Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1923-09-06

OSAKA, Japan, Sept. $50 vast an
area OF Japan has been devastated by
the greatest earthquake in the history
OF this country that it will be long be-
fore the actual loss of life is known.
The most reliable estimates of the
dead up to the present reach from
100000 to $4,000
Toxic and Yokohama, with sur-
rounding towns, which formed the
center of the disturbances are al
most completely in ruins. For two
days Toxic was swept by flames and
apar. from the loss of life caused
directly through the falling of the
buildings, thousands must have per-
ished in their attempts to make their
way through the fire zones, and other
thousands from exhaustion.
Yokohama, ToLio's busy port, is a
city destroyed. Probably more COM
plete destruction has been wrought
there than in the capital itself, for its
great docks were torn asunder, its ship
ping wrecked, its public buildings and
homes levelled to the earth.
All advices received here indicate
a succession of earth disturbances in
that area extending for many miles in
land and to the north, and everywhere
the first destructive forces were aug
fnented by eplosions the bursting of
water mains, the overflow of rivers
and the terrible overpowering rush of
tidal waves.
Details of geographical changes are
lacking but it is reported that new
islands have been forced up from the
bed of the ocean, while whole sections
have disappeared Rivers are said to
have changed their courses and volcan-
oes are erupting in various districts.
The disaster missed none who stood
in its path. Many members of noble
families have persisted, but thus far
the oVly notable foreign resident in
the list killed is the American consul
at Yokohama, who, with his wife, Is
believed to have been buried in the
ruins of the consulate.
The American Ambassador, Cyrus
f. Wood, and all the members of
the embassy at Toxic are known to
be safe, but many of the diplomatic
representatives OF other nations have
word been received of their fate.
The newspaper Osaka Asahiuj esti-
mates the earthquake dead at $4,000,
which includes 100000 dead in Toxic,
100000 in Yokohama and 10000 in
Yokosuka Word is received that the
fires in Toxic burned out Monday
night, but at the same time couriers
carry appeals for food and medical sup
plies and assistance for the hundreds
of thousands of homeless refugees, who
unless succored speedily, cannot sur
vive.
For the moment all efforts are be-
ing directed, first to ascertaining the
extent of Japan's vast losses both in
citizens and foreign residents and mat
erial damage to its cities, and secondly
to rushing all assistance in every form
to the stricken districts. There has
been no time Yet for summing up of
the terrible consequences of the earth
quake nor for the preparation of a
list of the prominent dead, Japanese
or foreign residents.
The warships of many foreign ma
lions are on the seas already bring
ing assistance, which fact serves to
give encouragement " tIlC SONSlA-
ment and the people in the greatest
calamity.
Employees Safe
SHANGHAI, Sept 4-The Ameri-
can Express Company here received
a report this morning that six of the
employees of its Yokohama branch
were safe on board the liner Empress
of Asia in the Yokohama harbor. Both
Yokohama offices of the company were
reported wrecked