The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-30
JAPAN SORELY STRICKEN,
EARTHQUAKES AND TIDAL W1vE,
DO GREAT DAMAGE.

About 400 Persons KILLED ana a. 600 nuu,-
inE- swept Away-wave AFTER wave sv.n,
ZIP tho RIVer--The water Reached ,,n.
Itoors-Morc Than 100 Miners DroN,c,
TACOMA, Wash, Aug. 29.-Japan suffered
great disaster on Aug. 5 and q, when a sever,
earthquake was followed by a tidal wave which
raised rivers flowing to tho sea fifteen to thirty
feet above their usual height, causing crea,
destruction TO property and much loss Of lie,
From the reports received at Yokohama IN IA
Aug. 10 II was known that over 200 people had
been killed or fatally injured. About 8,ooo
buildings in towns near the soacoast had been
flooded and fully o~ne.tenth that number swcps
away. The latest reports are that the loss Of
life and damage will undoubtedly be greater
than at first reported.
News Of the disaster was received here mt,
afternoon by the Northern Pacific steamer Co
lumbia, which arrived at 1 o'clock on her maiden
voyage, having left Yokohama on Aug. IL. Tho
first earthquake of Aug. 3 was one of the longest
In duration ever experienced in Japan. Starting
at 9;lo A. NJ. at Yokohama. the quaking con.
tinuing seven minutes and hfty.seconds, the Vt.
brations being from cast to west. Four minor
shocks were felt between that time and noon.
Telegraphio reports were published from
thirty places throughout Japan at most OF
which strong shocks wero felt AT Kofu sixteen
distinct shocks were folt.
Throughout Japan the heat was intense, the
length of the shock greatly alarmed people, and
everywhere they rushed into the streets.
In less than an hour O tidal wave was
felt along the coast. A report from Rlk.
zen province says that a severe earth.
quake occurred at 9:15 A. NJ, followed an
9:55 A. NJ. by high waves, which came
rolling shoreward and flooded between fifteen
and twenty fishing villages. The loss OF life
la<A .-aa .lt-h -. ~ H. -
their boats.
For two days after the tides continued. The
Governor Of Myagi prefecture telegraphed on
Aug. @ that 125 houses were inundated at Oak.
atsmuta. The Governor of Siigata prefecture
made this report:
Heavy rains and tidal waves have caused
Arakawa River to rise over twenty feet al
Naiyctsu. Fifteen hundred houses have been
inundated and thirty people killed or injured.
Six hundred people were drawn out OF the
flood with boats. Twenty boats have been
swept away and serious damage done TO the
railroad. The service OF trains is suspended.
AT Takata 1000 houses have been in.
undated, more than fifty being washed away or
wrecked. Along the Karigata Gawa Eve houses
have been swept away. five wrecked. and more
than 400 inundated. Along the Shinanot Gawa
moro than 200 houses have been inundated.
Several embankments have also been broken
The districts along the Omono River are
flooded. and one.quarter OF Omagari is under
water to 4 depth OF fifteen feet. In the town
Of Okita the water rose twelve feet.
and the southern part OF the town ia
entirely flooded. In the Sakata district all the
bridges are swept away and the crops have SUI
fercd great damage. Entertainments along the
Omono River were washed out for miles.
\ telegram from Sandal. north OF Toxic, dated
Aug. 6: says that over 100 min, RS in the Hosoku
coal mines were drowned owing 10 the inflow OF
water. No further details have been received
bo "A, A .Nsts 500 houses W We're flooded. fourteen
ana scores OF others were foo led.
on the beach at okachi, and 100 houses further
ported to have been injured. At Naoyedzu the
post and telegraph offices. police and railway
stations were Hooded on the evening of Aug. ).
Next tay one-third of the town was under wa
ter. Numerous persons and animals had been
drowned. but there is no way of telling how
Eight officials of the Hokuyetsu Railroad
BY tie on.rushins waters. The steamr. Tniwss
al q them. Two bridges and fifteen boats were
About half OF these boats had persons aboard
who were supposed to have drowned. Tele-
grams from other towns report similar losses.
Teiegrams from Fukushima prefecture say
that four severe shocks of earthquake were feit
were broken down or damaged. The districts Of
Mito. Ncyako and lshinonaki were visited by
Late in July the Orient was visited by Garth.
ouakes which were felt in China. Japan. and
Tibet Mr.. Hohson: British Commissioner OF
Customs at Satang. Tibet, writes TO the North
CHING Daily -Ners. published at Shanghai. that
terrific EARTHQUAKES was felt there in July. They
shook the earth for miles around. and build
ings were generally damaged. The same news
paper reports that IunE Ting River above
Ttcntstn overlooked its banks in July and caused
much damage.
.Sixty-hve villages belonging 10 the district, Of
WutsinG and Tientsin were inundated and all
prospects OF securing the ripening crops we're
destroyed.