The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-02
More Than 10000 Buildings h Heart of Cig Are
 Destroyed
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
 HOMELESS AND HUNGRY
Banks, Stock Exchange, Museum, Gov ernment Offices, Factories and Buddhist Temple Are Among
 Buildings Destroyed.

Osaka, Japan, August 1.-Gonfusion still prevails here as a result of Saturdays disastrous fire. Thousands of persons are homeless and hunger is staring many of them in the face.
 A system of relief has been ordered by the municipal authorities. but it is inadequate to supply all needs Outside cities and towns are generously sending in contributions to be used in allevlat- ing the sufferlngs of the homeless and destitute.
 The number of casualties has not yet been determined but hundreds of injured persons are crowding the hospitals.
 The latest estimate is that 10000 build ings are destroyed. these including banks, the stock exchange, the museum. govern ment edifices and factories. While at present 1t Is impossible accurately to state the losses these are given roughly at several million yen. It is feared that some of the insurance companies will fail as a result of the heavy losses
 The connagration lasted more than 25 hours and today the burned section pre- sents a deplorable sight
 Streets Are Narrow.
 The streets of the city are very mar row and the houses were mostly of wood construction. Under strong breeze, therefore, the buildings were easy prey for the flames. which jumped to one an- other with great rapidty. Once hope was almost abandoned that the confagra- tion could be arrested
 The firemen fought valiantly against the odds of lack of water and the high wind and many of them fell unconscious while working bravely at their posts Hao not the water supply been ourtailed by the lasting drouth it is believed the fire would have been quenched without great ] damage
 During the fire in the afternoon panic prevailed among the spinning girls in the factory quarter but fortunately no serious loss of life occurred 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 Satur- day morning when the fire broke out. In the gray of the dawn of Saturday thousands of persons, heavy-laden with household effects were to be seen fee ing across the numerous canal bridges and away from the fire zone. When they had reached places of safety the bur dens were laid down and the able-bodfed members of families returned to the eff to assist In fighting the flames, leaving the old people to protect their effects from thieves All day long Saturday and far into the night these people assisted the troops and t1remen In quenching the confagration.
 Four Miles Square.
 An area of over four miles square, con tafning some of the citys handsomest structures. including the Buddhist temple. the largest in the world, was entirely burned. The stock exchange one of the most important in this country, was en- tirely destroyed. This loss, 1t is believed. will tend considerably to dislocate kne business of Osaka, which with It's manu- featuring concerns Is one of the chief commercial cities of Japan.
 Many touching sights were to be seen during the fire. The women were terror stricken and fled hither and thther with their children, some of whom later cried piteously for food that could not be obtained for them.
 The Emperor Is deeply concerned over the disaster and it is believed he will make a generous donation to the relief fund and that his action will be quickly followed by gifts from charitable people anu institutions.