The Tomahawk., 1923-09-13

great cities.
All around for many miles othel
cities, towns and villages have beer
what the vibrations of the earth left
standing were demolished by fire and
tidal wave.
Entire sections of the capital have
been obliterated-all but the ruins
q very considerable extent of the city
remains. Not so with Yokohama, re
fugees from which are beginning ia
find their way into Toxic. They tell
OF the terrific destruction wrought
at that place which has been for
years of vast Importance to the com
merce of the western world.
Yokohama is a charnel house, the
canals and waterfront are filed with
dead and the stencil from decomposing
bodies is unbearable, according to the
refugees. 1t is estimated that more
than 200 foreigners lost their lives
there.
Most of the dead and injured among
the Yokohama foreigners were those
who were caught by the earthquake
and fire while shopping in the down
town district. Thousands of the ter
ror-stricken natives drowned in the
canals when seeking safety from the
raging inferno which followed the
temblor.
The earthquake left great gaps in
the pavements and wrecked most OF
the buildings. Fire, which started In
numerous places at once, completed
the destruction.
The American and British residents
Of Yokohama, who escaped the disas
ter are gathering the bodies OF foreign
victims for burial at sea.
The remnants of the Chinese popu.
lation of the ruined city are gathered
under the bluffs, without food and
shelter. Their condition is pitiable.
In Yokohama, far more than In
Toxic, foreign residents and visitors
suffered loss of life or injury.
The overwhelming effects Of the
first shock may be realized when 1t Is
told that thousands Of japanese,
caught by the flames that swept
through Yokohama almost Immediate
ly driven by the high winds, leaped
into the canals and finding no safety
in any direction were drowned, or
overcome by the debris which soon
choked the waterways.
The shopping district downtown
was overwhelmed and here many
thousands Of shoppers and business
workers died. To add to the dangers,
immense crevices opened In the
streets, in some places isolating en-
tire blocks and making 1t absolutely
impossible for those within these Sec
tons to find safety from the fire.
For two days the fires in Toxic
ragged, destroying possibly 100000
houses and property, the value OF
which cannot be estimated, cremating
the bodies of many Of the dead and
probably ending the sufferings OF
scores Of injured. The casualty list
will be very great; estimates at pres
ent vary from $4,000 upwards In
Toxic alone. How many were killed
in the outlying districts is not known
because for long time Toxic was
cut off from communication with the
outside world.
Immense difficulties are being en-"
countered in forwarding the news OF
Japan's great disaster to the countries
of the world. Couriers have been
sent out with special press dispatches,
the japanese naval radio is being
utilized and details have been for
warded by airplane to Nagoya and
thence to Iwaki about $50 miles from
Toxic, for transmission abroad.
The food problem here, and through.
out other parts of Japan, is most seri'
GUS owing to the destruction Of great
stores of rice. The people, however,
seem to be undergoing their ordeal
with great patience, aiding one an.
other wherever 1t is possible. The
military has taken charge and evil
4 dences are increasing of the perfec'
ton Of its organization.
Grave damage has been done In the
summer resort sections about 1lakons
and the Izu peninsula. Monetary loss
in Toxic alone is placed at $4,000. 00o..
900. .. ....
The Prince Regent has taken refuge
in the imperial sanctuary. All six
bridges over the Sumida river. which
divides Toxic, were reported collapsed.
Enoshima, the picture island in Kama.
kura district, was submerged. The
volcano on the Island of Oshima ia
continuing to send up smoke.
with railroad lines, telephone wires
and all other means Of communication
and travel between Toxic and the re-
nainder of Japan and the outside
\ world cut OF, Toxic and the other
\ cities on the central eastern and cen
tral seacoast on the island Of Hondc
are isolated IN their desolation.