Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-03-27
|. Everybody was peering anxious.

ed. Everybody was peering anxious
ly toward the mountain which might
at any time cause fearful explosion
that would rend US of our homes. Dust
and ashes began to fill the air and
once I got a swift watt of sulphur.
Here and there the policemen were
posting signs Houses not burned
yet! How anxiously these signs were
watched! One old man near me was
too miserable to look and was leaning
his head on his cane. A bundle of
dirty clothes were beside him. May
be this and few sen was all that he
possessed now. There were many that
had no place to go but the streets.
People hurried here and there. A
long line was going to the station
already. At dinner Miss Lansing and
1, after brief consultation decided
that we would take the whole family
and go away anywhere at least for
the night. 1t was reported that an
explosion would take place soon.
Our family is a family of seven,
three Japanese girls, Miss Lansing's
helpers, two servants, awfully nice
people, Miss Lansing and myself. If
anyone refused to go then we would
all stay home. Everybody agreed so
we packed in hurry and left many
precious things behind not knowing
whether we would ever see them
again. We took all of our bread and
some butter and can of grape nuts
for we knew that all we could get in
little village would be japanese
food. We took some blankets too.
Miss Lansing knew that we would
have to sleep on the floor. More
about this little later.
The earth shook all the time and
the roaring became louder than be
fore. Dense clouds of smoke hid
the sun. We hurried along with ths
throng. We were an hour too early
but even then there was just room
enough for US, bag and baggage, inAa
third class coach. Still the people
kept coming, carrying all shapes and
sizes of bundles on their backs with
a baby tucked in some place of
course. Everybody has babies here.
You're really not in it if you haven't
any. For once people had no time
to stare at US, because we were fore
igners. At last the train began to
move. It. had % coaches and this
train alone carried over 1000 peo-
pie.
The first stop was at Take. The
platform was black with people who
wanted to get away. We were crowd
ed already but one old woman look
ed so helpless that I asked Miss Lam
sing whether we couldn't let her in.
Miss Lansing said, eyes" So we
opened the door and the old lady
lady came in but man did too and
handed in 6 children one after the
other so there were 9 people in the
place I thought one ought to be. We
didn't blame the man at all but we
admired his cheek more afterwards
than at that moment.
We rode until the end Of the road
and got off at Kushikino. Miss Lam
sing saw one of her numerous boy
friends and he found hotel. There
was only one room for seven of us.
One room to eat and sleep in. Just as
we were going out of the Kushikino
station, the greatest eruption came.
20 miles away. The people rushed
from buildings, the shock was sharp
and quick. It was the ERUPTION, at
this time the wall of Kagoshima fell
The people that staid behind hurried
from the town, trains did not run be-
cause tunnels eaved in. This is land
If tunnels. There are 80 between
Kagoshima and Nagasaki distance
If 200 miles. Well, it is of this time
that men tell their stories, of how 8
men rescued for Sakura- jima, only to
be killed by the falling wall here.
how children were lost, and one man
saw the ground open and swallow
three men. There certainly will be
scenes which shall never be forgot
ten.
My first experience in a Japanese
hotel, was an experience for me! I
wish you could have seen me. I
think YOU would have said, "Han-
drine, l didn't know it was in you"
sat on my feet until they called out