Valley Girl Views: The 1860 Japanese Embassy Hoax in Danville Pa

The Real Japanese Embassy, On Their 1860 Trip To America

On July 4th 1860, "occurred one of the most notable events in the history of Danville, - the visit of the bogus Japanese Embassy." So reads the Danville Morning News, 1910.

Thirty one men spent many hours making costumes , ordering masks, and making props, then sent fake telegrams, in an elaborate hoax, pretending to be the Japanese Embassy visiting Danville to see the Iron Works there.

It's interesting to note that in 1884, Captain Kidds Treasure was not found in Danville. Danville was taking "Fake News" to new levels, more than 150 years ago.

Prior to 1854, Japan kept to themselves, resisting all diplomatic, social, and commercial relations. But in 1854, Commodore Perry of the American Navy began negotiations that resulted in improved relations. A treaty was signed, but the treaty was lost in a great fire at Yeddo in 1858. The Japanese Embassy, in 1860, came to American to sign a new copy.

This was the first time representatives of Japan visited the Western World, and it was big news.

The contingent arrived in San Francisco in March, and from there sailed to Washington, to meet with President Buchannan (the only U.S. President to be born in PA).

From Washington, the contingent visited Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. Interest in their visit would have been similar to when Presidents passed through, or when the King and Queen came through the area. Crowds traveled great distances to get a glimpse of the men.

Meanwhile, the residents of Danville were planning a large 4th of July Celebration.

There would be a parade by local and visiting firemen, and an address by former Congressman William D. Kelley.

And then, a few young men gathered at the general store, and came up with the idea of a "Burlesque of the Japanese Reception" They made a list of 31 well known citizens to participate.

The 31 Chosen Participants:

Robert Adams, Peter Baldy, Joseph C. Boyd, Thomas Chalfont, David Clark, Charles cook, Harry Earp, George M. Gearhart, I. X. Grier, W. A period M. Grier, Jerry Hall, William W Hayes, Dr. Isaac Hughes, John W. Hibler, William C. Johnston, Richard Jones, Charles Kaufman, Joseph W. Keely, Robert D. MaGill, James Mitchell, Oscar F. Moore, Robert McCormick, Samuel Pardoe, Joseph F. Ramsey, Joseph R. Patton, Samuel Strawbridge, Dr. Robert Simington, Abraham H. Voris, Christopher woods, Dr. George Yeomans.

The group then decided that rather than a caricature, they should perform a re-enactment, with reproduction costumes as close as possible to the original. Secrete meetings were held, and preparations were made.

Several sewing machines from Peter Baldy's store were taken to the 3rd floor. Joseph Doran, a tailor, cut the garments and oversaw the construction. The work was done at night, after the store was closed.

The costumes consisted of "wide and full trousers descending to within five or six inched of the ground. and "a loose blouse, similar in cut to those now seen on Chinese laundrymen"

The fabric for the trousers was was a cambric muslin in yellow, blue, red and brown colors.

“Suitable masks were difficult to obtain as those on sale were exaggerated caricatures mainly for use at masked balls, while our requirements was for plain ones to resemble as nearly as possible the Japanese features, but Robert Adams finally, after much correspondence and the return to Philadelphia of unsuitable samples, secured what was needed. These were colored to resemble the olive brown Mongolian complexion and a corresponding shade of brown Muslim was so to them to be drawn over the head, extending under the blast at the back and sides and fastened under the chin. A hole was made through which a bunch of hair at the crown of the head was drawn. Col. Samuel Strawbridge was a committee of 1 on swords. They were made of wood, short and straight, wrapped with fancy colored yarn and open work design to resemble the richly ornamented Japanese scabbards.” Morning News, Oct 1910

Mr Fonda, superintendent of the Catawissa Railroad, arranged to have the train stop at the upper Sechler Farm to "take on the Embassy". Town citizens were asked to send carriages to the station to carry the Embassy into town.

On July 1st, the Embassy sailed from New York for home on the U.S. Steamer, Niagara, earlier than originally planned.

Again, the group had connections, and a plan.

On July 3rd, I. X. Grier, an "expert telegrapher" sent from the railroad station to town a message saying that the Niagara has a broken shaft and engine. It reported that repairs would take 6 or 8 days, and the that the Embassy would take a train for Niagara Falls, while they waited.

George Gearhard immediately posed the fake telegraph message on a pole in front of the office.

A second message was then sent:

"The Embassy will not dis-embark until tomorrow morning, when they will leave via Easton and Mauch Chunk and process to Danville to inspect the extensive iron works there, being desirous of witnessing the manufacture of railroad iron with a view to introduce it into Japan. They will leave Danville on the night of the 4th on a special train to Niagara Falls."

Hundreds came to read the message for themselves. "Some were suspicious, but the majority believed".

Simon Kase asked Thomas Beaver to operate the Rolling Mill, rather than celebrate the holiday, for the Embassy delegation. Beaver was in on the hoax, and agreed that it ought to be done, but claimed he didn't think the workers would be persuaded to give up their day off.

The 4th of July festivities went on as planned, with the fireman's parade, patriotic exercises, and a speech by Judge Kelley. The event was held between the old courthouse and the Friendship Fire Company's house on the "alley corner of Market street".

Meanwhile, the fake embassy slipped out and donned their costumes.

They then boarded the train to be taken back to town.

"The cars were well filled with passengers and they were very willing to return our salutations but quite taken aback upon discovering brown imprints from the coloring matter used had been transferred from our hands to theirs."

Another fake message was posted on the town bulletin board, announcing that the Japanese Embassy would soon stop in Danville for a few hours.

"Dr Robert Dimington in a Naval Officers Uniform, his face so disguised by false whisker and moustache that his own family would not have recognized him, represented the U.S. Commodore in charge of he Embassy, and assisted by Joseph R. Patton, Civilian Government assistant, hastily, in order to prevent too close scrutiny by the crowd" conducted the "Embassy" into waiting carriages.

The contingent proceeded down town. A band met them at the corner of Bloom & Mill Streets, escorting them up Mill street, down to Mahoning, crossing through Chestnut over Market, and up to the stand at the court house. (Remember, the canal ran through the middle of the town in 1860)

As they passed Thomas Wood's shoe store, the horses swerved. The men, squeeze in on low stools with the treaty box between them, were jostled and one of the men was thrown from the carriage. Jacob Miller, of the Friendship Fire Company, caught him and helped put him back - but they recognized him as Alex Grier. As Bob Adams reached to help Grier back in, he was recognized as well.

Passing up Market Street the venerable Rev. Dr. Yeomens on his doorstep (on the side where is now Mrs. Clark Rhodes residence) and a block beyond Dr. Clarence H Frick the gallant captain of the “Columbia guards” in the Mexican war standing on the same marble step that is there now, both of them universally esteemed citizens and then confirmed invalids, receive special attention from us and in spite of their feebleness, their faces beamed with mirth at the ludicrousness of the affair.”

After a speech, "in a mixture of Dutch and Japanese" by Danville Democrat editor Charles Cook, in costume as Chief Interpreter Mamura Gohatsioro,

the actors then marched into Montour House, with an announcement that they wished to be undisturbed while they took a needed rest. Once in the hotel, they changed their clothes and sauntered back out onto the street.

The fake telegram had been sent all along the line, and visitors had come from other towns. Among the visitors was H.B. Masser, editor of the American, who came by Packet Boat

Masser had patented an ice cream freezer he wished to introduce to the Japanese

According to Grier, the townspeople were amused, some claiming to never have been fooled, others admitting to having been tricked.

The hoax cost just over $50, when the bills were tallied. Nealy $2,000 in todays money.

The article in the Danville Morning News, recounting the Hoax, in 1910 was signed W.A.M.G, Brooklyn New York

In November of 1910, The Danville News reported that the article about the famous hoax, which had run a few weeks prior, had been send to R. Midsuno, General Consul of Japan, with headquarters in New York. He sent a letter to the paper saying he had been amused by the account, saying "nor do I know who the W.A.M.G is, But We Are Mighty Glad that he wrote such an interesting history of the visit"