Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-06
Nearly All Foreigners and
Wealthy Natives Out Of
Cities, Because of Heat,
Toxic PanicStricken
BY MOTTO TAKATA
assistant Foreign Editor OF the
Osaka Mainichi,)
Copyright, 1928, by United Press.)
Copyright in Canada.)


OSAKA, Japan, Sept. 5-As wan,
half-starved and crippled refugees
are drifting into Osaka, into Kobe
and other points beyond Japan's
area of death and destruction, it is
possible for the first time to con-
struct this complete storytelling of
the great quake and fire which
wiped out Yokohama, RACED Toxic
and brought death to as yet unnum-
bered thousands.
Yokohama has virtually disap
peared. Toxic is but shadow of
the city which but a few days ago
was the pride of the Orient. Smoul-
dering ruins, great gaps in the hard
baked earth. the stencil of the dead.
the cries Of the dying, millions
wandering here and there in search
Of food, wreckage. suffering, desti-
tuition on every side-these things
tell the story OF the violence of
nature visited upon the land of
cherry blossoms.
Science Goes for Naught
Science. Inventions of modern
civilization, all that minds of east
ern and western civilization have
built in retent generations, broke
down before the crushing, grinding,
consuming powers of nature. Gas
mains, constructed as a means of
comfort, became instruments of de-
struction. Wrenched from the
ground by The twisting upheaval of
the earth, they spat forth flame.
Electrical systems became death
traps. Modern buildings came
tumbling to earch, or were dissolved
in fire and at.er the first big crash,
followed by constantly recurring
tremors, Fujiyama looked down for
three nights ard three days upon
the glare of flames and the grnoke
of disappearing cities.
Throughout the summer Japan has
sweltered in unusual heat. The hui
nudity has been high. All foreigners
and Japanese Of wealth who possibly
could leave the city went into the
mountains. particularly over the
week ends. Saturday was a typical
day. Most of the foreigners had left
the city, But the Japanese masses
thrOnged the markets and Asakusa
park. the great playground of the
city, was TANNED. The little mar
row streets, with their gay bunting
dropping in the humid air, were fill
ed with people. 1t was shortly after
noon. The life of the city was at
its height. ...
The earth trembled,'
Then Earth Bulges
Streets seemed to rise. In houses .
the floors bulged upward. 1t was a
rising, four-inch verti l shock. One
came upon the heels OF the other
The little Japanese dwellings, built
to Withstand shocks with their dove
tailed walls and ceilings. swayed as
in mighty wind. Families huddled
under their beams. Larger build
ings, Of farmer and less pliabie con
struction, came crashing TO earth.
The great tower at Asakusa park
fell. II buried hundreds beneath it.
The brightly decorated shops and
booths Of the park took fire, hun.
dreds were killed or injured as they
were buried beneath wreckage, or |
fought for safety, tramplins upon
ach other.
Prisons, hospitals and other insti-
buttons were shaken apart, or fired. |
who were not killed or |
injured, were liberated. Invalids |
were left helpless in the great dis. |
astcr.
Streets became lnpassab BILE, Gas |
and water mains s5I burst -Tasss Na8