THE VOLCANIC ERUPTION IN JAPAN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2549, 10 November 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE VOLCANIC ERUPTION IN JAPAN.

Japan—which i 3, generally speaking, pretty well used to being shaken up periodically by earthquakes—has been visited by a calamity which will be remembered throughout the Mikado's domiuions as one of the most terrible of modern times. For several weeks past (28th July) the whole of the north of China and portions of Japan have been disturbed by numerous intermittent tremblings and shocks of earthquake, of no very great severity, however. It was at first believed, from the nature, direction aud duration of the shocks, that we should presently hear of one of the periodic volcanic visitations which upheave the Philippines, and this feeling was shared by some seismologists in Tokyo. But it wa3 Japan this time which was to be the centre of volcanic activity. Bandaisan, the terminal peak of a small block of hills, about 5800 feet in height, lying on the northern side of the beautiful Lake Inawashiro, which is distant less than luOmilesfrom Yokohama, has long been famous for its hot springs, to which the Japanese resort in large numbers in summer. Thesesprings would, no doubt, seem to bear evidence of the volcanic origin of the mountain, but there was nothing in its outline up to the present to indicate that it was a volcano; nor is there any recorded statement, I beliove. that it was active in modern times. But there is preserved in local tradition—in the East, often the truest historiiin— a le trend that, in bygone age.», there waa a high range of mountains where the placid lake now lies, and that they disappeared in some awful volcanic upheaval and change. Oα the side of Bandaisan, moreover, there are, here and there amongst the long grass and bright coloured flowers, to be seen sticking op masses of scoriaceous rock, which would tend to confirm the belief that the local tradition is correct. Within recent years, Bandaisan has been brought within comparatively easy access of Tokyo by the Japan Railway Company's line, which terminates at a place called Koriynmii, a journey of about seven hours. Thence a jinricsha transports the traveller to the western chore of the lake, a distance of 2S English miles ; and a comfortable .stoamer carries him across the lake, which is here about 10 miles wide, and leaves him at the foot of the mountaiu. Tho number of foreign victors to Bandaisan is comparatively few, but tho natives flock there in great numbers every year, after the silkworm harvest has been gathered, and tbo rice planted in the paddy field. Upon the .sides and around the foot of the mountain, there is generally to be found in summer a population of about 0,000 or 8,000, divided into several large villages. On the morning of the loth July the people were startled by an unusually severe shock of earthquake, to which use does not reconcile the Japanese in the least; on the contrary, they seem to grow more terrified a* each successive experience. The frightened inhabitants rushed out of their houses and made for the foot of the mountain, some of them carrying their most valuable portables, but the majority flying, falling, shrieking and fainting, with but one object—to save their lives—down the steep side of the hill, which trembled and heaved beneath their feet. Suddenly, a great dense black pillar rose, with an appalling noise like .i thousand rolls of thunder in one, from the apex of the mountain, reaching the sky, which became as dark as night. The people, awed by the terrible phenomenon, stood still in most instances, and then, turning their eyes upwards for a moment, fell prone upon the heaving boaom of the earth, in mute terror. They fancied that the final destruction of the world by fire had come. Blacker and blacker grew the sky, the ground underneath their feet undulated like the sea, the fearful, roar-

ing noises increased momentarily, noxious gases choked them, and the black pillar, alone in the sky, was seen to spread out, like an umbrella, over the whole horizon. Then showers of red-hot ashes, massive stones, showers of sulphur, and volumes of boiling water descended, dealing instant aud horrible death to hundreds of

the unhappy multitude, who were mostly lying down on their faces in the open air, while a few tried to crawl, on all fours—for it was impossible to stand on the rocking ground—to a place of shelter. The bodies of horses, cattle, sheep and other animals were mingled amongst the crushed, burnt, and parboiled remnants of humanity that strewed the ground of tho villages, while most of the houses were in ruins. In many places fire, caused by the fall of the timber built houses, lent another phase of horror to the scene, which could only be compared to Dante's conception of Hell, with the writhing, disfigured bodies meeting the eye on all sides. Huge

hoary oaka and pine trees, centuries old, were torn from their roots, and hurled heavenwards. From the rents in the ground, fouutains of flame, water and ashes burst forth into a grand but diabolic display, dealing , fresh destruction around. The tops of these terrible jets were so high that they could not be reached by the eye. The greater number of the deaths was caused by the wretched people being struck with fiery rocks, or buried in scorching ashes ; but some were caught up in the jets from the fissures iu the earth, and projected upwards with terrific force, and then descended, all broken, blackened, and bereft of human semblance, amongst thpir late companions. In many places, dead bodies of men and women, scarcely distinguishable from each other, were found suspended across the limbs of trees. The crest of the mountain seemed to be lifted bodily upwards, and than to fall with a terrible crash,' whils flames of dazzling crimson and purple shot up from the mouth of the crater. Occasionally a heavy rook descended, amidst the smaller stonos and ecoriic, and crushed and cut the already mntilated bodies afresh. The greater part of the side of tho mountain was buried in stones and asbee to a depth of 12 feet, in some places as much as 20. The eruption lasted for fully two hours. At about 10 a.m. its violence began to abate, though the ground shivered and shook for hours afterwards. Then the sad work of relieving the eufferers, and ascertaining the extent of the calamity, was begun by the survivors amongst the authorities, who behaved with coolness and courage. In the village of Wakaraatsu alone, 200 houses were found entirely buried with their inmates, numbering over 500. Iu one place 50 horribly mutilated bodies were recovered, and 45 dead horses were also dug out. In the village of Inwashiro,

the River Nagase, which enters the lake, had its waters completely damned by the formation of a new embankment, and a further calamity by flood was threatened. The people of the village escaped fairly well, having rushed to the edge, and even into the water of the lake, for safety. Several adjacent villages were completely overwhelmed, and their sites covered with mounds of ashes aud heaps of rock, one of them, Hibara, a very populous little place, having been transformed into a high hill. At one spa alonn, called Kawakami.'there were about 60 visitors, not one of whom escaped. At another, Iwahashi, no vestige of the 30 vii-itors who were there in the morning remain.". Three largo hamlets in the vicinity of Hibara, with all their population, have disappeared altogether. In the villa of Nagasaka 98 corpses were found and 25 houses demolished.

Some horrible details are given by the Japanese native press. One from the Mainiehi Shimbuu says:—"A woman fled from the eruption with her child tied to her back. As she stumbled onwards, a large red hot stone blew past and crushed the baby. Its blood was scattered aUever.its mother's body; but she, strange to say, escaped uuinjured, and, carrying her red burden, managed to reach Wakamatsu." Latest estimates put the number of deaths at about 1000, but the exact total can never be known. The wounded, who numbered more than the dead, and whose sufferings were of the

most terrible description, were carried in from the outlying places to a great building used as a schoolhouse, in Inawashiro. Destruction to all vegetable life extends to a radius of 2ri (5 English miles) from the mountain. Many of the dead bodies were found stark naked, and hundreds of the fugitives arrived at places of safety in the same wretched condition.—Standard.