Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-25

One Of me largest cities IN The Empire destroye-
b<sraoydsnayy experiences Of a Rlssiaa iriyats.
From the North China Herald Extraordinary WI
take the subjoinsd interesting news from japan:
We have been favored from private source
with the following extracts Of letter from An Off
Ger Of the United States steamer Powhstap
"rhe island OF Niphon. In which Simoda is sitn-
ated. was visited, on the Esd Of December, By a
seters earthquake, which was most disastrous Ia
ts effects. The city Of 0hosaca, one OF the largest
in the empire, was completely laid waste. Jeddo
itself suffered considerably, but has since suffered
more seriously from the effects of an extensive
confagration. The town Of Simoda, on our arrival,
presented complete scene Of desolation and ruin
After the shock Of the earthquake, the sea COM
menced bubbliag up as ID were along the shore,
ana then receded with great rspidty and as soon
returned with such increased volume as to food
the whole town 70 the depth of six or seven feet,
sweeping away houses, bridges, and temples, and
pilng them up In mass of ruin
Five times during the day did the sea advance
ana recede IN this manner, spreading desolation far
and wide. The largest junks in the harbor were
driven from one totwo milesabove high water mark
where We saw them lying high and dry. About
200 OF the poor inhabitants lost their lives by the
overflow, the remainder saving themselves by fee
ing TO the mountains with which the town Ia sur
rounded.
The Russian frigate Diana, having Vice ADM
raj Pontiatine board was 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
convulsed to such degree in eddes aud whirl-
pools that In the space OF thirty minutes she swung
entirely round forty three times twisting her chains
up into knots; 30 rapid was the motion that the
people on board could not keep their feet, and all
were made giddy. When the sea reccded Il left
the fIigate In eight feet water on her side, when
her usual draft was over twenty-one feet. On its
return, 1t is stated, the water rose FIVE fathoms
above Its ordinary level.
Son its again receding, four feet only of water
remained, 80 that they saw the stocks Of their
anchor above the water. The heaying Of the bot
tom of the bay was then 20 violent that the ffig-
ate-although, as said, in only four feet Of
WATERWAYS moved bodily past her anchor The
officers momentariy expected that the bay would
become the outlet Of the subterranean fires, and
that they would become engulphed in 1t. When
the frgate again foated they saw her keel and
rudder, which had been wrcnched of, floating
along side, and the ship filling with water. BY
getting sails under her they managed to get her
afoat and the next day, things having become
quiet once more, they hauled her into deeper
water. Occasionally shocks Of earthquake still
continue to be felt, but none were attended with
serious consequences.
" After repairing damages as well as they could,
and having rugged temporary rudder, and the
weather becoming fine, they attempted to take the
ship round to another bay, where she would be
less exposed, and they would complete repairs,
lSimoda being badly adapted for such a purpose y
but when within seven miles Of their harbor, gale
sprung up--the hundred Japanese boats that were
towing them abandoned them, (not however, till
they had got out all the officers and crew, and
shortly after the gallant ship sunk in deep water,
the officers and men saving only the clothes they
stood in. Notwithstanding all their misfortunes
and the dangers through which they had passed,
they only lost one man, and be was accidentally
killed by heing jammed by one of the guns which
had gone adrift.n