The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-14
GENERAL NOG| AND
WIFE KILL SELVES
BECAUSE OF GRIEF
Fall Upon Swords Through
Love for Dead Japanese
~ Emperor
BOOMING OF GUN
SIGNAL FOR ACT
Hero of Port Arthur Plunges
Weapon Carried by H.
lustrious Father Into
His Breast


TOXIC. Sept. I3.-priven to their
death by grief over the passing ~
their beloved emperor. Mutsahito, ana
forced by centurtesAold tradition 10
end rnstr ftves with the sword, Gen
eral Count Marosuke Nogf, hero OF
Port Arthur. and his wife. the
Countess Nogi. hurled themselves on
sharp blades In the main nail OF the
palace late this afternoon, ana dieu
by their own hands
- ffsettst44fe,eas eds. passing ssaaas4aiE- arniana
the huge catafaiaue on which rested
the body OF the late emperor, saw
the aged warrior and his faithful
wife draw slender curved swords from
the coneeaiment Of their flowing robes
OF mourning and turn the blades upon
themselves. Count Nogi fell forward
first, holding the sharp blade hilt out
ward 81, that the point of the weapon
penetrated the middle of the eo1y
as the hand holding the Jewel en-
erusted handle iouche the ffoor
Scarcely a second elapsed. and be
fore anyons could move TO the rescue
the countess tnfew herself forward
GU aunt her sword Of similar pattern
Both were dead inside of three min
1,tes. and neither spoke nor cried out
ME uG1th SSt4ASs
The ,sencraI and his wife were In
tho long PROCESSION following the ets1-
pere,r's body Court Nogf bore the
title Of supreme councillor OF she
army Next to the emperor, he WAS
The highest military commander OF
Japan, and his position in the pro-
cesslau was close 10 tho new EN-
peror. Yoshihlto, directly following
the body. The action of tue Noxis.
who belonged 10 the ancient Cnoshn
Chan of the Sarnurai. vas In accord
ance with one of the oldest sradidons
of Japan. and. even had any one seen
their Preparations for the ACT. II Is
doubtful IL any ate nipt would have
been faFsde to preyeas 1T. More than
eye hundred Japanese nave Killed
themselves in this manner, known as
hari. kari. since Emperor hutsuhAto
died. August 18th. last
Uses Fathers fsiade.
General Count Nogl was the son
of Maretsu Nogi, CHIEF Of the Samurai
OF Hagi. province Of Chnshs. 70 h'm
his fathers sword had descended. and
with this ancient blade he slew him.
self. II will be buried with him. and
he will receive hou0rs scarcely less
imposing than those accorded To Effi-
peror Mutsuhito. Nogi followed
pfrENGNtst as Old as %ar HstSttC ct Fftttttr-
Dtrfaif tsokto Snafioksbpre-
tain of Full Yo- Yamo. fer ii has al
ways been prompted ny the spir,t of
"Bushido." that man shall lay down
his life fer his emperor, even II only
to show feaity to him. by a sacrifice.
Nogfs generation was that which
saw the passing OF the Samurai, hut
OF the Samurai was Sogi. and will,
them he saw fit To pass himself ue-
yond the portals of life.
The Countess Nogi, following the
Arst principles OF the life OF lap
anese woman. followed her husband
in death as in life.
A Popular Hero.
General Count Ncgi was national
hero Ia Japan. He captured Port Ar
thur from the Russians in 1904. and
received the proposal Of surrender
of that fortress from General Stoes-
sell On the outbreak OF the Russo
japanese war. he was nut in COM
mand Of the Third RAINY corps, and
was in personal direction Of the
forces which took 20a Meter hill. az
ter terrible losses He commanded
: the First brigade of infantry In the
China-J apanese war. and Mt all times
distinguished himself by bravery
and "A military skill which endeared
: n''as atsNs -. Il, ,,,,st i,ti,nats
wac. propaps, sne ,,snn,ta a,,.ssaa
= tsaena f4'H',s. "a 80 rsn,a ~ a.
me rosai aa1i'i ..s.. 49, .su nracticaItv
law.
The military career of this foremost
OF oritentai soldiers $500 ~ M. ~ h se
saigo reneliion. Wnere ns NJ. .ns 80
ties OF Management anu ava aaana,
receiving serious WOUNDS Ia the la.ts q.
engage msnt. 81 Ms ei' ).
these battles. Nogf was mate hea-
tenant colonel. and. tnereaitef. ms
rise was rapid The count was Sky
three years OLD ana MIS- wire oh's .
few years his junior.
The news Of the death OF the pc
n the news Of the death OF the em-