THE EARTHQUAKES IN JAPAN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2242, 2 October 1889, Page 3

THE EARTHQUAKES IN JAPAN.

PS——- *— i ii . i mmmmmm destroyed and cattle killed. Other places felt the shock, but suffered no serious injury. A special telegram from Mr Tomioka, Governor of Kumamoto-ken. to the Government authorities, dated 1.50 p.m. on the 3Ot>' of fuly, says : The lumbi ng and shaking have »ot yet ceased ; it appears that Mount Isishi Kinpo is the centre of Ihe shock. As to the ie:il exb.nt oi the destruction to life and property it is as yet imposs Lie to speak owing to investigations not having been concluded but quite sufficient h s been telegraphed from the scenes of the calamity to tell of its serious nature. It will go on record as one of the most serious eartnquakes ever experienced ir Japan, and later mails may bring details of further damage.

A recent cablegram gave an account of a destructive earthquake that had taken place m Japan on August 29, by which fifteen lives were lost. There appears to have been a series of , shocks at the same place, as m the American papers by the last mail we have an account of one which occurred on July 28. The narrative States: — The disaster W&s the greatest of the kind re« corded m the Orient for thirty-five years, and caused the loss cf miny lives and the extensive destruction of property. The earthquake m the town of Kuraamoto occurred shortly before midnight when most of the inhabitants were asleep, many of whom, when awakened by the shock, were unable to reach the streets, and were crushed to death m their own houses. The ground was rent m several places m the town, though Mount Aso acd most of the adjacent huls were undisturbed. Bridges, fences ajvl masonry of all kinds suffered with the larger buildings, and were either entirely wrecked or badly shattered. Excluding those districts where the earthquake was only slight the shock extended over more than thirty square ri. or about seventy-five square miles. After the firit severe vibration the ground continued to tremble at short intervals for forty-eight hours, and before daybreak the natives were m a state of intense fear and excitement, expecting at each fresh tremor to see the earth open and engulf the town trith all its people. JL telegram fran Kuaamoto, dated four days after the disaster, says : — " According to the investigations to far made, the damage caused by the earthquake m this city wa3— 22 houses totally destroyed, 16 partly destroyed, 7 bridges destroyed, 3 persons crushed to death, 6 wounded. In Akitagum ; 32 houses were totally destroyed, 15 person* killed and 13 wounded. At the Prefectural Government <Msce and prison the only damage was to the fence and walls, but, owing to tne damage of •workshops, work had to be suspended for a time. Yataushire Prison, the branch of Mitke Prison, is reported to be safe; DoelUnfs and roads were much damaged. Small shocks still continue from time to time. Meant Aso seems to be quiet' . The damage, however, was not entirely confined so KumaraotO/ All the villages and settlements within a radius of forty miles 1 guflered more or less lots' pf life; the crushing of buildings occurring 10 IPany of them. j A telegram from Oita, dated July 29th', says: A very severe earthquake was ex-perien-ed at U. 48 last nsght. Another telegram from Yanagawa says : A very strong earthquake was experienced here at 11.30 o'clock last night, and houses were smashed and many persons and cattle were wounded or killed. A telegram from Saga, date«l July 29th, says: The strongest earthquake ever experienced here was felt last night, and much injury was done to life and property. The shock was also experienced at Fukuoka and neighbourhood. At Fakuokaken the waves ran up and bouses were smashed arid enany persons were killed or wounded. Ja tjje £hifrfo 4W& M*f bouKs were