The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-14

burned, It's ti'
buried beneath six feet of ashes and
volcano mud. many thousands OF It's
people are dead.
Every available ship In the Japanese
navy is headed toward Kagoshima to-
night Many commercial steamship
companies have been enlisted into "A
samaritan service by the Government.
The army is sending troops by train.
The Red Cross is on It's way with hospital
supplies.
All Of this despite the fact that there
10 not supposed to be n living man or
woman either on the Island Of sakura or
In the territory where yesterday stood
the busy city Of Kagoshma.
Crowds Rushed Into Sea.
No one knows or perhaps ever will
know how many persons perished at
kagoshiiria during night OF wild exodus
toward the interior and away from the
erupting Sakurashma. Thousands at
least. 1t is certain dropped in the streets
overcome by heat and fright and foul
gases to be quickly covered by the fall Of
ashes and incandescent rocks.
One telegraph operator who sat at his
key calling for help told OF crowds rush.
ing into the sea, Of thousands running
and walking and making their way as
best they could to the east away from
tho volcano. IL was the same operator
who sent out the last word from
Kagoshima.
Il am the last person livin:." and that
was the last thing he said.
The island of Sakura, about five miles
broad and six miles long lies in the Bay
of kaeoshima, long arm OF the sea
reaching into kiushui, the southermost
island of big area In the japanese group.
II Is three miles from the city OF kago-
shima, capital of the province OF Sat
suma and once the feudai stronghold OF
that province.
Kagoshima was the most important
city on k,ushui save only the seaport
town Nagasaki, 80 miles away. IL was
the central manufacturing point of the
famous Satsuma pottery and Its IN
habitants for the most part were con-
nected In one way or another with that
Industry.
If the industrious people who lived In
the very shadow of the volcanic noun
tain had given more heed to warning
fewer OF them would have persisted. But
they did not, and for the very reason
that the old volcano had slumbered
peacefully for 1870 years. quite In ac-
cordance with the tradition that 1t had
exhausted itself forever on the last &C.
casion of Its eruption.
The first earthquake came early Satur-
day morning. II was followed quickly
by others. Some of them were violent
but most were slight tremblings that did
not seem 10 dugur SUCH ues'FuStNe ..
quence.
Some OF these quakes were felt at
Kagoshima. but they were not inter-
preted as foreboding disaster. and even
none of the wealthy merchants from
Toxic who have country homes In the
outskirts OF the city thought OF fleeing
Mountaineer Gave the Alarm.
Early yesterday morning a mountaineer
int. h. vii no "A
sluggish stream of molten lava had crept
oyerl the edge of Sakurashima's crater
and begun "A tortuous descent toward the
bay. Word spread quickly through the
island of Sakura, and several thousands
Of the inhabitants got into their small
boats and started for the mainland.
At noon the volcano WAS pouring forth
great clouds Of yellow smoke and other
streams of lava had 'oined the first 10
make a wide river. AT sunset about b,coo
persons had crossed to the mainland.
The remaining 10000 were at ease In
their strong belief that Sakurashima
could do them no harm.
There was a terrible panic on the island
Of Sakura. Men and women Fought TO
get into the few boats left after the heavy
flight OF the day. Just how many per-
sons managed to leave the island after
the eruption started. is not known, put
IL is pretty definitely established that but
few ever reached the mainland. A good
many OF these boats were capsized and
sunk carried to the bottom by falling red
hot missiles Others were upset by crowds
scrambling to get into them
Island Soon Devastated.
After the volcano had been in eruption
but a few hours the entire island was
practically devastated. What parts OF II
were not submerged beneath molten lava
were covered By thickly packed ashes,
which, driven by strong wind were
drifted at points to a depth OF twenty
fest
Many persons living toward the in
terror OF the island and on the slopes OF
the mountain were overcome before they
reached the shore. Several thousand
bodies must have been packed into graves
Of ashes.
Lava flowed into the streets Of the
Villages and seeped its way into base
nents. Bamboo houses were fired and
burned almost before tho occupants could
get out Of them.
Rain began TO fall an hour after the
eruption started. II turned the lava ashes
into whelts OF mud before they reached
the earth and added further bewilderment
70 the scene.
There were several fortifcations alons
the waterfront at Kagoshma which were
we'll garrisoned with soldiers. All OF the
troops were Immediately ordered forth
into various parts OF the city TO fgh, the
fires, but before most OF them reached
their destinations II was seen that suct
labor would be lost labor and tho mer
were used to help women and children
out Of the city.
Fleeing Refugees Overcome.
During the early hours OF the nigh
refugees hocked through the streets carry
Ing household goods. clothing and othel
tsrhin oh fhau m n