New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-21
JAPAN.
From The North CHM Herall.

We have been favored from private source with
the following extracts of letter from an officer OF the
United States steamer Powhatan, announcing the ex-
change Of the Publications OF the japanese and United
States treaty at Japan the 2lst ut, and the vista
ZION Of japan with a most earthquake on the
23d December last whereby the City of Ohosaca the
largest city in Japan and the town Of SimOda were
destroyed and Yedo much injured. The loss of the
Russian gaie Diana after tie earthquake ID also mar
rated--the officers and crew saved:
"PowHATAN March 2, 1885,
OF the mouth of the Yang tze-ki0ng.
ave sailed from SimOda week ago last Thursday,
expecting a run of about five days to Shanghai but
we had scarcely got out Of the harbOr beore.we en-
eountored a heavy gale OF wind which required
large expenditure of coal TO enable us to breast it,
without making any Roadway, but on the contrary
rather losing ground. This had scarcely subsidized
when we had another gale more severe than the first,
which lasted much longer and after that subsided we
had still another directly In our teeth which seemed TO
combine in tself the severity Of both the previous
ones. ] never before have experienced anything to
compare with it at Being short of coal, the ship
could not be placed in the most favorable position for
weahermg the gales as the captain thought IT neces-
uat ne he should force her against 1t all he could,
port when the gaeke his fuel last 10 get the ship into
have managed TO asd4- BY the greatest good luck
our paddles and beating ny uncef.si'y OIL taxing OH
" The exchange Of the ratiicatious OF
between the United States and Japan was made on
the 2lst day Of February and we smiled on the 22l
=" The Island of Nphon, in which Sim0da is situated
was visited on the 23d December by severe earth
quake, which was most disastrous in ito effects. The
Cny OF Ohosaca Of the largest in the Empire, was
completely laid wesle Yeao iiseIf suffered Consider
ably but has since suffered seriously from the
effects OF an extensive confagrafion. The town Of
Smoda ON our arrival presented complete scene of
desolatOn and ruin. After the shock of the earth
quake the sea commenced bubblng up as it were
nlong the shore and then pceded with great rapidity
and as soon returned with such increased volume as to
Hood the whole town TO the depth of six seven feet
sweeping away houses, bridges and temples, and
rive lines during the day did tlfe sea advance
and recede in this manner spreading desolation far
and WIDE. The largest junks in the harbor
driven from one TO two miles above high-waer mark
where we saw them lying high and dry. About two
hundred of the poor Inhabitants lost their lives by the
overfow-the remainder saving themselves by fleeing
10 The mountains with which the town is surrounded
The Russian irigate Diana, having Vce-Admiral
Pontaiine on board, lying in the harbor at the
time engaged in finishing up the treaty they had
made with the Japanese. Immediately after the
shock was felt the water in the harbOr became con-
vuls,d to such degree in oddies and whirlpoos that
in the space of thirty minutes she Swlng entirely
around forty three times, twisting her chains up into
knots so rapid was the motion that the people
board could 10; keep their feet, and all were made
giddy When the sea recedcd il left the irigate in
eight feet water her side when her usual draft
over twenty feet. On It's return il Is stated the
water rose five fathoms above its ordinary level.
"On its again recedmg, four feet only of water
remained 70 that they the stocks of their anchor
above the wafer. The heaving of the bottom of the
bay was then violent that the irgate-although as
i said in only four feet Of waierwas moved bodily
past her anchor. The officers momently expected that
the bay would become the outlet OF the subterranean
fires and that they would be engulfed in IT, When the
frgate again toatcd, they saw her keel and rudder,
which had been wrenched Off floating alongside, and
the slip filling with by getting sails under her
they managed 10 Keep her ahOGt, and the mex day,
things having got quiet more, they hauled her off
into deeper water. Occasional shocks Of earthquake
still continued to be felt but were attended with
serious consequences.
Afior repairing damages well as they could, and
having rugged a temporary ru1der, and the weather
becoming fine, they attempted TO take the ship round
to another bay where she would be less exposed and
they could complete repairs lSmoda being badly
adapted for such purpose, but when within seven
miles of their harbor gale sprung up, the hundred
japanese boats that were towing abandO lei
her mot, however, till thes had got out all the
officers and crew., and shortly after the gallant ship
sank IN deep water the officers and men saving ONLY
the clothes they stood in. Notwithstanding all their
mfOriunos and the dangers through which they hal
passed, they Only lost man, and hc accident
ely killed by being damned by one OF the guns which
Had gone adriff.