Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-08-04
JApAN's TIDAL WAVE.
CAUSES OF THE TERRIBLE CALAMITY IN
Tue FAR EAST.

Enough details OF the terrible disaster
in Japan have been received to give an
approximately accurate idea Of its ex-
tent and causes. The tragedy occurred
on the evening of June 10, while the peo-
Pile were still celebrating "'rhe Boys
Festival" one Of their time-honored fete
days. In n few minutes wave twenty
to forty feet In height, resulting from a
submarine earthquake, swept over about
two hundred miles of the northeast coast
OF Hondo, the largest island OF the Jap
anese archipelago, destroying all the
towns and hamlets, and drowning or
crushing TO death over 10000 persons.
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 SYM
metricsl curve like bent bow. The
part Of the wave that struck this portion
OF the coast apparently 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. No effects have been
reported from any other shores, though
IL will not be surprising IL they were at
least observable on the northwestern
coasts OF South America.
The evidence indicates uumistakably
the causes that produced this great
calamity. III we pour water into tin
dish and then strike the bottom OF the
dish sharp blow we shall see the water
rise above the point Of impact and roll
away In circular wave. IL seems clear
that an exactly similar movement Of
sudden impulse communicated 10 the
water at the bottom of the sea east of
the coast Of Japan was the primal cause
Of this overwhelming wave. Some time
before the arrival OF the wave earth
quake shocks were felt along the coast.
IL IL more than probable that these
shocks, originating under the tract Of the
sea door, caused the great disturbance
Of the sea. The mighty subterranean
impulse, communicated to the surround
ing rocks, would reach the coast some
time before the arrival of the sea wave,
for an earth wave travels iAr more
rapidly than wave of the ocean. II
was found that the great earth wave,
originating little west OF Charleston,
and which was felt In our streets little
later, travelled AZ the rate Of about Il ON
feet second.
Other eastern coasts OF Japan did not
share In the great calamity, though
doubtless some of them were just rs near
the epi-ccutral tract, or place OF origin
Of the disturbance, because, fortunately,
they do not so completely all the condi'
lions that rendered possible the piling
up of the mountainous wave. The con-
yex shore that was devastated 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 coasts 10 the PERCEPTION
| ruscarora depths where, until last year,
the deepest ocean soundings had been
made. Lines of soundings show that
the submarine slope from this convex
shore line To deep water l. far sleeper
than along the more southerly coast,
! Now. where this wave was formed, IL
may have been miles In width, but Il
was not high. This has been 80 in other
instances, aud there Is direct proof In
this case, for fishermen few miles from
the shore, under whose boats the wave
certainly passed, observed nothing un'
usual. An enormous mass Of water
was lifted by a mighty impulse two OF
three feet above the general level, and
the wave movement thus induced spread
rapidly from the centre, but without In
crease In height, until il encountered q
stecply sloping bottom. But upon en-
tering this rapidly shoaliug water near
the land the wave was crowded into less
space, piled up, and grew constantly
higher until II dashed upon the shore a
towering aud irresistible mass.
Similar waves have been known 10
rise rs high as 200 feet, and submarine
earthquake waves that are believed q
have crossed the Pacific, meeting just
such conditions on the western coasts oi
South America, have inflicted enormous
damage. IL Is probable that along the
more southcrly coasts Of Japan there
were two or three waves OF more than
ordinary height, but the more gently
sloping sea bottom gave opportunity Il
retard the onward rush OF the water
mass, and no damage was done.-Nc~
York sun.