GREAT FIRE AT OSAKA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 229, 26 March 1912, Page 6

GREAT FIRE AT OSAKA.

CITY A SHEET OF FLAME. TEMPLES DESTROYED. Describing the great fire which recently devastated Osaka, Reuter's Tokio correspondent say. that it was caused by the spark from a bath-room chimney falling on the roof of a licensed house in the yoahiwara. A strong westerly wind was blowing at the time, and within a very short space the whole of the ,°treet was enveloped and Osaka's nightless ci.ty was a sheet of flame. The utmost consternation was aroused among the unfortunatr occupants of the yoshiwara quarter, and the local reports describe the scenes as pitiable. The miserable women, 2000 in number, scattered on the streets like spiders from cover. Many were led out by their proprietors, some practically naked, others in the lightest of night attire, and then, fastened together in gangs of a dozen, were driven out of the danger zone.

The flames spread with terrible swiftness to the adjoining districts, nearly the whole of which are devoted to amusements of one sort or another. They found ready fuel in the dozens of flimsy theatres, cinematograph shows, teahouses, dance-haUs and restaurants. Refore three o'clock 1500 buildings were in flames or ashes. The Hongwanji, a famous Buddhist temple, was an early prey. The utmost efforts of the fire brigade, assisted by floats on the waterside, were insufficient to check the progress of the conflagration, and attention was directed rather to saving the buildings across the river than to extinguishing the first outbreak.

At four o'clock, however, a burst of flame and smoke from a large primary school in -t he Kozuhachiban-cho showed that the work of the firemen had been unavailing. Considering the gale which was blowing and the distance to which the sparks were carried, this was not surprising. Very soon a blaze even greater than that which had destroyed the gay quarter was eating its way through the centre of the crowded workmen's district. The Ikutama Jinji, the greatest of the Shinto shrines, was reduced to ashes within fifteen minates. In every case the water pressure was weak, and finally the supply was exhausted. The streets were crowded with frantic folk, most of whom bore on their backs bundles of effects and their household furniture. Some streets were barricaded by the furniture flung from the third and fourth storeys, thus hindering the operations of the salvors. In others deep trencheß had been dug for the relaying of the gas mains, and in these many of the people buried their belongings, to be resurrected after the fire was extinguished. The part of the city near the historic Ikutama and Tenrioji shrines abounds with Buddhist temples, the priests of which commenced to ring their deep-voiced bells in excited frenzy. The damage is estimated at £3,000,000, but the insurance companies are only slightly affected. The pleasure districts m Japan are classified as danger zones on which the companies refuse to accept risks, except at exorbitant rates. Roughly, 18 sections of the city have been bio) ted out, including close on 6000 houses. Forty thousand people are homeless, camping out for the present in the schools, lecture halls and public buildings. The military rendered valuable service in saving life and property, and later in feeding and caring for the sufferers.