Exploits and adventures of a soldier ashore and afloat — John Shaqi
Exploits and adventures of a soldier ashore and afloatAdams, William Llewellyn
History
Exploits and adventures of a soldier ashore and afloat
Adams, William Llewellyn
Adams, William Llewellyn; Americans -- Foreign countries; United States. Army -- Military life
The terrible weather prevented what was to have been a very imposing
ceremony. Thousands of Japanese from Tokio, Yokohama, Hakodate, Kioto,
Kobe, Osaka, Nagasaki, and the interior villages, had congregated to
witness the unveiling. A guard of five hundred marines from the fleet,
with the naval band of the _Hatsuse_, landed and were stationed in
front of the monument. The officers of the ships and government
officials were stationed on stands erected.
About twelve o’clock the ceremonies commenced with the band rendering
the Japanese national air, Admiral Rodgers broke the cords that held
the veil, and the monument was put in view. The United States
minister, Colonel A. E. Buck, being ill, an address was made by J. M.
Ferguson, secretary of the legation, who dwelt on the progress of
Japan and the friendship existing between her and America since the
opening of her ports to foreign commerce, and other beneficent
consequences that have followed Commodore Perry’s visit.
This was followed by a speech in Japanese by Premier Viscount Kasura,
after which Admiral Rodgers addressed the assemblage. Governor Sufu
also spoke in Japanese, and this was followed by the last address,
made by Rear Admiral Beardsley (retired), who was a midshipman on
Commodore Perry’s flag-ship over half a century ago.
After several appropriate selections by the band, during which
courtesies and greetings were exchanged, this military and civic
pageant, drenched by the rain that continually fell, dispersed to
their respective vessels and returned to Yokohama.
The monument consists of an immense slab of granite, resting on a
large granite foundation, on which the inscription, in Japanese
characters, translated is: “This monument marks the landing-place of
Commodore Perry, of the United States of America”; on the reverse
side, “Landed on the 14th July, 6th year Kayai; constructed on the 1st
July, 34th year Meiji.” It is thirty-four feet high and weighs
nineteen tons.
It was about five o’clock when the anchors of the _New York_ were
again hauled, and before supper was over we had again entered Yokohama
Bay, where the _Friant_ lay beautifully dressed in various-colored
flags, and literally covered with incandescent lights, the name
_Friant_ shining over the mizzen-top.
As the guns of the American war-ship belched forth a national salute,
in honor of the day that changed the current of events in France, the
American band struck up the “Marseillaise” (Chant de Guerre de l’Armee
du Rhin), and as the ship cast her anchors off the port bow of the
British commerce-destroyer _Terrible_, rapturous enthusiasm was
exhibited by the sailors. The festivities on board the French
flag-ship were joined in the evening by the officers of the various
fleets represented, and this ended a day of pleasure and events.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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