Volcanic Eruption

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 171, 19 January 1914, Page 5

Volcanic Eruption

EXAGGERATED REPORTS'. FOOD SCARCE. "^ By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Tokio, January Hi. Tho chief of the Seismological Department has arrived from Kagoshirna. He believes tile eruption of Sakurashima was due to the activities of the volcano Higashi Kirishima, whereon, legend says, the Emperor's divine ancestors descended I from heaven. Investigation proves that the death ■ roll has been exaggerated. The majority cf tho islanders were rescued. J Not one of the 30,000 houses round Kagoshima Bay retains its shape. There is great scarcity of food. Many women are insane through separation or loss of their families. Thirty-three persons were found alive huddled in a cave at Sakurashima, and rescued. The eruption has changed the entire shape of the island. EFFECTS OF VOLCAXK^ERUPTION. HEART-REXDIXG SCEXES.

I Received 18, (i.5 p.m. I London, January 17. j The Times correspondent says that ; the exaggerated reports as to the damage caused by the Japanese earthquake are causing great comment. It is officially announced that only ten were killed, and seventeen injured. At Kagoshima, volcanic asbes lie three feet deep over the whole town, whilst Sakuroshima is devastated. All animals were burnt where they stood. The death roll of inbabitauts does not exceed 200, the villagers having time to escape before the houses were overwhelmed by the lava streams. One woman, after returning ,to rescue : her baby, snatching it up, and carrying ' it to the train, which she boarded after ' a fierce struggle, ou arriving at Vuma- ' mato, found that it wasn't her baby. Her < distress was so great that she went in- < sane. Eye witnesses describe the panicstricken refugees' struggles at the railway station as -being like wolves fighting for food. j