New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-15
JAPANESE ISLE
BARE OF ALL LIFE
Continued from first page.

drod refugees from the island OF sakura
arrived here to-day. The captain re-
ported inability 10 bring his steamer close
20 the coast because the volcano was
then al the height Of its fury lie
lowered boats and picked 10 survivors
who were either swimming or drifting on
RATS on the shore he could see many
others. They tied bits Of cloth 10 bamboo
poles and waved them 10 attract atten-
zion.
The boats or the islanders. tiny sam
pans capable of holding not more than
six or seven persons. were seized when
the eruption first began. Many of those
who sought safety first were drowned. for
! few Of the overcrowded craft came safely
20 the mainland one aged man fought
, 10 remain i'm Sakura saying that he
wished to die on the sacred island
/ All the inhabitants Of the village OF
Seto were killed Although the island is
only seven miles long and five miles wide.
the village folk Of Seto in their fright
lost their way in the darkness. None OF
them reached the coast. Waterspouts
rose close 10 the shore said the survivors
the flames from the volcano which is
itself only s.74S feet high. rose more than
q mile About the base Of the mountain
smaller flames every now and then darted
ont of the low-hanging smoke. The
sugar cane with which the island IS
thickly planted was burning.
\ few persons died in the hill temples
where they had sought refuge. The
island abounds in temples and shrines.
Most Of them have fallen out OF favor.
but during the eruption none lacked
worshippers. In the tumbledown temples
drowsy Buddhas who had slept FOR cen
turies did not heed the belated converts
who called upon them 10 put out the
/ flaming mountain.
Some who trusted 10 the gods until 1T
was too late 70 find a boat or even the
material for raft tried 10 swim across
the Bay Of Kagoshima. At the nearest
point the island is separated from the
mainland BY seven miles Of water, and
/ only one or two strong swimmers sue
ceeded in getting across.
NivazaM. Japan. Jan IA party
| from the city OF Kagoshima which ar
7
quake accompanied the eruption Of Sa-
kura- shima ecross the bay. The first OF
the buildings in the city TO crumble was
| the postofhce II was built only few
wears ago. and in defiance OF the fire.
ouent earthquakes which trouble the
| town was erected four stories high.
The city's only skyscraper, unlike the
! other structures in the town. as of I'M
Welding stone. Fortunately it gave a
/ few preliminary shivers before collaps-
/ ing and the stan was able 10 escape.
! They Immediately set up hut in a field
and sought 70 repair the broken tele-
/ graph communications.
! The city is protected from looters by
4 patrols OF soldiers The ash fall has
/ been heavy but the survivors state that
when they fled the eruption seemed 70
be subsiding Gangs are at work repair
ing the railroad. 80 that supplies may
be brought in for the hungry refugees.
4 second relief squadron Of war yes
sells j. expected TO reach Kagoshima to-
night The Emperor who is profoundly
distressed by the disasters. has sent
: special representative 10 the scene
Omori. the seismologist, Is one Of the
rescue party lie thinks that the great
est danger now may lie in tidal waves.
Ao investigation will be made Of the re-
mort that birds and animals near kago-
/ sh,ma showed unmistakable signs OF
terror several days before the eruption.
! Uitovoshi. Japan. Jan. l4.-Judge
I-tabe has just arrived here from kago-
sbima He says that he saw many men
! crushed 10 death as they were fleeing
fro,n their homes. KagOshma. the Judge
sovs was crowded with refugees from
the outlving country Many of them
,..rs an stricken with fear that they had
r,,de no attempt TO remove the thick
coa,i,q Of ashes which covered their
! hodios ON the back Of one woman the
l Fugitive said ne saw baby which she
he'd been carrying for many hours APP
psrently ignorant OF the fact that the
! child was dead.
! Washington. Jan. 1.-THE American leo
cross has offered assistance IN the relief
work among the people suffering rom
the disaster ia Southern Japan. The foi-
loy,ina telegram was sent by the Amer
can Red Cross 30 the japanese heu
Cross to-day
..rrbs American Red Cross desires To
extend lis most sincere sympathy 10 me
neo,,l. Of Japan FOR the great and ter
rible disaster that has just occurred on
the Island ~ Kyushu. II the Japanese
Red Cross u undertaking relief work the
American Red Cross would like 10 give
etpression 10 this sympathy By eont'