The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-06-06
EARTHQUAKE in .simoda

GaftnQuak0 In Sim0da. i
From the North China Herald Exiraor-
binary, We take the subjoining interesting
nsws from Japan: Il
- We have been favored. from q private
source with the following extracts o letter
ltoa, an officer OF the United States steam
er Pow hatten.
"The Island Of Niphon, lin which Simo-.
de- 10 situated, was visited, on the Esd Of
December, by a severe earthquake. which
was dissstrous in its effects. The city OF
Ohosaca, one OF the largest in the empire.
vas completely laid waste. JeGdo itself
suffered considerably, but has since suf.
fered more seriously from the effect OF an
exsensive col.nsgrAtion. The town ofSi-
,moAs, on our arrival, presented com.
vlste scens Of desolation and ruin. After
the shock OF the earthquake, the sea COM
msnced bubbling up, as II were, along the
shore, and then receded with great ra pidi-
N, and as soon returned with such increas.
"a volume, a. 10 food the whole town to
the dsplh ofaix or seven feet, sweeping
away houses, bridges and temples. and
pilinx them up in mass ot ruin.
aFive times during the day did the sea
!; advance and recede in this manner, spead-
ing dssolation far and wide. The largest
,iunks in the harbor were driven from one
70 two miles above high water mark where
We saw them lying high and dry. About
zoo Of the poor inhabitants lost their lives
By the overflow, the remainder saving
sksmselves by fleeing 10 the mountains
with which the town was surrounded.
- The Russian fngais Diana, having
Vics-Admiral Pontistine on board, was
lying in the harbor at the time, engaged
il fishing up the treaty they had made with
the Japanese. Immediately after the
shock was felt, the water in the harbor be-.
came oonvulsed to suoh a degree in ed
dies and whirlpools, that in the space ol
thirty minutes she swung entirely round
forty. three times, twisting her chains up
into knots; so rapid was the motion. tha,
he people on board could not keep their
feet, and all were made giddy. When
,ths sea receded, il left the frigate in eigh,
feet water on her side, when her usual
sdrauRht was over twenty one feet. On
lie return, il is stated, the water rose five
falhoms above its ordinary level.
ssOn lie again recsding, four feet only
ofwater remained, so that they saw the
stock ofthe anchor above the water. The
hsAying Of the bottom oi the bay was then
% violent that the frigate-alihough, as
said only in four feet OF water--was moved
bodily past her anchor. The officers mo.
nsnlarily expected that the bay would be.
Oeme the outlet OF the subterranean fires,
isnd that they would be engulphed in il
When the frigate again hoated they saw
her keel and rudder floating longside, and
/. lths shipflling with water. Bygetting sail,
undst hsr, they managed to get her afoat
and the mex. day, things having kept quie
onos more, they hauled her into deeper
.ewatsr. Occasional shocks Of earthquake
still continusdt 10 be felt, but none were Al
landed with serious consequences.
I. Ailsr pairing damages as we'll as they
could. andshaving rugged temporary rud'
der, and the weather becoming 6ns. they
Attempted 70 take the ship around to an
olhsrs bay, where she would be less ex
posed, and they would complete repair,
-{Ssmoda being badly adapted tor such q
-ourpose;) but when within seven miles o
.ihsir hafbor.a = gale sprung up-the hun
drsd Japanese boats that were towing
shsm. abandoned them not, however. I'll
they had got oui all the officers and crew,
and shortly after the ship sunk in deeF
watsr, the officers and men saving only
ihe clrthes they stood in. Notwithstand
ink al their misfortunes and the dangers
through which they had passed. they onl,
lsst one man, and he was accidental,
Killed by being jamed by one Of the gum
which had gone drift.