River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-05-20
TOkiO's Great Fire.

The Japan Gazette gives the following
account of the destructive lire which
occurred on the 9th of December, and
by which over 260 persons lost their
lives. The fire broke out in the CEN
trail part of the city close to Nihonbashi.
1t was Blowing gale ct the time, and
within thirty minutes of the outbreak,
the city was on fire in seven different
places burning shingles were flying
about as thick as hail, and were car
ried long distances by the wind settling
on other houses, setting fire to them.
The scene is said to have been terrible.
Strong men were running about in a
state of bewilderment, with old men,
old women and children on their backs
mothers dragging their little Cnes, bent
only on saving their lives. All day the
fire ragged with utmost fury. The whole
of the buildings on the Island of
Iskikawa, at the mouth of the Sumida
river, including the dock yard and
prison, were burned. So rapidly did
the flames travel that it was with diff
fculty the streets were cleared of the
people before the houses ignlted, and
in SO many places was the fire raging
that they knew not which way TO turn.
Anxious to save futons and wearing
apparel, the poor creatures sailed forth
| from their homes with bundles on their
shoulders to fly they knew not whittier.
The streets became blockaded with the
surging masses; women and children
were trampled under foot; many who
fell in the crowd never rose again; the
little children we're seen looking fer
their parents, parents looking for their
children, while the air was rent with
cries of rage, anguish and despair. Still
they cling to the few worldly posses
sions they had succeeded in bringing
from their burning homes, thereby al
most completely blocking up the
narrow streets through which the
masses were threading their way. at
length the police interfered and caused
numbers to throw their bundles into
the river or anywhere else out of the
way, so as to facilitate the escape of
the people from the frightful death
which threatened them, and was gain
ing on them fast. The native papers
say that the 6S streets containing H.
664 houses, we're burned, rendering
over 10000 persons homeless. A re-
lief fund was started toward which their
majesties, the Emperor and Empress
subscribed 9. 900 yen each. Long be-
fore the fire reached the foreign settle
ment Tsukiji, the residents ielt anxious
and began to pack up. Bat this APP
pears to have been an almost needless
task; for when the fire did reach them,
there was no one to be found to con-
vey their goods and chattels away.
Everything had been got ready for
flight, but had to be left in the house,
as no coolies were to be found willing to
undertake the task of removing even
the boxes of clothing. The American
legation was in imminent danger for
some time, and Mr.. Clautaud's hotel
ignlted several times but each time
the flames were succ sssfully suppressed.
The residence of Bishop Williams Of
the American Episcopal Mission was
burned. 1t was the property of the
Bishop, and was uninsured; personal
effects saved. The Methodist Episcopal
Church, partly uninsured was consum-
cd