Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-06-08

quake IN .Niphon-P Particulars OF he loss OF
The Frigdte Didna.--We have already had
intelligence of the great earthquake which
occurred IN the island af Niphon Oh the 23d
of December, whereby the towns of Ohosa-
ca and Simoda were destroyed, and Yedo
much injured, and the Russian frigatc Diana
/ lost. We find in the Courier du Harre the
following details of the event:
As we have already informed our readers,
an earthquake of the most violent kind has
taken place at Japan, and among other mis-
fortunes has occasloned the loss of the Rus
sian frigate Diana. The American steamer
Powhatan, which was in the same vicinity,
and which saved many Of the shipwrecked
mariners, has prepared an account of its
voyage from Japan to Shanghai, from which
the Novelist, of Marseilles, has borrowed
details
The island of Nphon, in which Simoda
is situated, was visited on the 23d Deem
Der by severe earthquake, which was most
disastrous in its effects. The city of Oh
osaca. one of the largest in the Empire, was
completely laid waste. Yedo itself suffer-
ed considerably, but has since suffered more
seriously from the effects of an extensive
conhagratlon. The town of Simoda on our
arrival presented a complete scene of desol-
alton and ri in. After the shock of the earth
quake the sea commenced bubbing up as il
were along the shore, and then receded with
great rspidity and soon returned with such
increased volume as to flood the whole town
to the depth of six or seven feet, sweeping
away houses, bridges and temples, and pill
ing them up in mass OF ruin.
Five times during the day did the sea nd-
vance and recede in this manner, spreading
desolaton far and wide. The largest junks
in the harbor were driven from 10 2 miles
above high water mark, where we saw them
lying high and dry. About two hundred o.
the poor inhabitants lost their lives by the
overhow--the remainder saving themselves
by fleeing TO the mountains with which the
town is surrounded.
The frigate which was lost in the midst of
this shocking catastrophe, had on board the
Vice Admiral Putiatin, engaged at the time
IN completing the treaty between Russia
and Japan. She was at anchor in the port Of
Slmods. From the moment oil the first
shock Of earthquake the sea exhibited such
a movement of eddying and whrling, that
in less than thirty minutes the ship plrouet-
ted round herself more than 40 times, snap
ping 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 tive nty-one feet of water,
was left in eight feet of water only. On its
return, the sea rose TO the height of five
fathoms above its ordinary level, and in a.
gain retiring 1t left the frigate in less than
four feet of water, so that the anchor stocks
were visible. The agitation of the bottom
of the sea was so great at the time, that the
/ Diana fhou nh oplu in t,,rr foo Of
was borne to a great distance. The officers
believed that the port was about to become
the mouth of a submarine volcano ready to
engulf them.
When the frigaie next found herself afloat,
it was perceived that she was filling, and
that the keel and the rudder had been torn
away, and were floating alongside. BY pass
ing sails under the ship they succee ded in
keeping her aiioat; and on the next day, the
sea having become calm, they brought the
frigete into deeper water. Some shocks
were again felt, but they were not attended
by any serious consequences.
After having repaired damages as well as
they could, and constructed a temporary
ruddcr, the weather being fine again, they
attempted to bring the frigate into bay less
exposed, and where they might more easily
complete repair. But when they were at
distance of seven miles from Slmoda, tenn
pest blew up. The Japanese boats, to the
number Of over a hundred, which were tow
ing the Diana, abandoned her, after having,
however, taken in her officers and crew and
shortly AFTER the ship was swallowed up in
the sea. Notwithstanding all their mlsfort-
unes and the dangers through which they
had passed, they only lost one man, and he
was accidentally killed by being Jammed by
one of the guns which had gone adrift.
II must be remarked, says the Novelist,
that the Diana, which was pursuing the Ma
poleon Ill, was perfectly disposed to disre-
gard The neutrality Of the port where the lat
ter ship was lying, and to capture her even
in those neutral waters if she could. The
Fronoh ressvl, however, thanks to the rapid
manmnvres of hoe captain, Lopo- had oct
sail aud departed from Simoda twelve hours
before the arrival Of the Russian ship. The
city of Simoda has been so overlhrown, that
hardly trace Of its streets is distinguish
able.