Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-23
JAPAN'S DIPLOMATIC AGENT
Gave Out an Interview on the
Hermit Kingdom.
ROUSED IRE OF THE PEOPLE
Apparently Aimed to Show They Did
Not Welcome the japanese
Protectorate.

d. w. Stevens, long the coun-
selor of the Japanese legation in
this city, was attacked twice in
twentyfour hours by Korean
sympathizers in San Francisco,
the second attack being made as
he was on his way from that CITY
to Washington. He was knocked
down and mauled in his hotel,
and, afterward, on his way to the
train was shot. His recovery is
a serious question. Stevens drew
a pistol when attacked the second
time and shot one of his assail-
ants.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 23.-Following
an attack upon him by four Koreans at
the Fairmont Hotel last night, D. W.
Stevens, a member of the Japanese coun-
Gil at Seoul. was shot and perhaps fatally
wounded this morning at the ferry depot
Is he was about to leave for Washington
The shooting was done by n. w Chun. a
Korean. Stevens was shot twice. one
bullet penetrating his right lung and the
second the groin. A third bullet struck
q companion Of the shooter. I. w Ching.
A mob Of 500 men pursued the shooter,
who ran from the scene. and he was cap
tured by H. Sexton, deputy in the as
SCISSORS Office.
MI Stevens and the wounded Korean
were taken to the Central Emergency
Hospital. Mr.. Stevens, accompanied by
the Japanese counsel, had just stepped
out OF the hotel omnibus when several
Koreans approached them. one Of whom
said few words to Stevens and then
struck him IN the face. He then drew a
revolver. covered with a handkerchief.
and began shooting at Stevens At the
hospital DR.. Hill extracted a bullet from,
the Korean, who had been shot through
the lungs. Stevens is a man of strong
physique. He is in splendid health and
may recover.
Attacked in Hotel.
D. W. Stevens. diplomatic adviser to the
Korean council OF state, who arrived Fri
day from Korea was attacked and
knocked down by a committee Of four
angry Koreans last night in the lobby of
his hotel. Only the prompt arrival of
guests and employees of the hotel in re-
sponse to his loud cries for help saved his
life. for the Koreans declared later that
they would have killed him. Stevens was
severely bruised and scratched. but not
dangerously injured.
nTimed Interview.
Stevens. in an interview upon his ar
rival. said the Korean people have been
greatly benefited by Japanese protection.
and that they are beginning to look more
favorably upon it. He also said that the
keorean peasants have welcomed the
Japanese, and the official class is begin
ming to think we'll of them on the ground
that the only hope for Korea is In a re-
organization Of the old institutions on the
lines proposed by Japam Other state
ments, all of which were favorable TO
Japan in relation to their native country.
made the Koreans angry.
Sorry He Escaped.
A mass meeting OF the Korean Patriotic
was held. and four prominent members.
I. Choy all enthusiastic and intelligent
young men, were appointed a committee
to interview Stevens
The spokesman of the committee was
Lee who speaks the vernacular huenuy.
He asked Stevens if he had made the
statements attributed to him in the press
and the diplomatic advisor replied in the
affirmative.
We got more angry, more mad every
minute when he said the things" ex-
claimed Lee half an hour later. We
could stand it no longer. and one of US
struck him and he tumbled under the
chairs. 1t was then we attacked him.
The only thing We could use on him was
the little rattan chairs. They were so light
we could not do much harm but we ham
mered him with the rattan chairs. We
are all very sorry that we did not do more
TO him We had no idea that we could see
him AT the hotel or hat he would stick to
his statements as published in the press.
II We did think so. we would have some-
thing with us that would do him..
Koreans Meant Murder.
After the assault Stevens went to his
room. The hotel lobby was thrown into q
state of intense excitement by the affray.
Stevens had his injuries attended TO, and
he refused to be seen, he was I'm no
condition to discuss the attack. which ne
firmly believed was murderous in its in
tent.
Mr.. Stevens was expected by his sister,
Mrs Joseph l. Porter. 3225 llth street to
arrive in Washington Friday for a visit,
and she received telegram to that effect
last night. Mr.. Porter. who is assistant
superintendent of railway adjustments in
the Office of the second assistant postmas-
ter general. did not know OF the attacks
on his brother law until he was in
formed this afternoon by The Star. He
was greatly shocked at the news and was
inclined to think that Mr.. Stevens par
tiality for the Japanese was at the root Of
the matter.
Durham White Stevens was born in
Washington February L.. 1867. was grad
uated from Oberlin College. Ohio. in 1871.
and attended the Columbian Law School
in this city until two years later. leaving
for Japan just before the date when he
would have been graduated. He went
with Minister Bingham to be secretary
of legation at Toxic. serving in that ca
pacitX for ten years. In 1852 he resigned