Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-08-02
OSAKA BADLY DEVASTATED
Hundreds of Injured Persons Crowd
Into Hospitals.
PROPERTY LOSS IS ENORMOUS
over 10000 Buildings Are Burned
wOrId-FamOus Buddhist Temple
Falls Victim to the
Flames.

OSAKA, Japan, Aug. L-Confusion still
prevails here result of Saturday s
disastrous fire. Thousands of persons are
homeless and hunger is staring many of
them in the face.
A system of relief has been organized
by the municipal authorities, but it is
inadequate to supply all needs. Outside
cities and towns are sending in contribu-
tions to be used in alleviatng the suffer
ings of the homeless and destitute.
The number of casualties has not yet
been determined, but hundreds of injured
persons are crowding the hospitals.
Twenty Thousand BuiIdiDRs Burned.
The latest estimates are that 10000 build
ings we're destroyed, these including banks,
the Stock exchange, the museum, govern
ment edifices and factories. While at
present II is impossible accurately to state
the losses. these are given roughly at
several million yen. II Is reared that some
of the insurance companies will fail as a
result Of the heavy losses they will have
to pay.
The conflagration lasted more than twen-
ty-five hours and today the burned sec
tion presents a deplorable sight The
streets of the city are very narrow and
the houses were mostly of wood construc-
the buildings were easy prey for the
flames, which jumped from one to an
other with great rapidity. Once hope was
almost abandoned that the conflagration
could be arrested The firemen fought
valiantly against the odds of lack Of water
and high wind and many of them fell un-
conscious while working bravely at their
posts. Had not the watersupply been
curtailed by the existing drouth 1t is be-
lieved the fire would have been quenched
without great damage.
During the fire the greatest confusion
prevailed among the spinning girls in the
factory quarter, but fortunately no sert-
Gus loss of life occurred there.
Property Piled in Heaps.
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 ef-
fects, were to be seen fleeing across the
numerous canal bridges and away from the
fire zone
When they had reached places of safety
the burdens were laid down and the able
bodied members of families returned to
the city TO assist in fighting the flames
leaving the old people to guard their ef-
fects from thieves. All day long Saturday
and far into the night the male popula-
tion assisted the firemen and the troops
in quenching the conflagration.
Buddhist Temple Destroyed.
An area OF over four miles square, con-
tanning some of the city's handsomest
structures, including the Buddhist temple,
the largest in the world, was entirely
burned over before the fire was brought
under control.
Many touching sights we're to be seen
during the fire. The women were terror
stricken, and fled hither and thither with
their children, some OF whom were cry
ing piteously for food that could not be
obtained for them.
The emperor is deeply concerned over
the disaster and 1t is believed that he
will make a generous donation to the re-
lief fund, and that his action will be
quickly followed by gifts from charitable
people and institutions.