The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-09-11
CANALS ARE FILLED
WITH BODIES OF DEAD
MILLIONS IN QUAKE REGION,
MANY INJURED, ARE WITH
OUT HOMES OR FOOD.
CALAMITY PROSTRATES JAPAN
Great Crevices Open in Yokohama
Streets, New Islands Forced Up
From Bed of Ocean. Ships From
Many Ports Carrying Supplies,

With $4,000 dead, twice that many
injured and property losses estimated
at $4,000 100000, the island kingdom
of Japan is striving CALAMITY to raise
its head again after one OF the most
terrible CataStrophes OF modern his
tory. A series of earthquakes, follow
cd by tidal waves and terrible fires,
laid waste Tokyo, the capital city, Yo-
kohama, one OF the leading Japanese
seaports, and a dozen other cities and
towns ranging in population from So
600 to 100000.
u. S. Leads in Relief Work.
Lead by the United States, where
the American Red Cross has begun a
campaign to raise $5,000,0O0 for re-
lief work in the afflicted islands, the
entire world is rushing food, clothing
and medical supplies to the millions OF
starving, homeless, destitute, discour-
aged Japanese in the quake district.
American ships are rushing food
stuffs from the Philippines, while
British, French and Dutch vessels are
engaged in relief work from Chinese
and Australian ports The Japanese
emperor has given $5,000,000 of his
private fortune for relief work, and
the Japanese government has appro-
priated $4,500,000
So vast an area of Japan has been
devastated by the greatest earthquake
in the history of this country that it
will be long before the actual loss OF
life is known.
Toxic and Yokohama, with sur
rounding towns, which formed the
center of the disturbances, are almost
completely in ruins. For two days To-
kio was swept by flames and apart
from the loss of life caused directly
through the falling of the buildings
thousands must have persisted in their
attempts to make their way through
the fire zones and other thousands
from exhaustion.
Only Two Houses Remain.
An official report is quoted to the
effect that of all Yokohama only two
houses remain standing, all the others
having collapsed or been destroyed by
fire
All advices indicate a succession of
earth disturbances in that area extend
ing for many miles inland and to the
north, and everywhere the first de
structive forces were augmented by
explosions, the bursting of water
mains, the overflow of rivers and the
terrible overpowering rush of tidal
waters.
Details of geographical changes are
lacking but it is reported that new is
lands have been forced up from the
bed OF the ocean, while whole sections
have disappeared. Rivers are said to
have changed their courses, and vol
canoes are erupting in various dis
tricts.
There were 216 distinct earthquakes
experienced in Toxic on Saturday,
the most severe having a duration of
six minutes from first to last. There
were 81 shocks the following day.
All around for many miles other
cities, towns and villages have been
dashed from their foundations, and
what the vibrations of the earth failed
to accomplish was completed by fire
and tidal wave.
The. overwhelming effects OF the
first shock may be realized when it
is told that thousands of Japanese,
caught by the flames that swept
through the city almost Immediately,
driven by the high winds, leaped into
the canals and finding no safety IN
any direction were drowned or over
come by the debris which soon chok-
ed the waterways.
Island Bursts Like Bubble.
Bursting suddenly into violent erup-
ton simultaneously with the quakes
that were ravaging the eastern coast
OF Japan the little volcanic island OF
Oshima. long dormant, blew up and
vanished into the sea.
How many persons were carried to
death as the fiery mass that few
minutes before had held above the
bay the picturesque city OF Mother OF
Pearls collapsed into the deep Pacific
never will be known.
The disaster OF Oshima was per
haps the greatest single tragedy OF the
earthquakes that destroyed Toxic,
Yokohama and coastal towns Tor a
b,,pdrad miles sOuth # thp latter CITY