Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-06-13
INTERESTING FROM JAPAN.

Terrible Earthquake IN NYion--P Particulars of III,
Less Of the Russian FJIgate Diana
We have already had intelligence of the great
earthquake which occurred in the island of Niph-
on on the 23d 81 December, whereby The town. of
Ooosaca and Simoda were destroyed and Jeddo
much injured, and the Russian frigate Diana Iost
We find in the Courier du HARE the following
details of the latter event :---
As we have already informed our readers an
earthquake of the most violent kind has raken
place atJapan, and among other misfortunes ba.
occasIoned the loss OF the Russian frigatte Diana
he American steamer Powhatan, which was in
the same vicinity, and which saved many of the
shpwrecked mariners has prepared an accom-,
Of lis voyage from Japan 10 Shanshae from
which the Noveiitst of Marseilles has borrowed
some details on the shipwreck of the Russian
vessel.
The frigate which lost in the midst Of mi,
shocking catastrophe, had on board the Vice Adj
mlrdl Putdtn, aged at the time IN comnIeribo
the treaty between Russia and Japan She was
at anchor IN The port OF Smoda From the mo-
nent OF the FIRST shook of earthQuake The ses
exhibited such movement of eddying and whiriny
that IN Tess Than thirty minutes the snip pirouet-
ted round herself more than forty times swapping
and twisting all the chains holding her-The
motion was so rapid that no one on board could
keep on his legs, and all were seized with vertigo
When the sea retired, the frigate, which drew
twenty feet of water, lelf In eight feet of
water only On its return, the sea rose to the
height Of five falhoms above its ordn ry level
and in again retiring il left the frieate in lee.
than four feet of water, that the anchor stocks
were visible. The agitation of the bottom of the
great at the time, that The Diana thouel
only In four feet of water, was borne 10 great
distance. The officers believed that the port was
about TO become the mouth of a submarine volcano
ready 10 enguf Them
When the friga;e next found herself anoat, il
was preceiyed that She was filing and tina, the
keel aud the rudder had been torn away and were
floating alongside. BY passing sails under the
ship they succeeded in keeping her ahoat: and on
the next day, the sea having become calm, they
brought the frgare into deeper water Some
shocks were again felt but they were not attend.
ed by any serious consequence.
After having repaired DANA ges as we'll as thew
could, and constructed temporary rudder the
weather being 6ne again, they attempted 10 bring
the frigate into bay less exposed, and where
they might more easily complete repairs But
when they were at distance of seven miles from
Simoda, tempest blew up. The japanese boats
to the number of over a hundred, which were
towing the Diana. ahandcaed her after having
however, taken in all her oiIiccr, and crew aud
shortly after the ship vas swallowed up in these
1t must be remarked, says the Norellist that the
/ Diana, which was pursuing the Napoleon III ,
was perfectly disposed to disregard the neutrality
of the port where tie latter ship was lying and TO
capture her in those neutral waters if she
could. The French vessel. however, thanks 10
! the rapid nnanpuvers Of her captain, Lopez had
I set sail and departed from Slmoda twelve hours
before the arrival of the Russian ship The CITY
of Simoda mas been so overthrown, that hardly one
OF It's streets is distingushabe.