The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-09-09
MARCUS
MAY HAVE
BLOWN Up
But2OOMilesFrom
the Island That
Did.

by volcanic upheaval? Torijima,
where the eruption came which killed
all the inhabitants. is In the same
chain of volcanic rocks, two hundred
miles distant. Speaking Of the matter
the Japan Times says: In the mean
time we understand that the Govern
ment has ordered warship to proceed
at once to Torijima on its way to Mi
nami Torijima Marcus Island) Some
fears are felt for the safety of the lat
ter island but as il is said to be stu
ated about two hundred miles to the
south of the former there is a greater
ground for hope that all is well there.
In the absence of any telegraphic con-
nections with these islands, the earliest
information we may obtain about them
will be on the return of the warship
now to be despatched, so the next six
or seven days will be spent in the deep
est anxiety by the nation. We may
suggest, however, that in the meantime
a volunteer rescue expedition might be
fitted out and sent to the islands in
dependent of the Takachihos mission.
The seriousness of the occurrence fully
justifies, nay we think, necessitates this
practical form of expressing our heart
felt concern for the fate OF our fellow
countrymen on these far off islands. If
the expedition on reaching it's destina-
ton finds that it is not required moth
ing will be more fortunate"
Nothing was heard from Captain
Rosehill by the last Oriental mail.
Following is the Japan Times ac-
count of the eruption:
AN ISLAND DESTROYED
TOKYO. August 23-Mr Seijo Kawa-
mura. Captain of the n. Y. *. IS steam
er Hyogo Maru, which arrived at Yoko-
hama on the 18th inst. from a trip to
the Bonin Islands, brought home the
following wonderful account of a sub
marine eruption which he saw in actual
operation near Torijima Island. one of
the Bonin group. The Hyogo Maru
left BONN Islands on the 18th for
Torijima. an island situated at 80 deg.
% min. 26 sec. N and 140 deg. IA min.
20 deg. T., with about so inhabitants
according to some. the actual number
of souls living there is about 169). At
6:3S a. m. on the 10th. she passed by
the Takenokoiwa. an isolated rock in
mid-ocean, and it was at on the same
morning that the captain saw the erup-
ton of submarine volcano near Tori
jima, occasionally vomiting huge
volumes of smoke. The steamer eau
tiously approached the island, taking
soundings all the time and giving
signal whistles announcing her arrival
to the islanders. There was, however,
no response on their part. Judging
from the smoke which covered the sum-
init of the island at the time and the
immense quantity of lava heaped up
on the entire coast line. and also from
the fact that some parts of the shore
had greatly changed in shape, II was
not difficult to concluue that another
fearful eruption had previously taken
place on the island burying the entire
population under the heap of ashes.
The steamer left the island on the same
day at noon and arrived at Yokohama
on the morning of the 18th calling on
her way at Hachijo Island. The cap
tain gives the following further partic-
ulars as to the eruption:--l. The big
gest crater on Torijima is supposed to
be i'm the centre of the island not far
from the place where the inhabitants
had their dwellings. There are also n
few more craters on the island actually
emitting smoke and lava. 2. The cap
tain believes that all the inhabitants
must have perished by this sad disas-
ter, as almost the entire island is COW
cred with ashes. 3. The position of the
submarine volcanic eruption is 30 deg.
q min. 3S sec n. and 140 deg 10 min
q sec. L, in the direction S. Il. 5. OF
the Torijima. Gmperial Chart No. 1873
referred). 4. He observed that the
greatest height attained by the sub
marine eruption was about $50 feet
above sea level, covering an area of
about 1000 feet, ana with violent erup-
tions at intervals of 10 or 20 minutes.
and many smaller ones at shorter in
tervals (seen however from "A distance
or 80 miles,. .. The water for about
25 miles south of Torijima was con-
siderably discolored.
AS regards the total number of the
inhabitants of Torijima who are sup
posed to have fallen victims to the ter
rible eruption which seems to have
taken place there between the 18th and
the 18th of August, the exact number,
so far known, is said to be l20, includ-
ing Mr.. Takenosuke Ohashi, the repre-
sentative of Mr.. Hanemou Tamaki of
Tokyo, the lessee of the island, who is
reported to be now engaged in another
enterprise for the cultivation of sugar
cane in one of the Loochoo Islands
the inhabitants were all laborers COM
ing chiefly from Hachijo Island and
We're employed in picking up albatross
feathers and collecting guano.
For the investigation of the disaster,
the Minister of Navy is reported to
nave given an order to Captain Kali
kawa OF the cruiser Takachiho to call
at ToriJima on her way for Marcus
Island for the purpose of bringing home
Lieut.. Aklmoto and 10 marines. Mr..
Suzuki a councillor of the Tokyo Local
once and an expert of the Home
AHairs Department as well as two pro-
iessors OF the College of Science of the
imperial Tokyo University, it is also
reported, went by the Takachiho to the
scene of the disaster.
Torijima Island is located at 30 deg.
~ min. rs sec N. and l4O deg. IA min.