The Washington times., 1935-04-22
| 100000 LEFT
HOMELESS BY
DISASTER
Collins Scarce, Beer Cases
Used to Bury Dead; Relief
Rushed to Stricken
Copyright, 1888, by International
News Service)

winging over two earthquake-de-
vastated provinces today brought
to Gov. Gen. KENT Nakagawa
word that yesterdays earthquakes
had taken a death toll officially
placed at 1908.
While slight shocks continued
to rock the Japanese owned
island, Governor Nakagawa con-
veyed the extent of the disaster
to Edward Nancy, the American
consul. Mr.. Nancy told 1nterna-
tional News Service:
"The number of casualties
Is higher than the governor had
anticipated.
"The death list is rising as
isolated villages slowly report
their losses. Accurate details
are hard to obtain because rail-
way lines are wrecked and tele'
phone wires down"
American and other foreign
residents are safe, so far as
could be ascertained, Mr.. Nancy
said.
100000 Homeless
With at least 10000 houses de-
stroyed and as many more badly
damaged, more than 100000 per.
sons, practically all Chinese. were
homeless, and spent a sleepleSS
night of terror in the open in a
driving rain.
Relief work was speedily organ
ICED, with the Red Cross dispatch.
ing parties from Taiku and
Taichu, the larger towns Of the
stricken district, and the army
battalion at Taichu sending SO
relief parties to set up field dres'
sing stations.
Lack of medical supplies,
coupled with the minor recurrent
shocks, added to the agonizing
condition of the natives huddled
in the woods and on mountain
sides.
Fires Increase Toll
The first shock, at 500 a. m.
Sunday, caught most Of the ma
tives sleeping in their huts OF sun"
dried dirt bricks, easily shaken
down by the quake. A second
temblor followed at 6:26 o'clock,
completing the destruction
wrought by the first.
In the cities, where the houses
were chiefly constructed Of wood
or stone, there was less damage
from the temblors themselves, but
fires sprang out in several places,
raging through the tinderlike
houses and increasing the death
toll.
At least a thousand were killed
in Taichu, capital Of the province
Of that name, while nearly 800
dead were reported from the cap
ital OF the neighboring province,
Shinkichu.
City Endangered
Fires were still racing through
Taiko, and the handicapped fire
fighters feared that it would be
impossible to save the city.
Whole villages Of huts and
frame houses were wiped out.
Railway tunnels caved in, land
slides buried tracks. and bridges
collapsed. It will be some days
before telegraphs and telephones
are operating again, officials said.
A pilot sent by the Taihoku de-
tense corps to survey the area re.
ported fires in several villages,
with the population hurrying to
open fields in terror.
Sc Power Plants Destroyed
Electric power plants were de-
stroyed, a major oil pipe line
burst, gas mains were broken,
adding darkness and further fire
peril to the woes Of the residents
in larger towns.
Eye-witnesses who made their
way into the capital brought
poignant tales of weeping children
running through the streets look
ing for their lost parents; of rela.
tives digging in the debris for
bodies, and Of a shortage Of COT
fins, making it necessary for the
natives to use huge empty beer
cases for caSkets.
It was estimated that govern
ment buildings, schools and bust
ness houses alone involved loss of
100000 yen ($2,850,000.
No damage was reported to
sugar refinerieS, and this years
sugar crop has already been re-
fined and stored or shipped
abroad.
Consul Nancy, who has been
here only two weeks, said the
American consulate also escaped
damage.
Emperor Hirohito of Japan or
dered 100000 yen ($2,280,O0O)
set aside for relief and reconstruc.
ton, and the Formosa government
Immediately appropriated an ad.
ditional 100000 900 yen.
British warships stationed at
Hong Kong. were preparing to go
to the assistance of the islanders
If needed.
The eighth air regiment, oper-
ating from it's military base.
started a survey of the devastated
area. The third destroyer flotilla
from the Mako, Japan, naval sta
ton is on it's way with food.
blankets, and first aid supplies.
This is Formosa's second major
earthquake disaster in 80 years.
In 1906 1928 were killed.
SeiSmologists said yesterdays
shocks spread greater damage be-
cause the center Of disturbance