The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-08-02
THOUSANDS FACE HUNGER ON
ACCOUNT OF DISASTROUS
-eAAEl ElAGnAElnA
INJURED CROWD OSAKA
Damage Done by Calamity Of Satur-
day Is Estimated a. Several Mil
lion Yen and Insurance Companies
May Fail-Property Is Piled Up
Along Railroad Tracks.

Osaka, Japan, Aug. i.-Confusion
still prevails here as a result Of Sat
urday's disastrous fire. Thousands of
persons are homeless and facing hun
ger. A system of relief has been or
ganized by the municipal authorities.
but it is Inadequate to supply all
needs. outside cities and towns arc
generously sending in contributions u
be used in aIleviating sufferings of
the homeless and destitute.
The number of casualties has not yet
been determined. but hundreds of in
jured are crowding this place. The
latest estimates are that 10000 build
ings were destroyed. these including
banks, stock exchange, museum. gov
ernment edifices and factories. While
at present 1t Is impossible to state the
losses accurately. these are given
roughly as several million yen. 1t is
feared that some insurance companies
will fail as a result of heavy losses
they will have to pay.
Lasted Long.
The conflagration lasted more than
% hours. In the burned section the
streets are narrow and houses were
mostly of wood. Under a strong breeze,
therefore, the buildings We're easy
prey for the flames, which jumped
from one to another with great ra-
pidity. Once hope was almost aban-
doned that the conflagratian could be
arrested. The firemen fought valiantly
against the odds of lack of water and
high wind and many fell unconscious
while working. Had not the water
supply been curtailed by the existing
drought. it is believed the fire would
have been quenched without great
dame.
The greatest confusion prevailed
among working girls In the factory
quarter, but no serious loss of life re-
suited.
Property Along Tracks.
Property of people who were able
to save anything from their burning
homes is piled In great heaps along
the railroad tracks from Osaka to
Kobe, where 1t was removed early
Saturday morning. At dawn Sunday
thousands of persons heavily laden
with household effects fled across the
numerous canal bridges and away
reached safety the burdens were laid
down and able-bodied members of
families returned to the city to assist
in fighting the flames. leaving the
old people - guard their effects. All
Saturday and far into the night the
population assisted the firemen and
the troops in fighting the conflagra-
ton.
An area more than four miles square
containing some of the citys hand
soonest structures. including the
Buddhist temple. the largest in the
world. was entirely burned over he
fore the fire was brought under cur-
troll. The stock exchange, one of the
most important in this country, was
entirely destroyed This loss, it Is
believed, will tend greatly To cripple
the business of Osaka. which. with its
manufacturing concerns. is one of the
chief commercial cities of Japan.
Women were terror stricken by the
fire and fled hither and thither with
their children. some of whom Were
crying for food that could not be OBJ
tanned for them.
The emperor is deeply concerned
over the disaster and 1t is believed
that he will make generous donation
to the relief fund and that his action
will be Immediately followed by gifts
from charitable people and institu-
tions.