Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-13
TIDAL WAVE ADDS
TO JAPAN HORROR;
TH0USANDSDEAD
Volcanic Eruptions Are Fol-
lowed by Severe Shocks
of Earthquake.
MANY CITIES AND TOWNS
BELIEVED TO BE RUINED
Extent Of Disaster Grows With
News From the Stricken
Districts.
FOREIGNERS SHARE PERILS
Warships Ordered to Scene and
Every Effort Is Being Made to
Get Relief to Suffering
Survivors.
MANY CITIES AND TOWNS
BELIEVED TO BE RUINED
FOREIGNERS SHARE PERILs

TOXIC, Japan, January 49,
A tidal wave added its terrors to
the earthquake and volcanic erup-
tions which struck Kagoshima, in
southern Japan, yesterday, accord
ing to official advices today.
1t is believed here that the
Nagoshima disaster will prove to
be one of the most serious in
,le history of Japan.
The loss OF life and property in
creases with fuller news from the
scene.
Communication Cut Off.
The full extent of the disaster
could not be ascertained today, as
all communication was cut off
from the stricken district south
OF kunamoto. eighty or ninety
miles north of Kagoshina.
The navy department was TN
able to obtain a wireless report
from the warships sent to the
scene, although many messages
were dispatched to them.
Many Killed in Ruins.
Ashes to the depth of six inches
have fallen in the seaport OF
MiyazaI on the east of kiushiu
A postal employe who fed from
Nagoshima states that the big
postal building there collapsed
during the earthquakes and tidal
wave and that a great number of
.esidences were ruined. killing
many people and animals.
Navy and army departments
arc fastening succor and supplies
=" kagoshinla
Quiescent for a Century.
ara Jimafi, which was in violent erup-
destroying life and devastating
operty over extended areas in Kiusku,
iSldHU OF the main Jap
..uese group has been quiescent for more
nan a century. although it rears It's era
red peak in a veritabIe land of volca-
noes. Directly to the south OF 1t, on one
of the three lower tips OF Japan, stands
kaimon-D Dake. which Is constantly ac-
tive. While directly north OF it are kiri-
s,ina anna and Shiratorisan. Both are
i've and from the former, in 1898. came
. tremendous and destructive outburst.
f1r contour of the hill and valley
-i'r"Hghout the region all tells of volcanic
origin and activity. and the higher ridges
aT" Scared and serried with runs of lava,
marked by precipitations of ash. and cut
and torn by the convulsive earth shocks
which have attended the more serious
disturbances. Sakura-Jima occupies al
most the exact center of small round
island in the gulf OF kagoshi1na and di-
rcctly in front of the city of kagoshma
capital Of the province of Satsuma. It is
4GGo 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 opening
IN the mountain crest. has for centuries
given off small quantities of steam.
Hot Springs at Base.
Around its base are several hot springs.
evidence of subterranean conditions, and
several draws in the rugged sides show
runs of lava which extend to the sea. The
island and its volcano are scenically
beautiful, and the japanese and foreign
ers in large numbers constantly visited
. them The permanent population was
| considerable, running probably to 5000.
| Much of the soil of the island was rich,
and sugar cane, fruits and vegetables
we're extensively cultivated
Sakura-Jima had its last genera, erup-
ton in 1879, and while accurate inforrna-
suffering llrp re
which il inflicted is not available the
occasion so impressed itself upon the
people that the eruption was commence
rated by a monthly festival.
This day is Still observed by many of
the people. and Tor decades no boats
We're allowed to leave the island during
the celebration. rule which is said to
| have had Its origin in superstition
The surrounding coasts and the coun-
try in several directions are heavily
populated. and the number in the
danger zone is hundreds of thousands.
Th. chef city in danger is kagoshima
WEiC.l lies almost in the shadow of the
volcano and is separated from it by
q narrow strait
Fear of Heavier Losses.
tcasmentary dispatches that come in
over telegraph and telephone service
that has been destroyed at several
points indicate there has been heavy
loss of life in kagoshima and its
vicinity, and it is feared that this
deadly work continues, and will take
larger range when advices are com
p1ete- The city is the center of a large
pottery and porcelain Industry which
enjoys thousands of artisans and
laborers of both sexes.
The heavy ash fall extends far to
the north. and had already enveloped
THE important cities of Nagasaki and
Eumamoto. well as many small
cities and towns. OF these Nagasaki
alone has any considerable foreign