No. 9., 6th February, 1868

No. 9.

Statement of E. Martin and Fortant and Collier, three Frenchmen, made to his excellency Mr. Leon Rocher on the 6th of February, 1868.

We have the honor to inform your excellency of the events which happened on the 4th of February.

At about two p. m. we took a walk (Martin and Fortant) on the road alongside the concession, and in the direction of Hiogo.

Having arrived within about fifty yards of the house occupied by Mr. Lejeune, we saw a troop of Japanese, which had stopped in the street. At the moment we came near them they recommenced their march. At the head of the column we saw a man put his hand on his sword and look at us with a defiant air. We continued our walk, remaining on the right side of the road, and arriving before the house of Mr. Lejeune we stopped to see the train pass.

At this moment Collier came out of the house of Mr. Weingard, where he had gone to buy some tobacco; he remained at the right of the soldiers, marching in the same direction as they did. One of the soldiers pushed him, pronouncing some words in an imperative tone of voice. Collier, not having understood, asked him what he wanted; the soldier only replied by a menacing gesture. Collier marched more rapidly, always in the same direction as the troops. We then heard a noise arise at the further end of the column. Fortant, seeing a soldier take off the cover from his lance, told Collier that a thrust was directed against him. Collier made immediately a jump forward, but could not prevent being touched under the left arm. Feeling himself wounded, he passed through the column to join us. At the moment he arrived near us some lances were directed against him, but Martin warded off a thrust which certainly would have touched Collier in the back.

Being only three against such a numerous troop, it would not have been prudent to resist. Jumping into the first story was therefore for us the work of a moment. Martin and Fortant, their revolvers in their hands, kept watch at the two entrances of the room, while Collier tried to break through the wall to make an opening for us.

We then heard an order given we did not understand, and could see through a little opening on the street that the troops had halted and loaded their rifles. A moment afterwards the report of some shot was heard in the direction of the foreign concession. Collier having broken two small boards that were in the wall, we could mount to the roof by this small opening and see what was going on. The troops had marched on, and were firing in skirmishing order on the foreign concession.

We then hastened to descend, and went towards the consulate to inform your excellency of the events which had happened.

We have the honor to be your obedient servants,