese diarE dated ISIS 1t
covers seven days ans describes with
some 1siyete, but with a great degree
OF keenness the appearance Of the first
English ship. no translation has
been made, but these are the main
features Of its account as given by
one Of the japanese IN the Oriental
depaItmen
Fishermen first saw the foreigner out
side Uragl bay. Frightened By the ire
rnendous si4s Of the creature, they re-
ported its appearance Immediately TO
the daimyo. who was at that time the
famous Aizu. After a serious confer
eEce with another important official Of
the section, he ordered >he fishermen to
bring il into the harbor They did so.
but finding that they could not under
stand a word of the language of these
queer people, they were more terrified
than ever.
So they carefully searched the vessel
and removed all the dangerous weapons,
and also the rudder The sail thew took
as q great curiosity on account OF its
size. Thel. they felt a little SAFER. but
It wasn't d very comfortable feeling TO
have these dangerous foreigners aAound
at any rate.
Defends With New Uniforms.
The daimyo wrote to the shogun. The
shotgun replied. ''FOrtify. If necessary.
So Aizu began Notifications. He called
together an army. and devised a new
uniform. hoping To scare the foreigners
By a splendid show. 1t was a very
brilliant uniform. d bright red tunic
reaching 10 the knees, embroidered with
The white crest of Aizu, and a broad
brimmed lacquer hat, also bearing the
insignia OF Aizu
Surely" thought Aizu, when they
see my crest they will realize my i'm
pOrtance. and they won't dare TO at
tack me-" There were new banners,
with especially long poles and stream
ers, and there We're new spears made
for the samurai, the flower Of Anus
army.
Suddenly the report was spread that
there was another ship in the ohing-
Terror reigned. The people were brought
together and drilled. Sixty war vessels
were prepared against the foreigner.
When 1t Is taken into consideration that
a war vessel held but hfteen men this
does not sound so terrible The rumOr
of the other ship proved 10 be Unbound
ed. and about the ssnIe time an astrono-
mer was found at the shogun's court
VINO could talk with the foreigners a
little. The Englishlnen invited the Of
The Washington times., 1908-11-22
Regarding Light ArmOr.

Resolved. That whereas 5-inch case
nent arInOr Is readily penetrated by
heavy projectiles at battle ranges, re-
sulting IN the scattering Of many
fragments Of srmor that would iEjure
liCht guns. the conference considers
hat these guns on the North Dakota
would be in less danger behind no
ar1nor than behind 5-inch armor when
1ttacked by Pinch projectiles.
This subject probably received more
thorough and complete discussion than
any other one subject that came be-
fore the conference The resolution
was rejected By the overwhelming
vote Of 81 20 20. indI sating strongly
the views Of the conference with ref
erence. to the Key charges
Commander Key had criticised the
placing OF the torped, defense bat
terry. The following resolution eX-
pressed the view Of the conference In
the matter and was passed by a vote
Of 43 TO &:
resolved. That in view Of the pres
emf knowledge concerning the con
struction and efficiency OF turrets for
torpedo defense guns, the conference
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

does not consider It desirable TO mount
such guns IN turrets on the North
Dakota or vessels OF her design"
There IS a possibility Of furry
and a scare on the finding Of the
conference with reference TO our u
inch guns and the claim Of Command
er Key that they are inferior TO those
Of I've British. The conference took
somewhat the view Of the critic In
this matter as will be seen by the
resolutions Il passed. The resolution
was adopted unanimously;
Resolved, There is reason 20 be
iieye that the main battery guns TO be
placed on board the North Dakota and
DelSHar arc inferior IN power 10 the
English guns now being built TO-
ships Of like date OF completion ano
that this inferi0ritv should be cor
rected IN the Florida and Utah"
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

lowing resolution passed By a vote
OF g 10 q.
Whereas, that maya zine OF No. 3
turret on the North Dakota Is large
- surrounded By sources OF heat ana
the better location appears impracti-
cable. resolved. that We approved =
provision for the refrigeration OF this
magazine
The conference was informed that
steps had already been taken in that
direction. The following resolution
on the same subject was passed unan-
imOusly:
Resolved, that upon the statement
OF naval constructors and OF the Blu
reau of Construction and Repair. the
conference does not regard il as prao-
ticaDle to lengthen the North Dakota
type by twenty-five feet with an IN
crease Of displacement Of only so
tons and 10 locate the three after tur-
rets AS indicated in paragraph four
OF Commander Keys letter. echel0n-
ing them in the vertical plane"
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

AZ normal draft, instead Of two-thirds
OF her bunker capacity, as required by
the rules Of the Walker board. she
VIII have a strip Of beis armor twenty
eight inches wire more tnan FIVE feet
beneath her line OF holation at fight
ing draft in excess OF all that can be
permitted under the allowance OF
weight for armor protection
SiNth-"OuT commanding officers
cannot determine the overdTafJ of their
vessels because they are =fot informed
what weights the ship Is supposed 10
carry al the different loads.
further strongly recommend that the
stability statements furnished 10 the
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

commanding officers of oar ships con-
tam corresponding data furnished i'll
the British naval stability statements.
that Is. that they show the precise
weights carried at normal draft. deep
load draft and light draft, with the
exact draft OF the s}ip when carry
mg each of these loads"
Seventh have already shown
la the first portion Of this paper thu
utter inadequacy of the protection Of
her 5-Iuch battery and uptakes. It
also appears possible. since artificial
ventilation must be constantly em-
pioyed that the tunnels may be Jon
siderabIy shortened and the long ven
The Washington times., 1908-11-22
ENGLISH PREFER BOOKS OF SCIENCE

An Investigator or behalf of the
Westminster Gazette gives in that jour
nal some interesting facts He states
that there has beer a remarkable
growth OF serious rea ling during the
last few years; the borrowing of novels
is declining all over the country, not
more than Is per cent Of the work done
by our public libraries is in that direc-
ton.
In the public libraries of the United
Kingdom there are 4.000.000 reference,
and 100000 lendi z books 100000
reference books are consulted every
The Washington times., 1908-11-22
Regarding the STABILITY.

a resolution presented with refer
ence TO the supplying Of commanding
officers with statements showing sta
bility and weight conditions OF ships
indicated that these statements mad
always been furnished and that the
charge was largely without founda-
ton. The resolution adopted was a.
follows.
Resolved. That 1t is our understand
ing that the stability data mentioned
in Commander Keys letter Is now ha-
bitually supplied TO ships. Il is. how
ever, the opinion of this conference
that stability statement under diIer-
ent conditions or loading shall be ac-
companied by all other data conven-
lent and necessary for service under
sea conditions. such as having upper
bunkers FUN and lower bunHers empty.
taking deck loads Of coal, and 80
FORTH
Command Key alone objected 70 this
resolution.
AS regar1s the protection Of ven
tilators and uptakes by armor. in ad-
dition 10 that already provided for IN
this design, by the easement armor.
the following resolution was passed
without a dissenting vote; Resolved
That the conference considers that
splinter proof armor should be placed
around the uptake and ventllator sup
ply pipes within the citadel between
the upper limit OF eight-inch armor
and the upper deck In the North Da-
kota, 10 afford better protection OF
said uptakes and supply ventilstOr
pipes"
This is practically the only change %
any Importance whatever which IL
recommended by the conference as a
result OF Commander Keys criticism
of the North Dakota. It was objected
that this change required increased
displacement. and that a great many
improvements could be made u any
Up IL the designer was at liberty %
Increase displacement.
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

ilator pipes and large cows entirely
lone away with. as has been done in
the English DTeadnought"
In reference TO the inadequacy OF
Inch easement armor for protecting
5-inoh torpedo defense guns the con-
ference held that If l2-inch aunor
we're practicable Cor use in this con
nection 81 would be desirable. but that
IL " ould cause much greater weight
and displacement and the loss OF other
advisable qualities. The following res
button was presented TO the confer
ence as representing Commander
KEYS views.
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

II HE courtship and marriage Gus
toms among the Greenlanders
were in early times simple and
unCeremOnious enough, since
We are told that when a lovelorn
youth made up his mind as 70 the girl
he wanted TO adOrn and be useful In
his home. seized her by the hair or
wherever he could secure a good grip
on her, and dragged her TO his own
domain, where she was expected to
stay put without any further mar
rage ceremony.
II an afluent bridegroom, he would
perhaps soothe her laoerated feelings
by presenting her with a new lamp or
some other article OF household util-
ity. No matter how willing OF even
eager The bride was to marry a young
man. Eskimo etiquette demanded that
she should resist every attempt 10
drag her TO her new home, and she
must weep and wall bitterly once she
was there. Indeed, she must continue
10 weep and wall for some days. and
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

? n the meantime three commanders
among ali those IN the Navy had
q been discovered who were pessi-
mistic, as 20 the merit OF the
ships they commanded, and who ex-
pected that should they engage in a
half hour tilt with an enemy that was
their equal they would be shot 10
pieces, and that they would be help
lessly adritt on much-punctured
hulk
These three men were Commander
". S. Sims, Naval Aide 70 the Prest-
dent: Commander A l. Key, who
formerly held the same post, but who
had been on duty at the works Of the
Fore River Snip Building Com
panys and Commander F. K. Hill
Phese men were extreme in their
clamor to the effect that the battle
ships we're poorly built and the Presi-
Gent was aroused. On July ?, the Navy
Department under hts direction direct
d that the general board working In
connection with the War College make
thorough report upon the subject
elau ding particularly to the battle
hips now building. IN addition TO the
ocular members OF these two organ
Eed bodies various officers ranging to
eutenant 10 rear admiral were or
cred 10 the War College to coIlabor-
ate In the general conference.
These men we're in conference for
he greater part OF the summer. Their
lettings were always behind closed
pors. and no intimation OF the posi-
ION they would take had been obtain
bic until Just recently, when the ban
- secrecy was lifted, and their md
ngs were made public Then were the
critics confounded and the Bureau OF
construction and Repair exoneratsd
for the design OF the battleships now
Under construction are pronounced By
he conferences 70 % excellent ones
md the same designs are recommend
ed for the construction % the inmedl-
ate future
The Washington times., 1908-11-22
Indnrse CONSTRUCTION.

Toward the end Of the conference
two resolutions OF great importance
were passed. The hrst OF these. which
secured a vote Of a to u. was as fol-
lows: 1T is the opinion Of the con-
ference that no change in the thick
ness OF armor on the North Dakota
and the Delaware can be made with
advantage, and that the distribution OF
the armoT IS in general satisfactory.
The above refers in no way 10 the
five-inch easement arnor, which IS the
subject OF other resolutions.
Then came the general Endorsement
OF the North Dakota type. which will
have SO strong an influence on the
building OF the future, and which re-
flutes the charges Of the critics as far
as the conference is concerned. e
passed by vote OF 50 to %.
Proposition: Passing from the con-
siderstion Of the specific minor defects,
the conference believes that the de-
sign OF the North Dakota and Della
ware is an excellent one"
The conference showed its friendlf-
ness toward the men whose criticisms
il had for the most part rejected bY
passing a resolution OF thanks TO Com
mander Key. 1t follows:
Resolved. That in presenting to the
Navy Department his written crit
ism of certain features in the design
OF the North Dakota, which. in his
opinion, were either Objectionable o.
undesirable, in supporting these citi7
cisms by arguments based on Hasks
and figures. as he interpreted thsrz
and In so doing having furthered IN
cause Of free discussion OF vitality i'm
portant professional topics through tn
assembly OF this conference whersl
the points AZ issue have received 81
telligent, and It is believed highS
fruitful consideration, Comman6r
Key has rendered a great and invk-
liable service to the Navy OF be
United States. one for which he sholS
receive the thanks OF his brother r.
ficers."
WILLIAM ATHERTON DU Pa.
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

points upon which the battleshIp type
was most harshly attacked,
F1rst-''It is presumed that this yes
sci is built. primarily. TO fight vessels
Of corresponding type built or building
in foreign navies. II we assume that
the modern twelve-ineh gun VIII main
tain in action rate OF fire Of one shot
per minute. the North Dakota. in the
course of thirty minutes. in a broad
side engagement with an adversary OF
the same general type, will have fired
al her at a distance Of about 5000
Yards 800 twelve-inch shell. To those
familiar with the records OF modern
naval target practice. It viii be con
coded that she will probably be hit
within thirty minutes. by fully 100
twelve-inch shell filled with high ex-
plosive
The Washington times., 1908-11-22
Over tho North Dakota.

The bsttleship North Dakota. but
recently launched at Quincy, Mass.
vas the immediate bone OF contention.
This vessel had been authorised BY act
Of Congress In 1904 Bids were called
for, and the contract awarded to the
For. River shiShufding Company.
The Bureau OF Construction and Re
pair approved. the department ap-
proved. Congress approved, and finally
a special board. consisting Of Assistant
Secretary N0WbeTTy. Engineer in
chief Charles W Rae. chief Con-
structor ". L Cappa. Rear Admiral
\. E. Mason. Capt John P. MerreIl,
Capt Raymond P. Rogers and Capt.
Richard Wainwright. approved.
Then when the building was but Just
started the avalanche OF criticism de
seconded. It being cFystsllized chiefly
N the letter submitted to the President
by Commander Key. The following
extracts from that letter show the in
tsnsfty OF those criticisms and the
The Washington times., 1908-11-22
STATION AGENT SO YEARS.

Mrs. Ellen Holmes, the oldest woman
rsilwav station agent In Illinois, has
been adjudged insane and committed
10 the Central Hospital for the In
sane at Jacksonville. Mrs. Holmes had
been in charge of the Burlington sta
tiOn at CliOla Adams county, for over
fifty years, and the depot, with its
surrounding flower beds. was one OF
the most notable on the line.-SpTing-
field. III. Journal.
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

dcers on board. and gave them regal
banquet with much European wine.
But ia spite OF their hospitality they
were stil disturbed. Aizu and his peo-
pile were afraid 10 touch the thinss the
foreign devils" had brought to trade
And on tire seventh day TIE Englishmen
were requested TO leave without ira ne
privileges
EngIishmeu. the Japanese called these
PEOPLE. and EuElish-speaking tEey GER
tanly were from the word Brothers.
which appeared ou the stern o. their
ship. ana which was carefully copied
by the author II the diary. though he
Old not even understand English char
scters.
'''rnese EugIishmen are .ery like
monkeys" he SAYS This reiusrk does
LOT seem to have been occa stoned so
much by their appearance as by their
agility The way The English jack tsrs
did stunts in the rigging was a revels-
ton TO the Japanese. Their hair s.
rsd and curly" ne continues. Evidently
Ice had examined only one specimen. al
though -red hair is probably his way
of saying Tight hair"
They have the eyes az a dog, and
q Eleacled skin, like persimaaon bloom
Their wooden coat and trousers, their
rattan hats. and their leather. instead
of wooden, shoes, all impressed him;
nut the thing that shocked him most
was their unshaven faces and eyebrows
Horrible fact; almost as lad as their
round. "doglike" eyes.
Wine a Revelation
The glass decanters and tumbiers
seemed tremendous innovation to
him. as did the VINE within them,
which was much stronger than the Jap
auese saki. Tt is quite significant that
in the drawing Of the Englishman made
by the author from memory. ne is rep
resented with a bottle and a glass in
his hand Their swords impressed him
as being very thin, like a saw. and 50
vastly inferior to the thick japanese
sword but their cannon and guns he
admired
Whatever a japanese sees. he can
draw" said Mr.. MacLean. And GER
t5inIy the sketches OF the English ship,
the Engllshmeu. and their swords and
wine caslI made by the author OF the
diary. show more than the average
power of acute observance. At any rate
they show the Japanese idea in 1918 OF
these very healthy and tremendously
large foreign DEVILS whom they are
new delighting 10 honor
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

e I has come to pass that duly
authorized board of the six
ty men in the United States
4 who know most about naval
construction have sat in conference
at Newport, R. l., for three months
and have considered the criticisms
Of those few men who have diSpar-
aged the big battleShips of the ma
ton now in course of construction
and in the end have said: 'Poohl
PoohI It is the froth of folly"
Such in effect is the manner of
placing the official quietus on
controversy that has lasted through
q year, has entered into the deliber-
atoms of the Congress, has called
forth the most active attention on
the part of the President, has en-
gendered more feeling and animos-
fly than any feud among men in
the Government service Tor a
decade, and which, if the findings
Of the conference are correct, has
wrongfully placed the battleships
Of our navy under the charge of
WOTthleSSneSS.
It all started last January, when
A magazine article was printed
,harging defects in the various YES
sels of the United States navy. The
charges struck Congress, then in
session, like a thunderbolt, and
committee was appointed immedi-
2tely to investigate. When Con-
qesS adjourned, however, no re-
port had been submitted.
The Washington times., 1908-11-22
FASHION NOTES.

Knicker-The fashionable womsn's
figure Is like q Stat
BockeF-While the mattress. bolster,
and pillow are worn on the head.-New
York Sun.
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

year according to the records. and al
least an equal number are taken from
the shelves and consulted without being
recorded Every year 100000 books
are lent for home reading.
Giving further detail. the 'Inyesti-
gator ststSs that "the taste for his
tory, biography, and travel is on the
wane: readers are all for science and
sociology. and new books on socialism
are always in demand. Progress.
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

Briggs-Even divorce, nowadays, offers
no sure relief Griggs-How so? Why,
ia nine cases cut OF ten a man Is free 10
marry again. Life.
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

The WAS HINCTON TINES MAGAZINE
The Washington times., 1908-11-22

November %. 1905
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-29
ELEPHANT GOES ON RAMPAGE
LUNA PARK PACHYDERM
KEEPS CONEY ISLAND EXCITED.
''Puncha" Breaks From Quarters and
Proceeds to Demolish Buildings.
Keeper Knocked Senseless.

NEW YORK, December 29.-An exciting
elephant hunt, In which twelve-year-old
African pachyderm belonging to the Luna
Park Amusement Company nearly killed
man, kept Coney Island in state bor-
derng on panic for two hours late yester-
day. Puncha. the elephant in question, IS
now chained to the floor of the dance hall
In Luna Park. and unless she can be
gotten out of her fit Of tantrums by ex-
pert veterinarians she must he killed.
Puncha broke from her quarters and,
with sixteen keepers at her heels, pro-
ceeded to demolish the boarded buildings
of the resort one after another Finally
breaking into the dance hall she was
brought to bay and successfully lassoed
by John Sim. He made the end of his
lasso fast TO a railing. but the elephant
tore the railing loose and sent Sim spin
ming twenty feet away against heavy
post. knocking him senseless.
The Infatuated elephant made for the
PROSTATE man and would have trampled
him to death but for his prompt rescue by
a number OF his fellow-keepers, who picked
him up and removed him to safety. Sim
is not thought to be dangerously hurt.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-29
YAoU1 REVOLT ABOUT OVER.
Peace Negotiations Under Way With
Mexican Government.

LOS ANGELES. December o9.-Accord-
ing to the latest advices from Sonora, the
Yaaui renegades revolt seems to be about
over. That negotiations for peace have
been on and. are now before President
DaZ is known. An answer is expected
from him early in January when the truce
existing will be up. but it is thought I'M
likely that hostilities will be resumed
or late few Yaquis who were trans
ported to Quintana Roo. the territory
formed from the southern half OF Yucca
tan, have succeeded in escaping and get
ting back to their tribe.
They have told stories Of terrible hard
ships and from what they have learned of
the governments power as seen in the
country they have gone through they have
been convinced that further struggles are
vain.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-29
TRIED TO WRECK TRAINS.
Negro Had a Grievance Against
Section Foreman.

ROANOKE. Va, December 29.-West
Grub, a negro. wanted for attempting to
wreck passenger trains on the Norfolb
and Western road on three different oc
casions within the past three weeks. was
arrested Sunday near Wytheville. not far
from the scene of the attempts. Grubb
was brought TO Roanoke. as he feared
violence at the hands OF enraged citi-
Zens.
He made confession here and told
how he had placed spikes on the rails one
night, piled crossties on the rails on two
other nights, and returned a fourth time
to try to wreck the same train the Chat
tanooga and Washington limited, when
he saw track walker and went away.
The attempts, had they proved success
great loss Of life. Grubb gives a gr,dpe
ne holds against section foreman as his
reason for seeking to destroy the trains.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-29
BAN ON PARIS NEWSPAPER.
Sequel to Maths Assault on Presi.
dent Fallieres.

PARIS. December 2a.--The investisat ton
by the police into the case of Maths.
the unemployed waiter who. Christmas
day. waylaid President Fallieres on the
streets Of Paris and made an attempt to
pull his beard-has revealed Mattis's re-
lations with the Yellow Syndicate. a
royalist orga nization. and as a result the
police have sealed up the Offices OF the
newspaper published by the organization.
with the intention of making a thorough
search of the premises.
The editor of this paper is Pierre Betry.
a deputy from Finistere He deGed the
orders of the police and broke into his
office. The matter of his arrest and
prosecution is now being considered
Bietry is not protected by parliamentary
the chamber being in recess