The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-08-03
Thousands Are Homeless in the
Japanese City.
FAMINE THREATENS.
The Burned Area is -Four Miles
Square, on Which Stood Twenty
Thousand Buildings-The Num-
ber Of Casualties Not Known
But the Hospitals Are Filled.
But the Hospitals Are Filled.

A dispatch from Osoka, Japan,
SAYS confusion still prevails there
as a result of Saturdays disastrous
fire. Thousands of persons are
homeless and hunger is staring many
of them in the fact.
A system of relief has been or
ganized by the municipal authori-
ties, but it is inadequate to supply
all needs. Outside cities and towns
are generously sending in contrlbu-
tions to be used in alleviating the
suffering of the homeless and des-
titute. The number Of casualties
has not yet been determined, but
hundreds of injured persons are
crowding the hospitals.
The latest estimate is that 10000
buildings are destroyed, these includ-
ing banks, the Stock Exchange, the
Museum, Government edifices and
factories. While at present it is i'm
possible accurately to state the loss,
these are given roughly at several
million yen. 1t is feared that some
of the insurance companies will fail
as a result Of the heavy losses they
will have to pay.
The confagration lasted more
than twenty-five hours, and the
burned section presents depioraole
sight. The streets Of the city arc
very narrow, and the houses were
mostly Of wood construction. Un-
der a strong breeze therefore the
buildings were easy prey for the
flames, which jumped from one to
another with great rapidity. Once
hope wais almost abandoned that
the confagration could be arrested.
The fremen fought valently
against the odds Of lack of water
and the high winds, and many OF
them fell unconscious while working
bravely at their posts Had not the
water supply been curtailed by the
existing drought, it is believed the
fire would have been Quenched with
out great damage.
During the first the greatest con-
fusion prevailed among the spinning
girls in the factory quarter, but for
tunately no serious loss of life oc-
CURED there.
The belongings Of the people who
were able to save anything from
their burning homes are piled in
great heaps along the railroad tracks
from Osaka to Kobe, where they
were. removed early Saturday morn
ing when the fire broke out. In
the gray of the dawn Of Saturday
thousands Of persons heavily laden
with household effects were to be
seen fleeing across the numerous
canal bridges and away from the fire
zone. When they had reached plac-
es of safey, the burdens were laid
down and able-bodied members of
families returned to the city to as
sist in fighting the flames, leaving
the old people to guard their ef-
fects from thieves. All day long Sat
urday and far into the night the
people assisted tue firemen and tue
troops in quench:1g the confagra-
ii IN.
An acre of over four miles square,
containing some of the city's hand
soonest structures, including lha
Buddish Temple, the largest in the
world, was entirely burned.
The Stock Exchange, one of the
most important in this country, was
entirely destroyed This loss, it is
Believed, will tend considerably to
dislocate the business of Osaka,
with its manufacturing concerns, is
one of the cheif commercial cities
of Japan.
Many touching sights were to be
seen during the fire. The women
were terror stricken, and fed higher
and thither with their children,
some of whom later cried piteously
for food that could not be obtained
for them.