The San Francisco call., 1897-08-22

The accompanying drawing perhaps, the first picture
published the greatest holoausts in history
namely the burning the harbor OF
Yokohama August a. 1872 just quarter OF century ago
Tuesday.
able heretofore to tell Just what 1t
course kodaks in existence in those
days officers the washps not able to do any
thing toward making picture OF the awiu scene u' ~
photograph made of the ship when the con-
height 1t done by japanese named
Ranjo and as IL happened, splendid negative
Photographic print of this negative is in the possession OF
E. Weiss keeper OF the Goat Island shihouse ana
through his that it is reproduced here AT the te
great fire Weiss man-o-warsman IN the
navy happened that his ship was on duty
on the He to the horror
that shocked civilized world and did his part toward
THAT fire was the most sight saw" said Mr.
Weiss when telling experiences "and hope will never
see another like it, Sometimes l wake up night after
dreaming although twenty-five Is more than half
of my life, and it is that long since it happened
when think oft though, Mr. Weiss continued, after
reminiscent pause sit happened yesterday
ecoect every little incident perfectly But why shouldn't l?
1t horrible enough to be impressed on ones memory of
thousand years
day awful hot one for that part of
world and everybody board vessel was lying around
gaspng Although the had up 1t was
very large and did shed much light The night was
imply perfect of the bay like glass We
could look and ships all nations rejected on the
surface with their lights flashing like stars Like alother
terrible things nobody had idea that 1t was going 10 take
place. all taking much-needed rest after hard
days work, and looked forward long night ofrest
Suddenly there flash and blue light lit up the
scene moment later sailed heavenward, fol-
lowed by clang fire bell We all knew in moment
where irom thought of sleep went of the
head of every man 1 said, it hot the
crew deck crowded around the bulwaIk
anxiously waiting what would turn up.
At first nothing but the dim outline of the
steamer the blue light burning her deck We
thought Then there puff of smoke
that gradually disappeared so that
still in doubt o the real state of affairs.
did last long Almost before could realize
from the after cabin and then almost smu
glare from the forward
This spread like lightning and before captain could
his mind what to be done the whole steamer
W in flames.
'Order quick enough than
tell small boats from all the warshps lying
speeding tie the burning ship.
by this time the America in flames from stem to
and got enough the sights that
blood cold this day. Ladders had been thrown
sides and these hundreds of people cngng
majority Chinese and their cries groan
simply awful Flames had the decks the
OF the vessel like furnace. Only those
ho had enough
headway And all of these
owing the fear confusion by the alarm
THE that in reached the vessel if
sooner of the others and picked load
them and then started back. The horrors
had increased.
seems that as soon as some of the other boats got near
enough frightened all stuff
of them by beating her bottom They
Jumped several of whom
Then of the ladders which about hundred
ople crowded broke burned at the and
allowed whole crowd fall into the water. number
picked but the majority met watery and
bodies recovered
There number of people the vessel who might
saved if they would jumped overboarG
they wopdn They simply along the sides OF the
and screamed in the fire burned their clothing
They asked be saved but afraid risk
themselves Naturally they allowed per-
ish although of made desperate attempts
them One brave fellow managed to reach man who
the flames and carried him the
low As happened though, he badly
died shortly atterward.