The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1914-01-30
LAVA KILLS MANY
THOUSANDS LOSE LIVES WHEN
JAPANESE CITY is BURIED
UNDER ASHES.
KAG0SHlMA is WIPED OUT
Neighboring Island is Also Swept by
the Fiery Stream-Ouake Destroys
Island and Tidal Wave Adds to
1orror-WarshIps TO Scene.

Nagasaki, Japan. Jan. 15.-Earth-
quakes and volcanic eruptions which
struck Kagoshfma, in southern Japs j,
on Monday. were followed by a tidal
wave. according to official advices.
1t is believed the Kagoshima disas-
ter will prove TO be one OF the most
serious in the history of Japan. The
loss of life and property increases as
fuller details are received, and lndi-
cations are that the death list Will
run into the thousands.
Ashes to the depth of six inches
have fallen in the seaport of Miya-
zaki. on the east coast Of Kyushu.
A postal employe who fed from Ka-
goshima says the big post office build
ing there collapsed during the earth
quake and tidal wave and that many
residences were ruined while many
people and animals were killed or
injured. The navy and army depart
ments are Fastening succor and sup
plies to Kagoshima. Government au-
thorities declare that any official estl-
mate of the extent Of the disaster Will
be impossible for several days. The
population of the city of Kagoshima,
which is almost completely buried In
volcanic ashes and stones, was 6O,OoO
at the last census. The population or
the adjoining island of Sagura, the
center of the disturbance, is given as
| $4,000 On this island hundreds are
reported to have persisted beneath the
streams of molten lava of Sakura-
lima Many more were undoubtedly
drowned while attempting TO es-
cape.
The violence of the eruption of Sa-
kura-Jima is so great that showers OF
dust are falling here. although the
distance between Nagasaki and the
island of Sakura is about so miles.
! A refugee who arrived here on Mon
| day from Kagoshima gave the follow
ing account of the disaster:
The eruption started suddenly with
columns of thick black smoke and
flame from the crater of Sakura-Jima
| Hundreds of the inhabitants. OF the
small island in the Gulf of Kagoshima
where Sakura-Jima is situated, rushed
to the beach and leaped on board
! junks and steamers. which carried
them across three miles of water to
Kagoshima, ashes, stones and partl
cles of white hot lava falling all the
while on the decks.
The horror was increased by thu
shaking caused by incessant shocks
of earthquake, which rocked the
houses all day More than $50 earth
quake shocks were recorded before
nightfall.
The people fled in disordereC
droves along the highway leadin:
west and north of the city.
When / left Kagoshima the vol
cano resembled an enormous setpiec'
of fireworks glowing from the foo
of the mountain to the summit. Dur
ing the night the glowing lava illumin
ated the entire district The volcano
constantly emitted thunderous ex
plosions."
The burning rock and ashes set fir
to several villages. At Moj. on tn
Kiushiu railway. 100 persons wer
killed Several villages along tn
foot of the volcano were buried il
streams of lava.
Victoria, b. c., Jan. 15.-The entir
western part of the island of An
brym, New Hebrides, has been de
vastated by volcanic eruption, accord
ing to news brought by the Canadian
Australian liner Makura. The steam
er France succeeded in saving 500 na
tives