Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-14

reports tonight of the disaster I'm
southern Japan brought out the fol-
lowing general features:
The small island of Sakura In COW
cred with n layer Of lava and ashes.
In places several feet deep. Beneath
thfs lie many cOrpsen whoxe number
Will probably never he known,
Any estimate of the dead must In.
ciude n large number of refugees who
were drowned while trying to swim
from Sakurn to the city of kaxoshima.
hnEoshfma. last week prosperous
town of 10000. Is I'm ruins. Even stone
buildings collapsed under the weight
of the hot ash.
simultaneously with the eruption Of
the volcano Of Sakura-Jima, there or-
threw a cloud Of ashes over Matsu.neto,
but did NO serious damage.
| MIYAZAkI. Japan, January IA
| party OF refugees from the stricken island
| of Sakura, in the gulf of kagoshina ar
rived here today. They rerorted that the
inhabitants Of 800 houses composing the
village of Seto that island lost their
way in trying to reach the seashore and
probably all perished together The
| refugees declare that hundreds we're
drowned in trying to swim across the Gulf
| of kagoshima. They add that the volcano
| or Sakura-Jima has completely changed
| its form, several new craters having
! opened.
The nail of ashes ceased here today
after lasting thirty-six hours \ heavy
| rain has cleared the atmosphere
Sakura-Jima Subsiding.
TOXIC, Japan. January 14.-Ofticial re-
ports this afternoon from southern
Japan, where volcanic eruptions and
earthquakes have caused heavy loss of
life. panic and great property damage. are
that the eruptions of the volcano Of
Sakura-Jima. whoch has caused the most
devastation, is abatinS
Just how heavy has been the loss Il
life cannot Yet be estimated. Sakura
where the greatest loss of Iif., un-
doubtedly occurred. cannot be visited l..-
cause the eruption of Sakura-Jima CON
tinues. So the story. in this respect.
now in the vicinity and a search of the
island will be made at the first oppor-
tunity.
Kagoshima. the nearest big city TO
Sakura, while it suffered great damage
from the earthquake. does not apfear
to have sustained severe loss OF lite.
II. ljuin. former Japanese minister 10
China, who lives in kagoshima. sent a
he said that ten persons have been killed
and thirty injured there. He also stated
that great confusion prevailed in the
city.
Temples Are in Ruins.
Other kilograms report that the bar
racks, governors residence and the tenn
pies were among the buildings wrecked
in kagoshima. The soldiers camped
in the squares of the city, while the
population has sought refuge III the
shrines and temples in the hills.
The post office was one of the first
buildings to collapse in kagoshma at
the start of the earth disturbance. Mem
bers of the staff escaped, and after the
first panic erected hut in a field and
are now busily engaged in repairing the
telegraph department. kagoshima is pro-
tected from looters by patrols of police
and troops.
: All Americans who were in the vicinity
are safe. Word to this effect has been
received here from Carl +. Deichman,
the American consul at Nagasaki VINO
telegraphed as follows:
"A private telegram states that Ameri-
cans in Kagoshima fled to Sendai. near
kagoShima. All safe
Several American missionaries We're sta.
toned at kagoshima.
Sakura -Jima, at the height of its erup-
ton, is pictured in reports as a terrify-
ing mountain of fire. The air for miles
around is thick with ashes and smoke.
The DOllce ana soldiers Oh hdSDSlliild
soon after the disturbance began made
many rescues from the Island of SakurA
Danger Not Realized.
The people at first did not seem to
realize their danger. and were slow in
trying to escape. 1t is feared that many
were killed before reaching the seashore.
Thousands, pursued by rain of fiery
Stones knelt on the beach. half sub
merged in water, and gesticulated wildly
to the steamers and fishing boats for
aid One small steamer saved 300 per-
sons, while the other boats also did
noble rescue work.
The cruiser Tone reported yesterday
that Sakura-Jima had been entirely
evacuated
The Japanese destroyers that were dis
patched to the scene We're unable to
complete the journey. Stormy weather
and high seas compelled them TO return
to Sasebo. The second squadron of
armored cruisers. consisting of the
Iwate Tokiwa and Yakumo. was then
hurriedly sent off. and is expected to
reach Kagoshima tonight. Thick atmos-
phere for the moment interferes with
wireless reports. Official advices from
Kumamoto dated yesterday. reported
that place shrouded with ashes from the
eruption of Sakura-Jima.
Energies there are directed toward the
repair of the railroad so that water and
rice may be sent to the hungry refugees
near KagoShima,