In a private letter, written to a local paper by a resident of
Cazenovia, N. Y., who is dwelling in Japan, the following was related:
I must tell a story connected with the visit of our American
fleet. One day, just as some of the troops were marching to the
railroad station, an enormous arch which stood just in front of
the station took fire. Instantly one of the Japanese soldiers
climbed to the top and brought down the United States flag
that hung over in his direction. No greater act of courtesy
could be performed, according to Japanese ideas than to save
our flag from harm. But when without a moment’s delay, one of
our blue-jackets ran up the other side of the arch, as tho it
were the rigging of a ship, and snatched the Japanese flag just
before it fell, tho his hands were scorched and he was nearly
choked by smoke from the burning evergreen, the crowds nearly
went wild with excitement and could not stop cheering.
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