New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-06
THE EARTHQUAKE IN HONDO
DESCRIPTION OF THE RUIN WROUGHT IN
THE LARGEST ISLAND OF JAPAN
CITIES AND VILLAGES SHAKEN TO PIECES AND
THEN SWEPT AWAY BY FIRE AND WATER
SCENES OF TERROR - PHYSICAL
CHANGES IN THE SURFACE
OF THE ISLAND.


CHANGE: IN THE SURFACE
OF THE ISLAND.
TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The details of the recent terrible earthquake
in JAPAN OF which have had only most unsatisfactory
information by telegraph which had thrown many Jap
resident here into panic OF fear and appreheh
sion have Just now reached am myself a
Japanese and have received minute details OF the great
catastrophe this evening from my brother.
feel bound In duty 10 describe this frghtful calan
ty and heartrendng scene-such was perhaps never
before experienced by any living soul-to this public
and especially for the satisfaction of those whose feel
ing heart and generous humanity stirred up By the first
news are already active raising the relief fund here
If our hearts not made Of stone II Is time TO give
them full scope Of tender exercises. II you still
rmeSber the fearful catastrophe which occurred In
Charleston some years ago and destroyed the whole city
II you recoec the terrible flood which swept off Johns
town in Western Pennsylvania and the collapse OF the
factory building in Park PSlce short time ago, the
dreadful sight OF which chilled the blood OF every be-
holder and thrilled every heart with pity. all these
together are nothing in comparison to the great ealam
ity which visited the thousands and thousands OF fami
lies in Japan.
The first shock occurred at 6 81 a. m. on october
o. and with this single stroke Of the wand of nature
the only possible means of communication were cut on
from all pars with those ruined places b. the deSruc-
lion OF railroads. elcgraphs and the disruption Of the
surface of the ground. The shocks at intervals lasted
four days. and the number OF shocks felt was varied
al places from 100 to go. Among these are counted
four terrific shocks which involved destruction of human
lives and the violent cOnvusiOn OF the earth, ana
thirty powerful shocks. which destroyed houses but
were not strong enough either TO affect human lie or
10 cause any physical change.
The shocks were felt all lIondo, the main island
Of the Japanese Empire, except small portion at
each end of the long island. The centre OF the shocks
was about the centre of Hondo, embracing several
provinces The provinces Of Gifu and Ahch suffered
most frghtully. The number Of the dead so lar re-
ported In the Ahch is 2,351 the injured 2.1ol the
houses destroyed II .49S. In The Gfu the number ut
the dead so far known is 5,117, the injured $685.
houses destroyed, 40,474; houses burned. 4O,o63.
This destructive list would suggest TO You the extent
Of the calamity and disaster The devastation was so
shocking that IT might wiring from tears OF blood
Houses after houses villages after villages and counties
after counties are confused heaps Of ruins and the
densey crowded inhabitants that thrived yesterday
are as literally out Of existence to-day rs II some
mOnstrous chasm In the earth had swallowed them up.
Vast numbers of them are buried under the ruins.
The CONGREGATIONS which broke out after the earthquake
spread with unwontcd fury there being none TO check
the flames which have made the furnace of hell on
earth. Some villages were completely laid in ashes
and the air was tainted with the smell Of the burning
bodies
The cities Of Kasanatsu and Kano are gone out OF
sight and 800 people are reported to be dead. the
odor of the manged bodies under the ruins threatens
an epidemic. Haguiara, town of Gfu lost 100 lives
and every building was thrown TO the ground, leaving
only single bridge unmOlestcd. At Takebana, out Of
300 houses only two three are left standing. The
list OF deaths Is untold. When all mutllated remains
are dug out, which will probably take month, and
correct information from all quarters is received the
death rate will in all probability swell considerably.
From some villages not soul escaped alive. This
appears mOnstrous and incredible; but ii may really
have been So "a they not only assaled by the fall
ing ruins but with fire and water besde-for in places
mountains were shaken that they collapsed, falling
into rverbed, obstrucng and turning the whole cur
rent upon the ruined villages and towns.
The pltiful stories The patlos of which would cxlse
choking in the throat OF every reader, nnumeIabe
Here Is an instance little child crep out from under
ruins crying for help with all the voice she could
muster to Get her parents out of the wreck But before
any help could possibly reach her she surrounded
with fire and was more. In the temples at
Ohgali and Takcbana this fatal day great festival
was be celebrated In honor OF ShlnrTn saint OF the
buddhist calendar. great concouIse OF people was
pouring into these temples from early dawn, ana by
O'Clock they were packed with young and old men
and women The priests had just begun their exer
ces when this terrific destroyer shook down the whole
temples 200 people covered by the ruins. and tho
fire which followed roasted them to death. The place
was soon crowded with frantic and horror stricken
searchers The sight OF the burned remains was dread
full. several victims had either lost heads feet OF
hands, and stiD Others were torn 10 pieces. Some
were burned to the bone and Others still had some flesh
hanging but almost all were burned beyond recOgni-
ton Despair and grief depicted the faces OF
half frenzied searchers who picking up unknown
bones or hanging 10 hafburncd bodies in despair Of
ever finding the remains OF their dear kindreds. In
these wholesale distractions every calamity that Is
known on the face of earth was to be seem
There were many places where the ground opened
and swallowed up human beings alive, and small breaks
of this Kind foot or more In breadth and TO depth
Of fIom three TO fifteen feet, are numerous. Boiling
mud was elected la mighty currents from OF these
breaks or openings and also from wells. which are
numerous IN Japan. a volcano which had long ceased
90 send up volumes OF smoke, stones and mud broke
carving down with II thirty forty houses. Ia the
depth OF $50 feet or even 300 feet one OF the largest
White Mountain which lies in northerly direction
from Gifu 1t measures in length 300 feet or little
lake The Full Mountain, the highest in Japan also
suffered TO degree that is marked from distance.
The northern side OF the slope az it, highest point sank
the depression being about 500 feet In width and in
depth about $50 feet.
which sembled thunder. bn! vsety louder heard
only few seconds before the shock from underneath
ground. When ne stated 10 get out OF the building
The violent shock came he could even stand on
his feet but had to creep on all iour" In order 90
drag himself out.
All binds OF corporations Institutions and private In
dviduss In Japan doing their best TO alleviate the
personally contributed for the relief % 5000 yen and
the Empress is sending all the physicians and nurses
that she can summon. for they In sore need bs.
cause the number OF the injured enormous. The
relief fnd which Is flowing from all quarters amounted
at last accounts s27114 yen Ia Is equivalent 10
about cents and Is already distributed among the
sufferers. But must suppose this is only little
patch on big hole. II is entirely inadequate 10 meet
The emergency and we shall be very grateful those
whose hearts warmed TO practical sympathy by the
fact. L. KAIRIYAMA.
New-York, Nov, 90, 1891.