DEATH ROLL OF THE ERUPTION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1961, 19 January 1914, Page 5

DEATH ROLL OF THE ERUPTION.

« REPORTS.MUCH EXAGGERATED. MAJORITY ESCAPE. ISLAND CHANGED BEYOND RECOGNITION. By Tolegrapl-Presa Areocia-tion-Oosyrlcht \ r Toklo, January 16. The chief of the Japanese SeiemolJfcjcal Department has arrived at Kagoshima. Ho says that he believes that the eruption of Sakura-shima was due to the activities of tho volcano Higashi Kiri-shima, on which, a legend says, tho Emperor's dirino ancestors descended from Heaven. ' Investigation proves that the deathroll was exaggerated. Tho majority of the islanders wore rescued. Not ono of the 30,000 houses round Kago-shima Hay retains its shape. There ia great* scarcity of food, and many women have become insniio through separation or from loss of their familios. Thirty-three persons woro found nlivo. Huddled in a cave on Sakura-shima. nml rescued. Tho eruption hns changed tlio entire shape of tho island. REFUGEES FIGHT MKK VOI.YKS. "Times"—Sydney "Sun" Special Cnbles. London, January 1(>. The "Times" correspondent says thattho exaggerated reports of tlifl damage caused by tlio Japaneso onrlhc\uuko iiiv causing great comment. It is officially announced tlmt only ten people wore killed and sovontoen injured. At Kago-shiina, tlio volonnie ashes lio 3 foot ov<?r *ho whole town, whilst the whole district of Snkuro-shinm has been devastated. All the animals were burnt whore they stood. The death-roll of the inhabitants does not exceed two hundred, tho villagers having time to escape before the houses were overwhelmed by tho lava streams. One woman returning to tlio rescue of her baby, snatched it up. and earned it to the train, boarding ii carriage after a fierce struggle. On arriving at Vuninmnto she found that it was not her baby, and ho- distress of mind drove her insane. Eve-witnesses describe- tho struggles of tlio panic-stricken refugees at the railway stations as being like wolves fighting for food. SHACKLETON'S JOURNEY SOUTH. CRITICISED AS TOO HAZARDOUS. By Telegraph- Troia Aescclatlon-Coprrljrhl London, January 16. Mr. Griffith Taylor, lecturing before , the Geographical Society on Scott's expedition, said tho arrangement of the mountains along tlio coast of Ross' Sea etrikingly resembled that of Queen sland. Possibly they might find not one but two continents "in the Antarctic. Professor David disagreed with tho suggestion. "Times"—Sydney "Sun" Special Cables. London, January 16. Sir Ernest Shackletou's expedition is criticised as too hazardous. ." Professor David maintains that it is perfectly feasible. Lloyd's is asking 10 per centum to cover the risk of failure.