Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-12-11
THE JAPAN EARTHQUAKE.
EXTRACTS FROM PRIVATE LETTERS or
MISS MARTHA BARROWS.
KOBE. Japan, Nov. 7, 1891.

The first thing to tell you about is the
earthquake. 1t is the great calamity of
years in Japan. We thought the Ban
San eruption of two years ago, and the
kumamoto earthquakes and the floods
were very serious calamities, but they
all pale and sink away to nothing before
this. OF the loss of life and suffering
we have as yet no estimate. We sent
the last home mail on the morning of the
9TH and the earthquake occurred before
the next morning; and as its most des-
tructive points were on the direct line of
railroad to Tolyo the cars were interrupt
ed and the mail turned back, so that |
suppose nothing went from us by that
steamer, but she doubtless carried the
full report of the disaster, which had al
ready been cabled, and | fear you have
been anxious. We were up, but not in
proper attire for going out. | was just
brushing out my gray locks when it
came, first a low murmuring and then
the house began to rock ana wrench and
crcak as though the joints would all be
parted, and the windows shook, and the
crockrry ratified. stood in constcrna-
ton with brush in hand. Miss Dudley
called from the other side of the hall.
"What is this" in Il scared voice. Miss
Howe appeared from her room, and both
made haste down stairs, and by that
time | gathered up my scattered senses
and thought it was time to follow. ] got
to the front door to see Miss Dudley
sitting on her waterproof outside for
tunately it was not in the street, but the
Yard, and Miss Howe frantically draw
ing hers about her. 1T was nearly
through then, and so | did not 90 out
side the door, but stood there for little,
ready to leave if the commissions should
come on again. The shaking lasted per-
haps two or three minutes. There is
nothing which gives one such a feeling
of utter helplessness as to feel the solid
foundations under ones feet giving way.
| was not so much frightened as aston
ished and waiting to see what would
around the house to see what damage
was done, but found nothing serious,
not even in the throwing down of things,
which seemed very strange. Nothing
fell in "A way to be broken, and our chin
neys were not seriously Injured. The
tiles on the roof were somewhat mis-
placed. Some chimneys near us were
thrown down or wrenched out of shape
and down town in the crockery and curo
stores and dispensatories much damage
and loss occurred from throwing down
and breaking. But here in Kobe we
knew comparatively nothing of it. In
OSAKA, 20 miles from here, much more
harm WAS done, and we were shocked
to here that one large mill three stories
high and built of brick with tile roof,
burst out at the sides, letting the heavy
roof down with a crash, and that, with
the machinery, came down over the heads
of many of the work people, who were
were 200 in the building; 30 were killed
outright and many were injured. Much
, more damage was done in Osala than in
Kobe but all this has been almost for
gotten as We have heard the much more
terrible accounts from still further be-
You'd.
Kyoto comes next, but there not so
very much harm was done | think. Be-
You'd there-about l20 miles from here
by railroads., or was, the little town of
Ogali, with 1900 houses. OF these 355G
were leveled to the ground, and 1913 were
afterward burned. The number of killed
and wounded in this place alone is given
at 20l7, and it is said that there are
10000 people there destitute and suffering,
many of them bruised and manned and
burned, without clothing or food or coy
ering. The next city by rail, an hour
beyond, is Gifu, and there the destruc-
ton is equally great. Still an hour be-
You'd is Nagoga, where half the city is
destroyed, though they were spared the
terrible fires. Besides these large places,
there were smaller towns and villages
which are utterly destroyed. We hear
of towns of six and seven and eight
hundred houses where only three or four
are left standing. Great assures were
made and strange. watery, sulphurous
eruptions sent forth, making one think
there must be wonderful things going on
below. 1t is said that one valley settled
400 feet. and bridge considered to be
the strongest in Japan was made impassi-
Bile.
1t is impossible to make any estimate of
the loss of life andsproperty and the pres
ent restitution and suffering. The govern
ment is providing food, and people, both
japanese and foreign, are sending money
and clothing ard bedding constantly,
and yet the supply must come very far
short of the need, and as we get into our
warm beds at night we think of those
who are lying on the ground without
either roof or blankets. Those who have