The Delta independent., 1906-04-13
AN EARTHQUAKE SCARE.
Letter From Japan Relates Inter.
estine Fake" in Tokyo.
FEB. %, 1906, TOKYO.
800 p. NJ.

FEB. 20, lSOo, lOhfo.
800 P. NJ.
My DEAR FRANCES:
Last Friday evening we had
severe earthquake and on Saturday
morning a very severe one. 1t cracked
our new Meiji Lakuin Chapel so badly
that l understand it is in dangerous
condition. In the afternoon l went to
the great" concert arranged by Lady
Mcdonald in aid of local charities and
under the patronage of Prince Arthur
of Connaught as well as the Princesses
Of the Japanese court. had not ex-
pected to go but when Miss Burgess
sent me q three year ticket as a gift l
was delighted. We got excellent seats.
! was with the Kirby's, Mrs. Ross and
Miss Burgess. Half of the program
was completed and it was most salts
factory. Mrs. Lee Lee sang beautiful
ly and DR.. Won koerber, Prof. Jnnker,
and Mr.. Schmidt played piano. violin
and cello trio very beautifully. Wal
lace's violin teacher. Mrs. Tanomogi,
played the violin solo in the orchestral
arrangement Of Handel's Largo and she
played it artistically too. In the orches-
ira were three foreigners who played
with the Japanese -one was Mrs. Fue-
Der. beautiful young American woman
from North Carolina, who went to Ger
many to study and married there and
whose husband is military or naval at
tachee at the German Legation here.
II was her first appearance and she was
TO have played with the orchestra the
piano part Of . Mozart selection in the
later past Of the proGsam and tAe Tires
dances from Hsnry VIII were 70 eIosc
the program. We had n good view Of
Prince Arthur as he led in Princess
Ansugawa. At the intermission all the
court party left the room chatting and
smiling and we thought they had gone
out for refreshments. Then the Lega-
ton people went and we were unmoved.
Later Mrs. Hall and her concert party
moved out and still we sat and COM
mentcd on the music and peoples
gowns. Then at last il dawned on US
that something was up and when Miss
Tucker passed on the word BE quiet
and don't let it be known but get out as
soon as you can for message has come
that there is to be great earthquake
in few minutes. We walked out and
Istopped long enough to whisper the
same news and the same caution to
Bishop Awdry. 1t was wonderful skill
that took that immense audience out of
that upstairs hall by means Of two very
narrow staircases with no excitement
and no accidents. OF course I was
frightened horribly because knew Mr..
Haworth was away at the Y. M. c. A.
attending u welcome meeting given to
the Hon. Wooley, who was once Prohi-
bition candidate for President. knew
the fires would be going and dreaded
that more than the earthquake itself.
We were in a state Of CONSERVATION and
30 was the whole city as telephone mes
sages had been sent to all the schools,
to the Parliament then in session, to
hotels, etc. You can imagine our relief
when newspaper extra came saying il
was all nonsense. The report had gone
out under the name of the chronological
department of the Imperial University,
30 we felt constrained to believe al
though wo knew really it must be i'm
possible to predict earthquakes. lhave
not yet learned who was the originator
of the "big joke" as it is called. We
were surprised and delighted to have
Mr.. and Mrs. Winn walk in about eight
o'clock that evening. They had exper-
fenced the earthquake shock Of the
morning before entering Tokyo Bay.
Dorothea Ayres came hefe to board the
day before as the Pruitts have suddenly
decided to go to America. 1had a time
to arrange beds but Mr.. Ross was ever
so nice and lot tho Winn's have his
room. Dorothea slept with Florence