Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-13
TIDAL WAVE ADDS
TO JAPAN HORROR;
THOUSANDSDEA
CONTINUED from First Page9

peans and Americans In Nagasaki with
British In the largest number They
have ample opportunity to escape to
city.
Local scientists do not anticipate that
there will be much loss Of life from
the constant earthquakes, because the
buildings are all of light material and
low, but they do fear that thousands will
be overwhelmed at Kagoshima and sur
rounding towns. The railways are cut,
escape by sea Is open only to limited
numbers, and blind flight upon foot is
the one recourse for the great bulk of
the population.
japanese People Stirred.
The tragedy of the south, whose meas
ure may only be guessed at this time, has
deeply moved people and government,
and every resource of succor and aid will
be called to meet the crisis. The army,
the navy. the state-owned railway system
and the steamship companies will unite In
a series of relief expeditions by land and
sea, and these will be backed by citizens
movements everywhere. Warships are al
ready cropping their way through the ash
clouds that hang pall-like over kagoshi-
ma gulf. and during the day it is expected
their wireless instruments will begin re-
cording the accurate details of the dis
aster despite the encouragement Of their
first efforts.
The great naval base at Sasebo is with
in less than a days steaming of the
stricken district and the admiralty off,
Gals announce that every available vessel
will be hurried to the scene with medi-
cal relief and supplies of food.
| Kagoshima is one of the historic cities
| of Japan. 1t is the old capital of the
| famous Satsuma clan, so consp cuous in
both the old and the new Japan and the
scene Of the last battle of the Satsuma
| rebellion. The great Saigo, who led the
| revolution, committed hari kari when he
saw his last inc waver and fail. and the
| graves where he and hundreds of his
| warriors lie. constitute one of the great
| national shrines.
When japan refused to give satisfac-
| ton for the murder of the Englishman
| Richardson, in 1862, Great Britain dis
| patched squadron of seven ships under
| Admiral kuper, who bombarded and
| burned Kagoshima. The latter name OF
| the city rests on the manufacture of the
Thousands May Be Dead.
| NAGASAKI, Japan, January 13.-Indi
| cations today are that the death list from
recent earthquake and volcanic disturb
ances around Kagoshima will run int 9th,
| thousands. Government authorities de
clare that any official estimate of tn,
extent of the disaster will be impossible,
| for several days.
| The population of the city of Kago
shima, which Is almost completely buried
| in volcanic ashes and stones, was COCO,
at the last census. The population of tn,
adjoining island of Sakura, the center O
the disturbance. is given as $4,000. Or
| this island hundreds are reported to hav,
| perisned beneath the streams of molter
lava from the volcano Of Sakura-Jima
Many more were undoubtedly drowned
while attempting to escape. Doctors ant
hospital attendants have been sent to tn,
| scene. but it is difficult to reach the spot
as railroad communication is impeded b,
| the heaps of ashes and the tracks hav,
been dislocated by the earthquakes.
| The violence Of the eruption of Sakura.
Jima Is SO great that showers of dus
are falling here today, although the dis
lance between Nagasaki and the island
| of Sakura Is about ninety miles.
A refugee who arrived here today from
Kagoshima gave the following account
of the disaster:
Had Little Warning.
THE eruption started suddenly with
columns of thick black smoke and fame
from the crater of Sakura-Jima. Hun
dreds of the inhabitants Of the small
island in the gulf Of Kagoshima, where
Sakura-Jima is situated. rushed to the
| beach and leaped on board junks and
steamers which carried them across
three miles of water to Kagoshima
ashes, stones and particles of white-hoi
lava falling all the while on the decks.
cat Kagoshima the heat was intense
The constantly increasing hail of glow.
ing cinders made it impossible for the
citizens to remain.
THE horror was increased by the
shaking caused by incessant shocks OF
earthquake, which rocked the houses al
| day. More than $50 earthquake shocks
were recorded before nightfall.
'The people fled in disordered droves
along the highways leading west and
north of the city. They had abandoned
everything in their flight and soon
| they were suffering also from lack OF
| food and drink.
when 1 left Kagoshima the volcano
resembled an enormous set piece OF
| fireworks. glowing from the foot OF
| the mountain to the summit. During
| the night the glowing lava illuminated
| the entire district. The volcano con-
| stantly emitted thunderous explosions
| The burning rock and ashes set fire
| to several villages. At Moji, on the
| Kiushiu railway. 100 persons were
killed. Several villages along the foot
! of the volcano were buried in streams
| of lava yesterday.