The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-18
COULD NOT STAND. UP FUR QUAKES
Son Of Marion Woman Tells Of Frightful Scenes At
 Tokyo And Yokohama

MARION, Ala, Nov. 16.-(Special) Mrs. Dru c. McCollum, member of the faculty of Judson college at Ma rion, has received a very interesting account of the recent great earth quake and tidal wave which caused so much destruction in Japan. Her son, Ensign Arthur Howard McCol- lum, of the United States navy, was a member of the United States em- bassy at Tokyo at the time. Mrs. McCollum was formerly a member of the missionary forces of the South ern Baptist church In Japan and En- sign McCollum was born there.
 After the death of her husband Mrs McCollum returned to America to educate her children and has been member of the faculty of Judson college for several years. Ensign McCollum after graduating at Marion institute was appointed to the United States Naval academy at Annapolis, two years ago. Since that time he has been stationed at Tokyo as naval attache at the American embassy. Could Hardly Stand Up.
 He writes in part as follows. T was up in Nojiri when the earthquake occurred. It was just before noon and MT. Wynd and I were sitting in the house playing chess. It came first as a little shock to which neither of us paid any at tention, but as theN shocks continuel to increase in length and violence Mrs. Wynd, Oswold and I ran out. but Mir. Wynd could not be per suaded to move. When we got out side the ground was moving so vio- 1ently that we could hardly stand up.
 T started to Tokyo Wednesday, carrying a little knapsack filled with food and 8 bottle of water. The trains were so crowded and filthy from carrying refugees that I got on the coal car of the engine, where 1 rode all the way.
 The train did very well for about half the way, but from there on we began to meet train1oads of refugees and had to wait at stations, some times for six or eight hours at a time, while these trains rolled by or stopped for coal and water. The poor people on these trains were simply packed in like potted ham. When the cars would hold no more they were packed on the roofs or hang ing in punches like bananas to every step. or rod that promised even a temporary resting place. At every station where these trains stopped sone Casually women or children), exhausted by the long ride and the unspeakable conditions, either fell or were pushed off the cars, while those that had tainted inside were passed out the windows.
 The Japanese relief societies were doing excellent work at all the sta tioiis caring for these people and trying to get food and water to the people on the trains. The refugees themselves, however, fought like wild beasts to get to the food and water. The women and children were especially to be pitied, as they got only the leavings.
 T finally arrived at Nippori about three miles from the Unec station in Tokyo, which was as far as the train could go. I got off there and started to walk the six miles to the Imperial hotel, which I had heard was still standing. When was about a third of the way there I managed to bribe a rickasha man with five yen to take me to the hotel.
 Sees Smoking Hot Ruins.
 "On the way to the hotel I rode and walked through miles of smoking hot ruins. Some few parts where the fire had not come were still preLty Weil intact, put Wlen most or the houses badly shaken and dam aged and most of the people still living in crude, temporary shelters made of sheets of tin and wooden doors. They were afraid to go back indoors. as the earthquakes were stiIl continuing, sometimes as many as 30 or 40 being felt in one day."
 "As I went along what had once been one of the most congested dis tricts it all seemed like tho things
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