The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-08-13

II disaster In Japan have now
been received to give an APP
proximately accurate idea OF
its extent and causes. The tragedy
occurred on the evening of jane Is,
while tho people we're still celebrating
'The Boys Festival" one OF their
time honored fete days. In q few
minutes wave twenty to forty feet
in height, resulting from submarine
earthquake, swept over about two
hundred miles OF the northeast coast
OF Hondo, the largest island OF the
Japanese archipelago. destroying all
the towns and hamlets, and drowning
or crushing to death over 80 per-
sons. The scene of the disaster may
be easily recognized on the map, from
the fact that the devastated coast line
swells out into the eastern ocean in
long, symmetrical curve, like q bens
bow. The part of the wave that
struck the portion Of the coast appar-
emily swept little east OF north in its
journey from the place Of origin, and
il barely touched promontory of the
more northerly island OF Jesse.
The evidence indicates unmistakably
the causes that produced this great
calamity. II We pour water into tin
dish and then strike the bottom OF the
dish sharp upward blow we shall see
the water rise above the point of i'm
pact and roll away in circular wave.
Some time before the arrival of tho
wave earthquake shocks were felt
along the coast. II is more than
probably that these shocks, originat-
ing under n track OF the sea floor,
caused the great disturbance of the
sea. The mighty subterranean inn
pulse, communicated to the surround
ing rocks, would reach the coast some
time before the arrival OF the sea
wave, for an earth wave travels far
more rapidly than wave of tie ocean.
It was found that the great earth
wave, originating little west CT
Charleston, and which was felt N our
streets little later, travelled at the
rate Of about II, 900 feet second.
Other eastern coasts of japan did
not share in the great calamity, though
| doubtless some of them we're Just as
near the epicentral tract, OF place of
origin of the disturbance, because,
fortunately, they do not so completely
fill the conditions that rendered posi-
BILE the piling up % the mountainous
wave. The convex shore that was de-
vastated pushes out far toward the
edge of the submarine plateau on
which Japan rests. The shore line is
much nearer than any other part of
Japan's coast to the precipitous Tus-
carora depths where, until last year,
| the DEEPEST ocean soundings bad beer
made. Lines OF soundings show that
the submarine slope from this convex
shore line to deep water is far sleeper
than among the more southerly coast.
Now, where this wave was formed il
may have been miles in width, but it
was not high. This has been so in
other instances, aud there is direct
proof in this case, for fishermen n few
miles from the shore, under whose
boats the waves certainly passed, OBJ.
eerved nothing unusual. An enormous
mass of water was lifted by mighty
impulse two or three feet above the
general level, and the wave movement
thus induced spread rapidly from the
centre, but without increase IN height,
until it encountered steeply sloping
bottom. But upon entering this rapid
ly shoaling water near the land the
wave was crowded into less space,
piled up and grew constantly higher
until it dashed upon the shore tower
| ing and irresistible mass.
Similar waves have been known to
rise as high as 200 feet, and submarine
ear .hquake waves that are believed to
have crossed the Pacific, meeting just
such conditions on the western coast
of South Africa, have inflicted enor'
nous damage. 1t is probable that
along the more southerly coasts oi
Japan there were two or three wave:
of more than ordinary height. but the
more gently sloping sea bottom gave
opportunity to retard the onward rush
OF the water mass, and no damage was
| done. New York Sun.