The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-01-14
Lava and White Rocks Pour Out
Of Crater and Ashes Carried
Long Distance Huge
Fissures Open
STILL IMPOSSIBLE TO
ESTIMATE LOSSES
Believed that Dead VIII R n into
Thousands All Americans
in the Stricken District
are Safe


Telegram oy United Press-
Toxic. Jan. li.-Accurate estimates
CT the loss Of life in she Kiushiu vol
cano disaster are still impossible to-
day, the government admitting that
aiy estimate would be a mere guess.
That thousands are dead Is the general
belief.
The volcano continued in violent
eruption today. according TO wireless
messages from the naval detachment
which confirmed rehort4 that Ksgo-
shima was devastated and deserted
The island Of sakma. where three
villages were destroyed. today was a
mass Of flames. out OF which poured
lava, white rocks and ashes The lat
ter fell as far east as Osaka Huge
assures appeared in the earth.
II was estimated that one hundred
thousand were dead, but this is be-
lieyed to be too high. The naval com
mander said he wouldn make no. at
tempt to estimate the dead and injur-
ed until he had explored the stricken
district.
All Americans in the srtickta dis
trict are safe. acccfS.ng to a dispatch
from Consul Dec an at Naeasaki.
They fled 10 sendal out Of range OF
the volcano.
a refugee who arrived al Nagasaki
from Kagoshima have toe following
account OF the disaster.
The eruption started suddenly with
columns OF thick. black smoke and
flame from the crater OF the volcano.
Huadreds Of the inhabitants Of the
small island in the gulf OF Kagoshima.
where the volcano is situated. rushed
to the beach and leaped on beard
iunks and steamers. which carried
them across three miles of water TO
Kagoshima. ashes. stones and parti-
clcs cf white hot lava falling all the
lille ON the decks
AT Kagoshima the heat was in
tense The constantly increasing hail
OF glowing cinders made q impossible
Tor the citizens TO remain. The hor.
ror was increased BY the shaking
caused by incessant shocks Of earth
quake. which rocked the houses all
day. More than $50 earthquake
shocks were recorded before nightfall
~The people fled in disordered
droyes aIcng the highways leading
west ane north OF the city. They had
abandoned everything in their flight
and soon they we're suffering also from
lack OF food and drink.
when | left Kagoshima the volca-
no resenibled 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 explos-
ions"
Sakurashima has been quiescent for
more than a century, although it reass
its cratered peak in veritable land
OF volcanoes.
II occupies almost the exact center
Of small. round island ii the gulf Of
Kagoshima and directly in front Of
the city OF Kagoshima, capital of the
province of Satsuma. It is four thou
sand feet high and before the present
eruption had two craters. One of these
had been closed and silent for many
years; the other, huge, ragged open
ing in the mountain crest, has for cen
turtles given off small quantities of
steam.
The volcano had its last general
eruption in 1779 and while accurate
information as to the suffering and
damage which it inflicted is not avail
able. the occasion SO impressed itself
upon the people that the eruption was
commemorated by monthly festival
This day is still observed by many
people and for decades no boats were
allowed to leave the island during the
celebration, q rule which is said to
have had its origin in superstition.