The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-28
OUR SPANISH RELATIONS.
THE WAR IN THE CRIMEA.
MIR. BucHANArS SPEECH ON ENGLISH ART.
singular Conversation between the Emprrs IS
Eugenle and Mr.. Mason.
The CRISIS IN ENGLAND.
&C., de-. &c.
INTERESTING FROM JAPAN.


| Appalling Character Of the Earthquake at Ma
phon-The Scene Afaer Its Occur renee The
Wreck OF the Russian Frtgate Dsana-Japa-
nese Superstition Alarmed by This and
Other CnIamlsies-rhc Americ an Treaty, 80.
OUR sHANGnAE CoRRE. PoNDENCs.
SHASGHAE, March 0, 1886.
Arrival Of tie Poohdfdn at Simodd7he Earthquake at
Niphon-interesting Particulars Of the Disaseg-Ap-
palting and Critical Position Of the Russian Frgae
Dtana-Her Subsequent Loss in a Gale of Wind-Fear-
fl Destruction Of life By the Earthquahe-Kndness Of
the Americans 10 the Wrecked Crew of the Diand-Jd-
pdnese SuperStion- Value of the Treaty Betoeen the
United States and Japan acknowledgement Dread Of
the Russians, dc, DC
Captain Atams having arrived in China from the
United States With the Japanese treaty and wtb orders
TOR the Poxhattan to carry him. -ith all despatch to
simoda, sailed frcm Hong Kong the 10th of ia
nuary As a matter Of course, the usual amount Of
head winds and tempestuous weather fell to share
during this winter passage, giving US ten days
Upon our arrival, the 26h January, foand that
"theIe something under the sun y terrible
earthquake had shaken the island OF Nphon destroying
snooa and many other towns, ivjuring and finally
sinking, the Russisn rigate Diana, lying at the time
simoda. give you the following account received
from of The officers Of the Diaua:-At 0 A. NJ, oa
the 23d CT d. oenber weather clear ~ deg
barometer 3O severe shock Of an ssrthquake felt
on board the frgate, shaking the ship most severely.
This shock lasted full five minutes, and followed at
quick intervals by rapid and shocks for thirty
minutes. At $50, the observed washing into
the bsy in immense wave 80 feet hgn with awful
velocity. In instant the town of Sim,da was over
whtjned and swept from its foundations large junks
dashed together, and many swept up the valley
several miles. The suddenly receded carrying
everything with IL houses, junKs fragments of s kinds
and hum beings il one frightful mass.
This advance and of the water occurred five
times. dense snoks over tbs town and al
joining lane ane the atmosphere filled to suioca-
ton with suphuric gas The earth heavipg and being
shook by the suberranean explosions for five hours
On board the Russiao frgate the of charac
ter to appsl the stoutest heart She dashed from
side sce and upon the recedng she suddsay
grounded upon her broadsde, with but feet OF W
ter around her. Again suddenly foated by tho
rush Of water with such bewlder,ng velocity that 1t
seemed as II the ship was flying through the air,
rous whirlpools were formed in which the ship was
whired with such fearful rapdity that men and ocerI
made giddy In this helpless condition they 70
mained during the contDusncs of the earthquake and
the agitation of waters the water receaing ed
ysncing FIVE different times When stranded at tn ebb,
the frgate's anchors were in sight, and seemed
moving along the ground, the ship feeling the
timber having the whole Of her keel and rudder
tom of, and commencing TO leak badly By 23o p. NJ
all quiet with the exception of occasional rum
BILE of the earth, the water calm, and seemingly smiling
upon its work OF devastation. So thicky strewa was
its surface that the japanese walked the bay,
searching for the dead and their floating property or
about coo houses in Simoa but Is let taading
ard they all less shattered. Daring tas height
of the scene large junk dashed against the Dsn.s
bows and split In two ropes theown to the
TO save Themselves but in blind obedience to the auho
thortes. which forbids japanese to go board OF
an cutsider without permission, they refused to avail
Themselves cf any OF safety and rank with tnsr
vessel Some two hundred lives The popuia-
ton of 7ooo at the first shock rushing to the hill sides
before the water rushed in, the Of great
saving Of life.
must tell you that the Diana at sir,oda nego-
tia ting treaty similar to ours, an! would have
cuded II in one or two days, when it the ntentoo
o! the admiral to have cruised after ths British and
French commerce in these The Di,na leskug
badly, with her Leel and rueder off, aud stern badly
jured lie seek safer hsrbor for repairs
After demur by the Japanese Off :ers, the bay
Of "Heds," on the opposite side of the peainsus Of
ltzn. about Ioty vs miles from Simoda, placed st
the disposal OF the Russians On the 1h January they
attempted to get the .rgate to that place. but uvtor
tupately severe gale coming on she drftsd into
the breakers but extrica.ed with additional nures
In this condition her leaks increased to sach fearu,
rate tt at the pumps would do longer free her and
dong all that gallant good could for
their ship and country, they obliged, With tears to
forsake her and their own lives. Not life was
lost and they saved nothing but what they stood
whole Of five hundred and ofHcers were thus
thrown upon the hospitality Of the japanese OF whose
kndDesC the Russians speak in the highest terms Upon
arrival and the OF the disaster being conveyed
to Captain McCuney he at placed every assisaoce
in his power at the disposal OF the Russian Admiral
offering TO the whole party to shapgbae the next
port to which bound This act OF national
tssy highly appreciated by the Russians but grace.
fully declined. "Ther duty" he said, "csled them tn
Russia, and TO go 20 China would place them in the
power the English or French; they would remain in
Japan till April, when the to the north would bs
open, and they could reach Pstropaulsky, or some
other port in Eastern Russia Kamschaka and asst
in the defence OF their country
Nothing could exceed the kindness shown BY ths
Americans to the Russians the Powhattan furn;shsd
them with provisions for three months clothes ADD
nscssssrits, many OF the officers giving avay ev.ry.
thing they had TO their suffering brother SAILOR
the Russian sympathy is very strong in the aae
ric,n navy. We enough Of the pi.n.,s
crew, their admirable discipline, rmness patience
under hardships and misortuncs together with their
strong, staworh frames TO be satisfied that had she not
fallen victim to dreadful calamity she would have
proved no mean adversary upon the ocean, and woad
have stocd far chance to pluck Of those hures
Oh Jonn buhs or Crapeaus. Two days after our Atn-
VAL the French whaler Napoleon ILL., came into the har-
Dor under American coors for the purpose u adding
two shipwrechcd Japanese Capt McCIuney ordered hsr
to haul the American coors down and upon hearing
the proximity of the Russians, she departed In hot
haste Unfortunately, but two Russian officers and two
men were at smoda, al the rest being at Heda. dis
match was sent overland by the Russian officer to the
admiral who great JOY sent his boats around TO cap
| ture her. After pulling forty Ave miles nine hours
/ tn and thar Nr~u
appointment Of the poor iellowsths means OF getting
ka4af laud aud