The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1924-02-14
T ITAW

Hooked like it was impossible to get into it, but the
fire was now pressing us so hard at our backs that
we could not delay Following my husband we
forced our ay through the crowd and by the hardest
struggle reached the center of the mass.
4 | had no time than to draw good breath
when | saw sight that made my hair stand on end.
There was great whirwind Tiles and pebbles
were blown like sand Zinc roofing and timbers
came flying just like leaves blown by the wind The
noise was terrific. The bedding and clothes that
people had tried to save from their homes caught
on fire. and in a moment lille were looking at it,
the whole space changed into sea of fire. 1t be-
came a scene of agonizing shrieks. l thought that
a burning hell must be such place as this For a
short time we bowed our heads and knelt down upon
the ground, but cannot recall anything after that.
All that l remember is that it was horrible. Dread
full. To escape the fire, we crawled over and Owed
under one another. We scrambled to small pud-
die Of water, and kneeling down l quietly prayed
that | might be called home to God Some minutes
or hours later | know not which, came to myself
and thought that had gone home to God But
heard the groans of people, and sickly odor came
to my nose A hot wind famed my cheeks | soft
ly opened my eyes. What sight. $4,000 dead were
found in this open space. A greatnumber o people
piled in heaps were dead, and in the midst Of them
|. moved my hands | tried to my feet.
felt pain at all, had not single burn We two,
my husband and l. were alive. A marvellous mira
Gle. There is other word than miracle to describe
| it.
| cannot possibly undertake to describe for you
the scene that surrounded u.s.. There was such a
wind of hot dust that we could not open our eyes
even for moment Moreover the earth was still
trembling and the terrific sounds of explosions of
dynamite far and near were incessant.
AT about eight o'clock at night the strong wind
died down. The fierce fires burned out, and every
thing quoted down. When the little group of us
who were left living realized that we were safe we
were so glad that we shouted. ''Banzai" for sheer
JOY. But until the day dawned there was nothing
that we could do In the midst of the dead we con.
tinued to breathe with difficulty We were almost
dying of thirst. Desperate we drank from the pond
in the Yasuda estate, although there were many
cOrpses floating in it.
The next morning the light of the sun had a
strangely fearful appearance on account of the
smoke. The people were all excited because warn
ing had been given that tidal wave would invade
the land. They were running for dear life to Ueno
Park. On the way the fire was still raging in Sbi
taya and handa districts, had tor ush through
many dangerous places. There was nothing to eat
or drink. We just went on with the crowd to Mn
pori.
train just leaving We knew not wber,
we were going but got on board Suddenly re-
membered that l had a friend in Haraichi tow,
III Gumma Province, we went there and were
helped for some time. This town of Haraicbi is
peculiarly eminent place. because it was the birth
: place OF Neeshima, the founder of Doshsha. I'll,
Christian College in Kyoto and almost all the in
habltants OF the town earnest Christians. There
IS not saloon theatre there, and on Sunda,
old and young all go to church.
What JOY it to escape from the sinful cani
tai and to rest my feet even for short time in tb;s
holy place. The fact we are living TODAY s +r,l,
4 because of the guidance of God, and nv faith IN
Him has been made strong
WASHINGTON rONTNrrnrn