South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-01-16
ALL BUT 50 PEOPLE
ON ISLAND KILLED
BY FLOOD OF LAVA
OF $4,000 inhabitants Of
Doomed Japanese Isle Only
5000 Had Left Before Vol
CanO Got Really Active.

TOXIC. Jan. 16.-Ten thousand
persons are missing in the disaster in
southern Japan devastated by the
eruption Of the volcano Sakur-Jima
by the tidal waves and fire, and it is
feared they all have perished.
Messages received today by the
government from the authorities of
Satsuma province i'm the southern
part of the island of Kiushiu stated
that with the exception of 33 persons
who took refuge in cave. nearly ] o.,
killed on the island OF Sakura upon
killed ON the ilsand OF SalIura upon
which the volcano is located.
The lava beds were too hot and
clouds of poisonous fumes too dense
to allow a complete exploration of the
island by sailors from the warshi-. in
Kagoshima bay. but u was concluded
that no human being could have es-
capped the deadly fusilade from the
CTaters
The eruptions Of the volcano had
abated Friday although lava was still
flowing from the mountain. The ply
sical aspects of the island have been
completely changed. Examination of
the city of Kagoshima which was
overwhelmed by earthquake fire and
tidal waves show that many corpses
are still beneath the ruins and vigo-
rOus sanitary precautions must be
taken to prevent an epidemic of dis
ease.
The thirty-three persons. men and
women, who were rescued THURSDAY
from a cave. were nearly starved
when found by a band of sailors from
a Japanese warship.
SO far as is known these are the
only persons caught on Sakura when
the volcano burst into eruption who
escaped death. There were $1,000
inhabitants. Five thousand of them
escaped to the mainland during the
day of January y before Sakura-
shima burst into full eruption. A few
hundred are supposed TO have es-
capped i'm small boats In the first hours
Of the disaster, although many OF
these boats were swamped.
Early this morning one of the war
ships which arrived in Kagoshima in
the night with provisions for the
starving and homeless persons of this
city, lowered small boat to skirt
the island looking for possible surviv-
ors
No Sign OF Life.
The entire contour Of Sakura was
found to be changed. There was no
sign of human dwelling or vegetation,
nothing but a desolation of smoking
ashes and molten lava covering the
island
At noon the searching party was
attracted by the waving of an impro-
vised flag. The boat put TO shore
Three hundred feet inland could be
seen group of survivors beckoning
for help and calling family. The
sailors dug and waded their way 70
the caves entrance. They had to
carry the men and women back TO the
boat because they We're exhausted ind
weakened from lack Of food and water
Among them was a school master who
had taken with him from his school a
portrait of the emperor. There were
also the village policemen who mad
saved the records cf the station house,
and the postal clerk with a small bag
of mail.
Taken on Ship.
The rescued were taken on board
the warship and provided with food
and drink. From them came the
and children overcome in their at
tempted flight Many persons. they
said. were struck down by falling
volcanic rocks and hundreds OF per
sons were caught in rushing streams
of boiling lava and seen no more.
They themselves had taken refuge
in the cave until the rain of ashes and
lava had ceased. They were then
unable to venture forth. being ma
rOoned by half cooled lava and ashes.
Many OF the people of Kagoshima
have returned 70 find their homes de-
stroyed and the city without provi-
siOns. They are being cared for by
the n-uiser squadron. Camps have
been set up in the open spaces for the
survivors 10 sleep in.
The general volcanic activity on the
Island OF Kiushiu is gradually abating.
The work of restoring railroad and
telegraphic communication is being
done as quickly as possible. The
damage done Is immense. though as
yet no approximate estimate OF the
number killed and the property de-
strOyed can be made.