Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1914-01-15
TOLL OF VOLCANO,
QUAKE AND TIDAL
WAVE IS UNKNOWN
Sakru-Jima Is Abatinq But Res
cuers Cannot Yet Approach
the Scene of Dew
astation.
RELIEF WORK is RUSHED
Meager Reports From Stricken
Island Confusing But Be
lieved That Loss Is
Enormous.
RELIEF WORK is RUSHED

Toxic, Jan. 14-Ofticial reports
tonight of the disaster In southern
Japan brought out the following
general features:
The island of Sakura is covered
with q layer of lava and ashes IN
places several feet deep. Beneath
this lie many dead, the numbers
of which will probably never be
known. Amy estimate of dead must
include large number of refugees
who were drowned while trying to
swim from Salluya to the city OF
KagoShima.
porous town OF 10000, is in ruins
Even stone buildings collapsed
under the weight of the hot ash
simultaneously with the eruption
of the volcano of Sakura -Jima.
there occurred an eruption of Var
isatalso which threw Il cloud Of
ashes over Matsumoto. but did no
serious damage.
The eruption of Sakura -Jin1a is
gradually subsiding. heavy rain
fall Is clearing the atmosphere and
thereby assisting the work of re-
lief.
The entire island of Kiushiu. an
area of 5000 square miles is covered
with volcanic ash in varying
depths.
W0FSS tS HdSVs
Prominent scientists declared tonight
that the worst Is over and added the
calming assurance that the breaking
cut of volcanoes had served as a vent
for an acute subterranean activity and
had probably saved the country from
even more disastrous earthquakes.
At kumamoto, north of kagoshina,
over 1000 refugees have arrived and
the authorities are faced with the diff
ticulty Of housing and feeding the
sufferers from the disaster the whole
tragedy of which has not yet been told.
The city of TOXIC and surrounding ter
ritory. although 500 miles from the
volcanic disturbances. has been swept
for the past "a hours by miniature
cyclones, filing tn. city with clouds of
dust and sand and creating the belief
that the capital was feeling some of
che effects of the distant eruptions A
feeling of relief prevailed tonight when
the wind died down.
Dispatches showed that animals and
birds to- the south of Satsuma were
suffering from abnormal uneasiness
for several days prior to the disturb
ance Mt kagoshima.
Famine in North Japan.
The famine in the northern part of
Japan continues to give the govern
rnent much alarm and relief measures
on "a tremendous scale will be ncces-
sa,S.
Toxic Jan. 15.-Official reports this
volcanic eruptions and earthquakes
have caused heavy loss of life, panic
and great property damage. are that
The eruption OF the volcano Of Sakura-
-Jima. which has caused the most de-
Nastation is abating.
Just how heavy is the loss of life
cannot yet be estimated. saSura,
where the greatest loss of life un-
'louhtedly occurred cannot be visited
because the eruption of Sakura-Jina
continues. So the story in this respect
must wait. Troops and warships are
now in the vicinity and a. search of the
island will be made MT the first oppor-
tunity
Kagosh,na, the nearest big city to
Sakura. while it suffered great damage
from the earthquake, does not appear
TO have sustained q. severe loss Of life.
II. ljuin. former Japanese minister to
China. who lives in kagoshima sent a
dispatch to. the foreign office in which
he said that 10 persons have been
killed and 80 injured there. He also
city.
Reports Confusing.
Other reports say that the barracks
governors residence and the temples
were among the buildings wrecked
The soldiers are camped on the squares
OF the CITY NFllIG Glle IOpuldSlOl
sought refuge in the shrincs and
temples in the hills
The postoffiee was one of the first
buildings to collapse AZ the start of the
earth disturbances. The staff ESCAPED
and after the first panic erected hu'
in q field and is now busily engaged "
repairing the telegraph equipment
Kagoshlma is protected from looters
by patrols of police and troops. AZ
Americans. in the city are safe Wore
TO this effect was; received here from
Carl +. Deichman, the American con
follows:
"A private telegram states thai
Americans in Kagoshima fled te
Sendai, nearby. All safe"
Several American missionaries were
stationed at kagoshirna. =.
eruption, is pictured in reports as q
terrifying mountain of fire. The ail
for miles around is thick with ashes
and smoke The police and soldlels
soon after the disturbance began mace
many rescue from the island OF Soahui'
People Dumbfounded.
The people at first did not seem e e
realize their danger and were SLOW "
trying to escape. II is feared tina
rnany were killed before reaching ths
seashore. Thousands. pursued by Z
rain of fiery stones knelt on the peach
half submerged in water. ana gestlcu'
lated wildly to the steamers and fshlne
boats for aid. One small steamer saved
200 persons while the other boats alse
did noble rescue work. The cruiser
Tone reported yesterday that Sakuri
had been entirely evacuated.
The japanese destroyers that wer'
dispatched to the scene We're unable te
complete the journey. Stormy weathe
and high seas compelled them to re-
turn to Sasebo. The second squadron
of ar1nored cruisers consisting of thu
Iwate Tokiwa and Yakuno, was the1
burriedly sent off and is expected Y
reach Kagoshima tonight. Thick at
mosphere interreres with wireless re
OFFICIAL advices from Kumamett
dated yesterday. reported that place
shrouded with ashes from the eruption