Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-05-13

burned down IN TOXIC In on
week and in the next week Is, 900 house,
were destroyed in that city, while Sil
Rutherford Alcock states that Toxic
loses as many houses as constitute the
entire city every ten years. The houses,
with the exception of the tiles on the
roof, arc constructed entirely of wood
and the windows are formed of fine and
often beautiful lattice work, covered
with paper.
Some buildings in Japan are thatchcd,
while the roofs of others arc formed of
little slate-likc fakes OF wood; but these
so readily take fire il sparks fall upon
them that the japanese prefer taking the
risk of injury from falling tiles during
the earthquake to being in even greater
danger from fires than they necessarily
must always even now be. II is strange
that in these days, when so many Young
natives have come to Europe TO study the
sciences, that their acquired knowledge
of chemistry has not caused them to
adopt some means of rendering the wood
Of which their houses are constructed.
and even the paper of the windows, ia.
combustiblc.
They have, however, in the large
towns most efficient fire brigades, and
have even the newest aud best fire
engines OF European or American make,
but these are of much less use than
might be imagined, for the supply of
water is limited, and the engine without
water is mere mockery. Over every
house door is placed a sign indicating
that there is one well on the premises, or
one sees two or more of thess
signs, indicating that two or more wells
will be found in that building, and thus
the firemen know the sources of their
water supply, and from these wells alone
can water be had.
The scarcity of water renders it nece,-
sary that all buildings surrounding auy
that may have taken fire be pulled down.
so that the burning mass be isolated.
Tor there is no hopes Of preventing the
spreading of the conaagratlon By the
water from the engines; and it is this
necessity which causes the freman's
drill in Japan to appear so strange and
grotesquc to the European. Each fire.
nan is furnished with a sort of hook. in.
tended for use IN pulling down the
houses, but the question arises as to
where the man is to stand while engaged
N his work Of destruction. A ladder is
held upright by number OF men, who
hold it firmly fixed by these hooks; and
Z is NJ ladder thus held that the fire.
men go to pull down the houses which
ire to be destroyed in case of a fire.
The chief exercises of the men consist
n ascending the ladder, and leaning out
rom it in horizontal manner, using
he hook while holding on by the feet,
md in all sorts of acrobatic feats which
eem calculated to AID them in their
work. Sometimes man ascends the
ADDER ard stands in an inverted position
IA the top round. At other times he
'rasps one side Of the ladder with his
lands and throws his body out horizon
ally, so that he may have free use of his
eet-and it must be remembered that
he Japs can do much more with their
eet than we can with ours but the chief
xercise consists in holding by the feet
nd using the hook with the hands.
The hremen are arranged iu corps,
acn OF which is headed by the bearer of
large lantern in the form OF some curl.
us distinctive device, from which cut
apers "a religious emblem) depend, and
ne may see corps slowly aud solemnly
larchiug to fire with this insignia,
lst as though it were taking part in
lncral procession instead of hurrying, as
ecomes those concerned in subduing
nat fearful element, fire.
The city of Toxic covers au area of
bout twenty-eight square miles, and in
oint of extent is, after London, the
argest city in the world. The popula-
on is placed at between 90O,0OO and
100000.
The Gina or main business street of
okio, starting from the bridge opposite
le station, goes straight to Nihombashi,
lie northern end of the Tokaldo, and
'e recognized centre of the city, from
hich all distances are measured. Most
the roadway is lined with conven-
onal houses of foreign pattern, with
Ieir curbstones and shade trees, while
10 trolling tramcar and the rattling I
'sha, or light omnibus, emphasize the =
coDgruities OF the scene.
The whole business portion OF the city .
studded with clay freproof storehouses,
to which all the chief valuables are
Istily thrust Immediately upon the
eaking out Of a fire in tho neighbor- :
'od. The massive iron doors and !,
utters Of these fireproot "dova" are,
soon as the interior is filed, cemented i.
tight. Lighted candles having been :,
aced inside before the closing OF the o
It door in order to exhaust the infama-
, oxygen Of the enclosed air, the struc-
- .....~ L. - -. 10 $1,000