Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-09-14
Supreme Military Counci|Iovi Of
Japanese Empire ard War
Hero, Together with Coun-
tess, Sacrifices Life,
PATHETIC TRAGEDY IN
ACCORD WITH CUSTOM
Death by Their Own Hands of
Famous Military Leader and
His Devoted Wife Dramatic
as It is Sad.

IBy Morning Journal Special Ieased Wire
Toxic. Sept. 13.-General Coun
Maresuki Nogi. supreme militar'
counsellor OF the empire, and his wife
the Countess Nogi committed suicide
tonight in accordance with an ancien
Japanese custom. as final tribute t'
their departed emperor and friend
MGtsuhito.
The death by their own hands ol
the famous general and his wife was
as dramatic as ii was sad. The gen
eral cut his throat with short
sword and the countess committed
hara kari.
Following the Samurai custom, the
couple had carefully prepared their
plans for killing themselves and
timed them so that they would be1cO-
incident with the departure FOREVER,
oil the dead emperor.
General Nogi and the countess had
attended the funeral services of Nut
suhito at the palace here today. and
it was expected they would proceed
TO Aoyama tonight with the cortege.
Instead however, at the conclusion
of the ceremony at the palace. they
withdrew to their modest home in
Akasaka, a suburb of Toxic and there
began their final preparations for
death.
First, the general wrote letter to
his new emperor. Yoshihito which
was later found beside his body Then
he draped In mourning a portrait of
the late emperor and afterward he
and his wife dressed themselves in
tull japanese costume and drank a
farewell cup Of Sake from ciif kffirh
had been presented to them by Nut
suhito.
Darkness had fallen and General
Nogi and the countess sat and awaited
the signal they had agreed upon to
announce their leave taking. This was
the booming of d single gun in the
palace grounds at Toxic, which was to
LET the people know that the body of
the emperor was starting on the fun
eral car for its last resting place
As the boom of the gun resounded
through the clear. stlll night General
Nogi arose and. grasping in his hand
a short sword, plunged 1t into his
throat, while the countess stabbed
herself through the body.
student who resided in the Nogi
home, heard the fall of the bodies and
rushed into the room.
Lying on the floor was the hero of
Port Arthur and his wife Both still |
We're breathing, but their spasmodic |
gasps showed plainly that death was
Rear The student hurried for aid, |
put when he returned both the gem
erai and the countess were dead
The tragedy created profound SEN
s"lion and expressions of sorrow were |
heard on every hand tonight. Es-
peclaily grief stricken was Prince Ar
lhur OF Connaught. the British special
ohNoN To the funeral of Mutsuhito.
'ihce Arthur was to have gone with
Neheral Nogi tomorrow to the former
capital of the Shogunate, Kamakura.
ihose who knew General Nogi I
Meli declared that his calmness In
hillhg himself tonight was the kind
oi stoicism he always had displayed.
-" matter what crisis faced him. They
ihSt'hced the famous charge of the
@"p"hesc up 2O3 Meter hill. during the
''usso-Japanese war when as com
"hder of the Japanese third army.
.'oSi saw the Russians NOV down his
'rces In hundreds among them two
- ms own sons, and yet quietly and
,s"iiessiy continued the battle taking
ta le n'il and eventually being handed
'e surrender of Lieutenant General!
9''essel at Port Arthur