Washington telegraph., 1855-07-11
The Japanese Earthquake.


We borrow from private letter. written
on board the American frigate Powhattan,
(says the Memphis Whig) the following ex-
traordinary details Of the earthquake which
has just devastated the japanese coast.
and in which the Russian frigate Diana was
/ lost:
The island of Niphon, in which the city
of Simoda is situated, was visited, on the
23d of last December, by a terrible earth
quake. the effects of which were really
frightful- The city of OhoSaca. one of the
largest III the Empire, was completely de-
stroyed. Jeddo. even. suffered considera-
bly,, but has recently been more sensibiy af-
ficted By the ravages of an extensive con-
fagration- The city of Simoda presented.
on our arrival. a complete picture of ruin
aud desolation- After the shock caused by
the cataclysm. the sea commenced boiling.
SO to speak. the whole length of the coast,
Immediately after retreating from the shore
with great rapidly Thereupon, rushing
violently back against the shore. it inunda-
ted the whole city under FIVE or SIX feet Of
water. overturning houses. bridges and tenn
Piles, and piling them up in one indiscrimi-
nate ruin.
During the day the sea renewed the as
sault FIVE times, retreating and advancing
alternately. and carrying iesoia.ion far and
wide before it. The largest jnnks st anchor
in the haFbor we're carried from one to two
miles beyond the highest known water mark,
and left high and dry upon elevated table
lands. where we saw them, deeply bedded
in the earth 1t is thought that about two
hundred wretched inha bitants must have
lost their lives By this inundation, the rest
of the population having saved themselves
by fleeing to the high mountains, BIZ which
the city is surrounded
The Russian frigate Diana. with Adrni-
raj Pontiaiine on board, and who was about
concluding treaty with Japan, happened
at the time 10 be anchored in the harbor.-
Immediately after the shock which followed
the trembling of the earth the water in the
roadStead was so violently aeitated, running
rapidly hither and thirher, and eyrating in
large and furious whirlpools that. in the
space of thirty minutes, the frigate turned
completely round forty three times. and with
such rapidity tha; the people on board grew
glddy. many Of them finding it impossible
to stand up The chains cf the ship. twist
ed by 'h;s strange aud powerful movement,
presented, when it had ceased, nothing but
a succession Of iron knots When the sea
retreated it left only 8 feet water around
the Diana, which drew about 81. On the
return OF the waves, the water, it is said
rose more than 5 fathoms above It's common
level When the sea retired the second
time, there remained barely feet of water
in the harbor. and the Russians could plain
~ see one cf the hukes OF their anchor; new
ertheless the bottom Of the bay was aci;ated
50 violently that the fsigate was dragged
some distauce. The officers expected eve
~ moment to see the bay open beneath
them and throw out its subterranean fires,
eugulphing their ships in the fiery crater.
/ The Diana. however, once more got ahoat,
but she was leaking badly and the sea had
un>hipped her keel and rudder 1t became
necessary to stretch sails under the frigate
to keep her ahoai, and the next day, when
order had been established. they esSayed to
haul her cut into deeper water. Not tha,
the shocks had entirely ceased. for from time
to time they were still felt, though without
producing any serious effects.
After repairing as well as they could the
injuries sustained by the Diana and fitting
her with temporary rudder, the Russians
determined TO profit by the return of fail
weather TO conduct her into another bav
where she would be less exposed. and where
they might complete their repairs, Simoda
Offering them but few facilities of The kind
But they had hardly made seven miles fr,m
port when they were assaled by a violent
storm. and abandoned by the hundreds OF
native boats that were towing them Be
fore leaving for good however. some of these
last returned to take of those on board anG
few minutes afterwards the brave shiI
foundered in deep water. The officers and
crew saved none Of their effects but reach
ed the shore with nothing but tho cloihe.
they had on their backs Notwithstanding
all the dangers they had run. they had los
but single man. and he had been killed
accidentally by the falling of gun throw,
from Its carriage