Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-01-15

and devastating property over extend
ed areas in Kiushu, southern most is-
land of main Japanese group, has been
acquiescent for more than a century,
although it rears its cratered peak In q
veritable land of volcanoes.
Directly to the south Of and on one
OF three lower tips of japan stands
Kaimon-Lake, which is constantly &C
tive, while directly north of it are
Kirichima-Y ama and Shiratorisn. Both
are active and from the former in 1895
came a tremendous and destructive
valleys throughout the region all tell
of volcanic origin and activity and the
higher ridges are SCARED and scared
with runs of lava, marked by precip1-
tations of ash, and cut and torn by the
ccnvulsive earth shocks which have at
tended the more serious disturbances.
Sakura-Jima occupies almost the ex-
act center Of small round island In
the gulf of Kagoshima and directly in
front of the city of Kagoshima, capital
of the province of Satuma. 1t is four
thousand feet high and before the pres
ent eruption had two craters. One OF
these had been closed and silent for
many years, the other. huge, ragged
opening in the mountain crest has for
centuries given off small quantities of
steam.
Around it's base are several hot
springs, evidence Of subterranean con-
ditions and several draws in the rug
god sides show runs of lava which ex-
tend to the sea.
Resort For Travellers.
The island and its volcano are
scenically beautiful and both Japanese
and foreigners in large numbers con-
stantly viist them. The permanent
population was considerable, running
probably to $4,000 Much of the soil
Of the island was rich, and sugar cane,
fruits and vegetables were extensively
cultivated.
Sakura-Jima had it's last general
eruption in 1779 and while no accurate
information as to the suffering and
dangers which it inflicted is available,
the occasion so impressed itself on
the people that the eruption was COM
nemorated by a monthly festival. This
day is still observed by many OF the
people and for decades no boats were
allowed t. leave the Island during the
celebration. rule which is said to
have had its origin in superstitution.
Many in Danger Zone.
The surrounding coasts and the
country in several directions are heav-
lily populated and the number in the
danger zone is hundreds Of thousands.
The chief city in danger is Kagosh-
ina which lies almost in the shadow
CT the volcano and is separated from
it by /. narrow strait.
Fragmentary dispatches that come
i'll over telegraph and telephone
service that has been destroyed at sew
eral points indicated that there has
been heavy loss Of life in Kaar&hima
and it's vicinity and 1t is feared that
this deadly work continues and will
take larger range when advices are
completed The city l. he center of
large pottery and porcelain industry
which employs thousands OF artisans
and ]aborers Of both sexes.
Kagoshima is one of the historic
cities Of Japan. 1t is the old capital
of the famous Satsuma clan, so con-
spicuous in both the old and the new
Japan, and the scene of the last bat
tie Of the Satsuma rebellions. The
great Saigo, who led the revolution,
committed hari kari when he saw his
last line waiver and fall, and the
graves where he and hundreds Of his
arriors lie, constitute one of the great
national shrines.
When Japan refused to give salts
faction for the murder of the English
man, Richardson, in 1862, Great Brit
ain dispatched a squadron of seven
ships under Admiral Kuper, VINO bonn
barded and burned Kagoshima. The
later fame of the city rests on the man
ufacture of the we'll known Satsuma
crackleware.