The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-16

cure property at Masampo, all these
incidents constitute, in our contempor-
ary's opinion, valid evidence that the
great northern power is pushing 1or
another port in southern seas"
AS Masampo lies in a commanding
position between Fusan and Tsushlma,
and as it is of immense importance
from a strategical point of view, Rus
STA is anxious to gain possession OF II
to use it as a naval base connecting
Vladivostock and Port Arthur.
Prior to this Masampo affair, how
ever It was said that difficulties which
might cause war between Russia and
Japan existed and many southerners
living in Port Arthur and Chez Foo
hastily removed to Shanghai for
safety.
The story is now told of almost
breach on an occasion when two Japa-
nese cruisers in the gulf of Pechiil UNI
expectedly appeared before PORT Ar
thur. The Russian signal officers at
the cutter station signaled that the port
was closed to foreign ships OF war.
Disresarding or misunderstanding this
signal however. the two japanese
cruisers steamed straight for the har-
Dor. They were intercepted, however,
by a Russian steam launch, having on
beard an official who warned the Japa-
nese captains that the forts would fire
on their cruisers if the latter were not
Immediately withdrawn.
This advice was taken, it is said by
the Japanese commander, but with
very bad grace.
Full details are contained in Japanese
papers of the Shidzuoka tidal wave
which caused fearful loss Of life and
property October 8. The tidal wave
swept in between the banks of the
river Suzuttawa with almost incredible
rapidity and carried off SO houses with
their inmates, numbering 49, Three
hundred other houses were submerged.
The wave attained a height of about
So feet.
On the same date of the tidal wave
Japan experienced the most severe
typhoon which has visited that country
in many years. Hundreds Of houses in
different parts of Japan were wrecked
and several steamships and dozens of
native craft foundered. But the worst
casualty of all was the blowing from
a bridge of heavily-1aden passenger
train near Utsonomiya, 100 miles from
Toxic, in the Hoki river, which was
swollen by heavy rains. The train
consisted of two locomotives, three
sleeping vans. one first-class coach and
three second-class cars. Fifty peo-
pie are believed to have been drowned.
| Twenty bodies have already been recov-
| cred. A number of surgeons, nurses
| anu dSSlSldHlS, lOStlHei WILL "IeShlliS
| appliances We're sent by special train
| to the scene of the disaster, and the in
| jured passengers have since been taken
| to the government hospital at utsono-
miya. This hurricane was preceded b.
almost Ga hours of continuous rainfall
in the neighborhood of Toxic.
Accounts of the marine disasters come
in from every Japan port. The Japan
csc steamer Toyokowa Maru, loaded
with lumber for the Kure naval port
left Toyohashi for Kure Sept % and
has not since been heard from, although
the cruiser Amaingo searched for her
The steamer Toshiman Maru of the
Hakodate Steamship company rar
aground at Crystal island, Hokoido, and
will probably be total loss.
The French mail steamer Tonkin
lying at her pier, was carried out tC
sea in the big typhoon and narrowly
escaped collision with three big ships.
The master of the German barque Silo
which arrived in Hong Kong on Oct. 8
spoke the American ship Emile Reed
on Sept II in Baka straits with cargo
of lumber for Hong Kong. The master
intended making for Singapore.