El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-05-04

AA.HA AaDA4l Gu AOAE TIMES De-
fore Uncle sam seized it on April 81
once it fell to Gen. WinfIeIu Scott,
once TO the allied forces Of France,
England and Spain and twice TO the
buccaneers Of the Spanish Main.
I know several men today who
were present at the siege Of 1S47 1t
is probable none Of these veterans Of
| the first Mexican struggle Will see ser
/ vice this time, although I have Just
! seen a letter from Brig. Gen HOratio
/ G. Gibson, L. S. A, retired, 81 years
I old, in which the venerable fighter
offers his sword to the stars and
: Stripes and refers TO Mai. Gen. Leon
ard Wood as sponsor for his physical
and mental ability. Gen. Gibson
/ served through the Mexican, civil and
several indian wars
1t was March 2. 1917, when the fleet
bearing Cen Scott and his little
army appeared off Mexlco's principal
seaport The troops landed without
much trouble after the city had been
bombarded, but IL took a sanguinary
siege Of Is days TO capture the de-
I fences. Trenches were dug ana reg
ular operations conducted
While the troubles OF the United
States which eliminated in the civil
war were brewing, Mexico grew ar
rogant to this country and TO Euro
peans-
Miramon's seizure of S65U,oUU in specie
from the British consulate. Great
Britain, France. Spain and Prussia
decided to move. Meantime. the great
Benito Juarez the Gen Washington
OF Mexico, was conducting revolt IN
the north, just as Carranza and via
are now doing against huer %. .'ua-
reZ overthrow AliramOu. but the Tor
nrgrU frnnnE kent their way ON
December Il. 1861. Eeracruz was
seized by a Spanish force under Cen
Prim- The result was the elevation
Of Macmillan TO the throne and, after
the European troops had been with
drawn. the unfortunate Australn's eN-
ecutlOn-
The pirates with force equal to
respectable army captured NeracruE
I'm 1888. They burned, slew and
robbed for many days before they
were driven 10 their ships. In 14l2,
the notorious buccaneer kings, Lau-
rent and Van Horn. seized the port
and held il 10 days They killed
hundreds OF MeXicans- carried away
women captive and did an immense
To this day the nurse girl of Vera
cruz. seeking 10 still the fretful
child. saws; Be quiet or 1 viii give
you TO Van Horn"
was much amused by the i'll
informed If well meaning persons who
cried out that dictator Huerta had
given sufficient reparation for the IN
suit to the flag at TampicO by his
meaEer and half-hearted apology
From the files Of the navy depart
ment / have dug up report from
commander J. Blakely Creighton, q
s y. commanding the Oneida. who
Witnessed Japan's atOnement for an
offence against our bluejackets- 1t
reads.
"Hiogo, Japan. March Il. 1ssS-Hon.
Gideon Weues. secretary OF the
United States navy. Washington, ~. c.
Sir ] have the honor to communicate
the particulars Of the execution Of
the Japanese official, Iau Zanzutaro,
retainer Of the MaJsdaira BIZen, No
KANT who ordered his troops 20 fire
on the foreigners at this place on
This execution was witnessed BY
me at the request Of our minister,
Gen r. B. Van Nalkenbergh, and Is
as follows
4 left the legation at about ..
m. in company with the officers at
tached to the foreign legations AMI
proceeded TO HiOgo, where we ere
met by guard. who escorted US 10
the temple, where the execution was
TO take place.
There was a large number OF peo- I
pie on each side of the street leading
10 the temple, and quite a number Of
soldiers drawn up inside and about
the temple. We were shown into a
room adjoining the Japanese officials.
where We were asked II We wished 20
question the person about to be exc
cuted, TO which we answered in the
negative. They also took the names
or every official present.
After waiting about half an hour.
We were conducted by the Japanese
officials into what appeared to be the
principal room of the temple. which
was lighted with candles and in
front Of the altar was raised a plat
form Of about a foot in height which
EXTENDED across the and which
was placed on the right Of the altar,
within a few feet OF where the eXecu-
ton was 10 take place, with the jap
anese officials on the left
In front Of the altar was q green
cloth and in front of that a red one.
" e were informed that the execution
would take place on the red cloth.
Seating ourselves upon the mats on
the platform we awaited the execu-
ton
IN a few moments the prisoner
came in, dressed i'm the usual Japan
csc dress Of person of rank, accom-
panied by the eNecutioner. who was
MS pupil and most intimate friend.
lie walked with a steady. firm step in
front Of the altar, where he Euelt in
prayer He then arose and went TO
the red cloth. where he knelt and
made the confession that he was the
officer that ordered his troops to fire
upon the foreigners and also 10 fire
upon them when they were trying 20
escape and that he was sorry 1Or
what he had done
He then disrobed himself to his
waist and reached out for 2 knife
that was near him. which he thrust
INTO his bowels. drawing il toward ms
right side. leaning forward at the
same time the eXecUtioner. with one
brow from his sword, severed his head
from his body. This occurred at about
1850 p. m.
The Japanese then bowed to the
IIoor on which we all did the same
We were then asked IL we were saL-
lstled with what we had witnessed,
when We replied In the affirmative
After the lapse of a few moments
we We're informed that all was over,
when we arose and took our departure
Inc whole scene was one or great
solemnlty and very Impressive.
Very respectfully.
Your pbedient servant
u. Bla6eIey Creighton,
Commander"
>
Let us hope we viii have peace
ceaiu soon The jingoes are notfound
among the veterans War is worse
IMAM sherman said it was This De
EnrLUlr0u which rnur- from Ine IN