The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-09-18
Consolidated Aug. 3, 1881.
MoeI KILLED HIMSELF.
GREAT JAPANESE GENERAL
PAYS TRIBUTE TO EMPEROR.
Civilization Has Not Enaced Ancient
Customs I'm Japan--Nogi and His
Wife Pay Supreme Honor to Their
Ruler.

suhhe Nosi supreme military cOun-
selor OF the Japense empire. and his
wife. the Countess Nogi. committed
suicide tonight in accordance with an
ancient custom as a final tribute to
their departed emperor and friend.
Mutsuhito.
The death by their own hands Of
>the famous general and his wife was
as dramatic as II was sad. The gen.
eral cut his throat with a short sword
and the countess committed hari-
kari
Following the samurai custom, the
couple had carefully prepared their
plans for killing themselves and
timed them so that they would be
coincident with the departure for
ever from Tokyo Of the dead emperor.
Gen Nogi and the countess had at
tended the funeral services of Nut
suhito at the palace here today and it
was expected that 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. suburb Of Tokyo. and
there began their final preparations
for death.
First the general wrote a letter to
his new emperor. Yoshihito, which
later was found beside his body. Then
he draped in mourning a portrait Of
the late emperor. which hung on the
wall. and afterwards he and his wife
dressed themselves In full Japanese
costume and drank farewell cup of
sake from cups which had been pre-
sented to the general by Mutsuhito.
Darkness had fallen and Gen. Nogi
and the countess sat and awaited the
signal they had agreed upon to an
nounce their leave taking. This was
the booming OF a signal gun on the
palace grounds at Tokyo which was
TO let the people know that the body
OF the emperor was starting on the
funeral car for its last resting place.
As the boom Of the gun resoundeC
through the clear still night, Gen.
Nogi arose and grasping In his hand
a short sword plunged IL into his
throat while the countess stabbed
herself through the body. a student
who resided in the Nogi home heard
the fall of the bodies and rushed into
the room. Lying upon the floor were
the hero Of Port Arthur and his wife,
Both still were breathing. but their
spasmodic gasps showed plainly that
death was near. The student hur-
ried for aid but when he returned
with IL both the general and the
countess were dead.
The tragedy created a profound
sensation and expressions of sorrow
were heard on every hand tonight.
Especially grief stricken was Prince
Arthur OF Connaught. the special en-
voy OF the funeral OF Mutsuhito of
Great Britain. Prince Arthur was to
have gone with Gen. Nogi tomorrow
TO the former capital Of lie Shoguna-
te or Kamakura.
Those who knew Gen. Nogi will de-
clared that his calmness In killing
himself tonight was the kind Of
stoicism he always had displayed. no
matter what crisis faced him. They
instanced the famous charge of Jap
anese up 203 Metre hill during the
Russo-Japanese war. when. as COM
mander OF the japanese third army
Nogi saw the Russians NOV down
his forces In hundreds. among them
two Of his own sons. and yet quietly
and fearessly continued the battle,
taking the hill and eventually being
handed the surrender OF Lieut.. Gen.
Stoessei at Port Arthur.
Gen. Count Nogi was national
hero In Japan. 1t was he who cap
tured Port Arthur from the Russians
I'm 1904 and assured the success of
his country In the battle Of Mukden
The count was born at Hagi I'm The
province OF Choshu. In 1S49.
During The Salgo rebellion Nogi
fought bravely At the battles of
Yamagcuhi AMI Twarazaka and was
wounded. After the rebellion was
suppressed he was made lieutenant
colonel.
He commanded the first brigade OF
infantry in the Chino Japanese war
and captured Port Arthur I'm one
day. ON tho outbreak of the Russo
japanese war in 1904 Gen. Nogi was
appointed commander Of the third