Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-01-22
DEAD IN JAPAN
{ NOW TOTAL 1000
Ashes and Lava Cover Isle and
It's Bodies.
WHOLE CITIES ARE BURIED
President Wilson Appeals to the Amer
5can People, Through the Red
Cross, for Funds TO Assist
the Japanese.
WHOLE CITIES ARE BURIED

Nagasah, Japan, Jan. Five
Thousand Of the $4,000 inhabitants of
the Island Of Sakura, where the Saku-
ra.3iuaa volcano is located. have been
accounted for. The fate of the other
1000 is unknown One hundred thou
sand people who live on the mainland
are homeless and the railroad for 230
mTies distant is blocked with stones
and lava. It is reported that some Of
the stones are as big as houses.
Kagoshima, Jan. IA relief party
reports that in four villages of Sakura
.0e0 households were destroyed and
buried IN lava by Sakura-Jima's first
eruption Villages on the coast are
still Burning. The villages Of Ari-
mura and Yokohama were extermi-
mated.
Washington, Jan. 1T-President
Wilson issued an appeal TO the Ameri-
can people as president Of the Ameri-
tan Red Cross for funds TO assist the
people OF Japan. The appeal says:
Our sister nation OF Japan is suf-
ferfng from two very serious disas-
tiers. The failure Of crops in the
northeastern part Of that country has
brought hundreds of thousands Of per
sons face TO face with the terrible mis-
cry Of slow starvation and in the
southwestern islands of KiUshiu sud
den volcanic eruption has carried
death and desolatiou to large num-
hers.
Il appeal to the humanity of our
American people that they may give
expression to their sympathy for the
suffering and distress of so many Of
their fellow men by generous cOntri-
buttons for their aid.
Such contributions can be made to
the local Red Cross treasurers or sent
directly to the American Red Cross,
Washington, D. c."
Col Robert NJ. Thompson, chair
man OF the executive committee of the
Navy league, started a subscription
list with $3.50.
Toxic, Jan. 1G.-OmciaI reports of
the volcano-earthquake disaster in
southern Japan brought out the follow
ing features:
The small island of Sakura is COW
cred with lava and ashes, in places
several feet deep Beneath this man
tie lie the bodies of many persons
whose number probably will never be
known. Estimates of the dead must
include a large number of refugees,
who were drowned while trying to
swim from Sakura to the City of Kago-
shima. Kagoshima, town of $4,000,
is an ruins. Stone buildings collapsed
under the hot ash. Simultaneous with
the eruption of the volcano of Sakura-
lima there occurred an eruption of
Iarigataka, which threw a cloud OF
ashes over Matsumoto.
The eruption of Sakura-Jima is grad
uaily subsiding. heavy rainfall is
clearing the atmosphere and thus as
sisting the work of relief. The entire
island Of Kiushiu, 1900 square miles.
is covered with voncanic ash in vary
ing depths
Scientists declare the worst is over.
adding that the eruption of the vol
canoes served as a vent for acute sub
terranean activity and probably saved
the country from more disastrous
earthquakes. At Kumamoto, north of
kagoshima, are more than LOCO refu-
gees. The whole tragedy has not yet
been told.
The city of Toxic and surrounding
territory, although 500 miles from the
volcanic disturbances, were swept in
The last "a hours by miniature lorna
does. filling the city with clouds of
dust and sand and creating the belief
that the capital was feeling the effects
Of the distant eruptions. A feeling of
relief prevailed at night when the
wind died down.
Sakura, where the greatest loss of
life undoubtedly occurred. cannot be
visited, because the eruptions of Sa-
kura-Jima continues. Troops and war
ships are in that region and a search
Of the island will be made at the first
opportunity
kagoshima, the nearest big city TO
Sakura, while it suffered great dam.
age from the earthquakes, does not
appear TO have experienced severe
loss of life
All Americans who were in the
stricken region are safe. Word to this
effect was received from Carl F. Reich
man, American consul at Nagasaki
Several American missionaries were
stationed at KagoShima.
Washington, Jan. I6,-President vii
son Cabled the emperor of Japan the
sorrow and sympathy of the American
people over the volcano disaster. En-
peDor Soshihito cabled Japan's sin
cerest thanks" in return.