The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1896-09-17

pletely wrecked and the whole seems
presented the most ghastly and heart
rending aspect, impossible to describe.
1t is reported that the wave was as
high as eighty feet, and that, though
moro or less variation occurred ac
cording to locality, the devastation
and damage inflicted by the wave were
most serious in places facing the
southwest. Strange to say, fishermen
plying their trade about five miles off
the coast noticed merely slight swell
and had no suspicion of the occur
renee Of such catastrophe. As soon
as reports of the calamity were re-
ceived steps were at once taken to eX-
tend succOr to the sufferers.
The local Chief of Police was direct
ed to visit the scene of the disaster,
the Secretary of the Prefecture was
| dispatched to Higashi Hei, the Coun
cilor to Kisen and Minanmi Hei and
| the Chief Tax Collector to Kunohe.
At the same time thirty-three clerks
land police inspectors, together with
| ll3 police constables and 45O coolies,
were sent to various afflicted districts,
| to succor the survivors, to dispose Of
the remains of the killed and to re-
store order. Neighboring towns and
villages that escaped unhurt offered
the services of their fire brlgades and
coolies, and the number of working
lngmen available altogether amounted
to above 1000. The disaster having
proved fatal to many medical prac-
titloners living along the coast, and
the survivors having lost their supply
of drugs and instruments, the greatest
difficulty was experienced in extend
ing efficient aid to the sufferers. A
large quantity of carbolic acid, ban
dages and such things was quickly
sent, and at the same time fifteen doc
tors and fifteen nurses were expressly
| engaged and dispatched to the scene
of disaster. Even this proved insult
ficient, IN consequence of the multi
tude OF sufferers. but how to meet the
urgent need of the moment was g per-
| picking problem, the number of Haedi-
cal practitioners in this prefecture
being from the first comparatively
small. At this juncture twelve sur
geons from the Second Military Di-
vision and seven doctors, two phar-
maceutists and twenty-eight nurses
from the Red Gross Society arrived,
and were forwarded to one or other of
the afflicted districts, But the ambu-
lance staff still proved inadequate, and
on the arrival of a party of troops
belonging to the Sendai En-
gineering Corps one surgeon from
the same division and five physi-
clans and one nurse from the Fuku-
shlma branch of the Red Cross Soci-
ETY., the detachment from the Sendai
barracks was hurried forward to Mi
yako, and the physicians from Fuku-
shima were dist1ibutedt to other places.
In addition to the above number of
medical men have been requisitioned
from towns and villages adjoining the
afflicted districts, and drugs, instru-
ments and other matters needed In
surgical operations are being for
warded to places where they are
wanted. Further, in order to give
prompt relief to survivors suffering
from starvation, more than 1000 koko
of rice have been sent with all speed
to the scene of the disaster.
According to the latest official re-
ports the casualties to life and prop
erty in the afflicted districts, including
Hokkaido, stand as follows:
| Houses