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AWFUL EARTHQUAKE IN JAPAN.-A CITY SWALLOWED UP, WITH 30,000 PEOPLE.

The <.*!u»per schooner " Pa^e," Captain Morei;,<u^'.'air'ive:i on Thursday uiglii from Japan, Vht--i':"' news of ;t teniiic earthquake which ci-cni-rr-d mii the 11 th <>i November. A part of i„-Vr";"lit <-'>!i>ists of a portion of the cargo of t^'i'.M- ''Greiii,*' which vessel, it will be

remembered, was captured by the Allies last year. The details of a disaster to the " Page" will be found below :— k

The " Page" sailed from this port October 19th for Japan, touched at Honolulu November 3rd, arrived at Simoda, December 2nd, and sailed on the 10th for Hakodadi ; arrived at the latter port on the 28th, and on January 6th sailed thence for San Francisco. The distance from Simoda to Hakodadi is but 600 miles, thongh 19 days were consumed in the trip. On the 18th January, in latitude 45 deg. 12 mm. north, longitude 185 meridian, encountered a heavy gale from the south-east. On the morning of the 19th the wind changed, and blew a hurricane from west south-west; at 6 p.m. scudded under bare poles. On the 20th, at 2 a.m., the vessel was boarded by a tremendous sea, which struck square aft, and swept the decks, carrying with it the cabin gangway and binnacle, galley and store room, the pump brakes, boat, and bulwarks ; all the outside framework which was fastened to the transom timber, the quarter post and water way on the larboard quarter were entirely broken off, and the deck aft raised about four inches. The stern, near the water line, was all open, and took in water so fast that it was found necessary to throw overboard the cargo from the after hold, to keep her from sinking. After discharging several tons of sugar, rice, beans, soy, &c, the vessel's stern was lashed with cable and straps, in which condition she entered this port; her pumps have been kept constantly at work (making over 2000 strokes per hour) since the disaster. The captain, who had charge of the wheel at the time, was missing after the disaster, and it was believed he was lost; he was afterwards found insensible, lying beneath the jib-sheet traveller, with a frightful cnt on his chin, and otherwise severely injured. The men who composed the watch were earned forward, one lodged in the chain box, and the other caught iv the rigging.

On the llth of November, at ten o'clock p.m., a violeiit earthquake occurred at Jeddo, which destroyed one hundred thousand dwellings, fifty-four temples, and thirty thousand inhabitants. Fire broke out at the same time in thirty different parts of the city. The earth opened, and closed over thousands of buildings with their occupants. The shock was severe at Sitnoda. Although the distance from Jeddo to Sitnoda is but sixty miles, it appears that no official account of the earthquake had been received at the latter place at the time of the sailing of the schooner " Page"—December 10th. The news was obtained through the Dutch interpreter. Japanese seemed to attach but little importance to the catastrophe. The inhabitants of the portion of the city destroyed were forewarned of the disaster, and many of them escaped. The buildings of Jeddo are chiefly of one story, and constructed of very light material. The temples of worship, however, are lofty, and in some instances are constructed of heavy masonry. — Sydney Herald.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18560517.2.5.2

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 369, 17 May 1856, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
564

AWFUL EARTHQUAKE IN JAPAN.-A CITY SWALLOWED UP, WITH 30,000 PEOPLE. Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 369, 17 May 1856, Page 4

AWFUL EARTHQUAKE IN JAPAN.-A CITY SWALLOWED UP, WITH 30,000 PEOPLE. Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 369, 17 May 1856, Page 4

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