Indianapolis Times, Volume 35, Number 99, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 September 1923 — Page 1

Home Edition FULL service of United Press, United News, United Financial, NEA and Scripps Alliance.

VOLUME 35—NUMBER 99

Give, and Give at Once! Do Your Bit for Stricken Japan!

The greatest disaster of modern times has befallen Japan. Reports now place the dead at 250,000 and the number grows as the true extent of the horror slowly leaks through. More than 1,000,000 people are homeless. Many are absolutely destitute. Earthquake, fire, tidal wave and typhoon, in terrifying succession followed one another, leaving hundreds of thousands utterly without anything but the clothing they stand in. Hunger sweeps a large part of the island. Tokio, the capital, and Yokohama, principal seaport, the

CITIES BECOME SEPULCHERS

Property Damage in Japanese Capital Estimated at Ten Billions of Dollars

Unnumbered Thousands of Japanese Burned on Funeral Pyres of Homes and Buildings—Yokohama Disappears—Tokio a Mere Shadow, NATURE’S POWER RENDS SCIENCE AND CIVILIZATION Half Starved Refugees Drift Into Towns Beyond Area of Catastrophe Crazed With Horror of Death and Destruction, Bv MOTO TAKATA Assistant Foreign Editor Osaka Maimehi Copyright. 1923. by United Press. ; SAKA, Sept. s.—As wan. balf-starved and crippled refugees |yj j are drifting into Osaka, into Kobe and other points beyond Japan’s area of death and destruction today, it is now possible for the first time to construct this complete story telling of the great quake and fire which'wiped out Yokohama, razed Tokio and brought death and injury to as yet unnumbered thousands. Yokohama has virtually disappeared. Tokio is but a shadow of the city which but a few days ago was the pride of the Orient. Smoldering ruins, great gaps in the hard baked earth, the stench of the dead, the cries of the dying, literally millions wandering j here and there in search of food, wreckage, suffering, destitution j on every side—these things tell the story of the violence of nature ] visited upon the land of cherry blossoms. Gas Mains Spit Flames. Science, inventions of modern civilization, all that minds of eastern and western civilizations have built in recent generations, broke down before the crushing, grinding, consuming powers of nature. Gas mains, constructed as a means of comfort, become instruments of destruction. AYrcnehed from the ground by the twisting upheaval of the earth, they spat forth flame. Electrical systems became death traps. Modern buildings came tumbling to earth or were dissolved. And, after the first big crash, followed by constantly recurring tremors, Fujiyama looked down for three nights and three days upon the glare of flames and the smoke of disappearing cities. Throughout the summer Japan has sweltered in unusual heat. The humidity has been high. All foreigners and Japanese of wealth who could possibly leave the city went into the mountains, particularly over the week-ends. Saturday was the fatal day. Most of the foreigners had left the city. But the Japanese masses tnronged the markets and Asakusa park, the great playground of the city, was jammed. The little narrow streets, with their gay bunting drooping in the humid air, were filled with people. It was shortly after noon. The lift of the city was at its height. Larger Buildings Crash The earth trembled. Streets seemed to rise. In houses the floors bulged upward. It was a rising, four-inch vertical shock. One came upon the other. The little Japanese dwellings built to withstand shocks with their dove-tailed walls and ceilings, swayed as in a mighty wind. Families huddled under their beams. Larger buildings, of firmer and less pliable construction, came crushing to earth. The great tower at Asakusa park fell. It buried hundreds beneath it. The brightly decorated shops and booths of the park took fire. Hundreds were killed or injured as they were buried beneath wreckage or fought for safety, trampling upon each other. Prisons, hospitals and other institutions were shaken apart or fired. Criminals who were not killed or injured, were liberated. Invalids were left helpless in the great disaster. Streets became impassable. Gas and water mains burst. There was no means of combatting the rapidly spreading conflagration. Premier Yamamoto was meeting with those he had called to form anew government. The city was being shaken down, or burned about them, but the cabinet was completed and the task of rescue immediately undertaken. The Union Station withstood the shock, but as thousands poured in that direction they found there were no means of leaving the stricken capital. Railroad tracks were torn up. All telegraph wires were down. Tokio was isolated. Terror Grips City Indescribable terror gripped the city. As night came on the great fire spread, sweeping through ward after ward, destroying such houses as remained standing and turning the debris into a great field of flames. The military took control. AVild animals, liberated from the zoo, were shot. Some looting was reported. Suspects were killed. The imperial palace was badly damaged. The military rushed to save the prince regent. Buildings which it was feared might (Uoattnaed on Page SI

The Indianapolis Times

most populous district of Japan, beiug the center of the disturbance. The Japanese people need help. THEY NEED IT NOW. The Japanese, remember, were the very first to rush to the aid of the stricken San Francisco in 1906. They never waited a minute. Now we cannot forget the Japanese when they, in turn, are left homeless and hungry. The Indianapolis Times urges everybody to make a contribution to the Indianapolis chapter of the American Red Cross, which is raising funds in accordance with the appeal of the President of the United States. Give what you can. And give immediately. What-

Deaths in Tokio and Yokohama Given as 120,000 Hu I nitrd Prr*a NEW YORK. Sept. 5. Early today the Osaka correspondent of the United Press reiterated yesterday's dispatch that the death list would he found to he smaller than first reported and stated the deaths in Tokio were now estimated at 15.000. Ambassador Woods, in a mes sage to the State Department, places the Tokio casualties at 10,000. The Japanese home office, a wireless to San Francisco reports, places the number of dead _ in Tokio at 10.000 and the dead in Yokohama at 110,000.

LINER TAIYO MARU WITH LIST OF 600 PASSENGERS SAFE Strange Currents and Huge Waves Agitate Pacific Following Quake, Hu I nilerJ Pres* SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. s.—The Pacific Ocean is being agitated by strange currents and swept by huge waves, following the Japanese earthquakes. Fifty thousand dollars damage has been done ships in the harbor at San Pedro. One vessel wirelessed she had been carried twenty miles off her course by a strong current. The Toyo Risen Kaisha liner Tai.vo Maru, reported endangered 900 miles off Yokohama and her passenger list of 600 in peril. Is safe, according to a radiogram from the Japanese government station at Tomioka. “Tai.vo Maru is safe.” were the three words flashed across the Pacific. This Is the first word received regarding the Taiyo since early Tuesday morning when the government radio station at Cordova. Alaska, re ported the Taiyo was sending out S 0 S calls. The strange behavior of the sea Is principally noticeable at San Pedro. The damage In the harbor was caused by the snapping of hawsers, which proved too weak to hold some of the ships to their moorings. Some seamen say the four tidal waves which struck the Southern California coast Sunday night, follwoed by huge surges and the ensuing heavy seas are fore-runners of a larger tidal wave which Is racing across the sea from Japan. Million Is Subscribed H)i I’nitrd Prrsa WASHINGTON, Sept. 5. —An overwhelming response to the Red Cross appeal for a $5,250,000 fold lor Japanese relief was indicated in telegrams received at Red Cross headquarters today. Officials estimated today $1,000,000 has already been subscribed. h6URLT TEMPERATURE 6 a. m 68 10 a. m 72 7a. m 69 11 a. tn 73 8 a. m 70 12 (noon; 74 9 a. m 71 1 p. m 76

By WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS, Times Foreign Editor. Tyrl ASHINOTON, Sept. &.—Duryy ing the twenty-one years ending 1905, Japan had 300,680 earthquakes, not counting In the tremors felt by instruments, an average of four per day. During the last 1,500 years there have been 226 more or less disas-trous-quakes. or one for every six •lid a half years. Japanese seismic authorities agree the quake center seems to move from district to district. Os late years the tendency seems to have been toward Tokio and Yokohama, m* first this section, then

NIPPON EMPIRE OF EARTHQUAKES

INDIANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 5, 1923

Imperial Tokio Theater Is Reported Destroyed

MORE LIKE AN AMERICAN THEATER THAN A JAPANESE DID THE EXTERIOR OF THE IMPERIAL THEATER (AROVE) OF TOKIO LOOK. IT IS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY FIRE WHEN FLAMES FINISHED THE WORK OF DESTRUCTION STARTED IN JAPAN BY THE VIOLENT EARTHQUAKES.

CITY GIVES AID TO JAPAN AS RED CROSS FUND GROWS

Sympathy With Stricken Orient Fills Coffers to Relieve Victims. Indianapolis is responding freely to the appeal of the American Red Cross toward meeting the $5,000,000 fund pledged for the relief of Japanese earthquake sufferers. William Fortune, chairman of the Indianapolis chapter of the Red Cross, says that checks are coming into Red Cross headquarters with ever}' mail. The total, up to noon, was $3,146. The quota for Indianapolis Is $50,000. Among the contributors waa The Indianapolis Times, which*gave S2OO. “I feel sure of a very generous response from the people of Indianapolis,” Fortune said. “I know that their hearts go out to the thousands who are today suffering in Japan.” Every dollar given to the Red Cross will be used for the purpose with which It Is given. None of it Is reserved for administrative expenses. Mayor Shank directed heads of all city departments to ask their employes to contribute toward the relief fund. A fund of at least SI,OOO is expected to be raised among city employes by Sept. 15. Money will be turned over to Frank Stalnaker. president of the Indianapolis Red Cross as a part of the $60,000 quota sought here. Firemen and policemen are Included in the order. Shank has named W. T. Bailey, assistant city attorney, in charge. The Rev. Charles H. Winders, secretary of the Church Federation of Indianapolis, has asked that all local churches cooperate with the Indianapolis Red Cross in raising funds for the suffering of Japan.

that, trembled and settled on Its foundations. Kyoto, for example, ancient capital of Japan, had a serious earthquake. Once every fifty years or thereabouts from A. D. 794, the year the Imperial court was established there, until 976, then for more than 200 years the city was not disturbed. Then In 1185 there was another earthquake and for 411 years all was quiet. In 1596 more than 2,000 were killed in and around the ancient capital. Tokio, meantime, semes to have been almost immune from disastrous quakes. In 1855 she experienced her only Important tremor when more than 6,000 lost their Uvee.

ever the amount it will go to relieve the suffering of some hungry child or elder. Let us si.ow the Japanese we can give as Avell as receive. Any contributions sent to The Times will be turned over to the local Red Cross chapter. However, it is advised that you make your donation payable to Frank I). Stalnaker, treasurer, and send it to chapter headquarters, 409 Chamber of Commerce Building, Indianapolis. William Fortune, chairman of the Indianapolis chapter, announces the local quota is $50,000. “Let’s raise this sum by voluntary action,” he says. Here is a coupon for the convenience of contributors:

Contributions

Ell Lilly & Cos., contributions of Josiah K. Lilly, Ell Lilly, William Fortune and other stockholders.sl,ooo L. M. Walnwright 500 The Indianapolis Times 200 The Indianapolis Star 200 The Indianapolis News 200 Kiefer Stewart Company ...... 200 Lions Cjub 200 New York Store Welfare Association -joo The Fishback Company 100 Levey Printing Company 100 Mrs. Nettie Anderson 50 Howard C. Marmon 50 Mr. and Mrs. Hugh McGiveny.. 25 Gordon Furniture Company.... 25 Helen and Agnes Cruse 20 Lawrence McTurnan 20 11. L. fcihute is Frank H. Davis io Ruth Williams • 10 L. M. Henry 10 Rabbi Morris M. Feuerllcht... 10 Lyle Harter io Lucy M. Harter 5 Gene Harter 5 Meridian St. Methodist Church 5 W. O. Jenkins 5 Jacob Hammerschlag 6 C. DeCroes 5 Fred H. Stutsman 6 Roy Lee Smith 5 Laura Hayes 5 J. B. Whitehead 5 Jules G. Zinter 3 L- H. Rowell 6 Miss Anna Knubbe 5 Michael Baw'berger 5 James W. Carr 5 Sam Coras? 5 Francis Rice 5 Mrs. Nettle Downey 6 A. U. Chairmer 2 Albert F. Walsman l

Why so many earthquakes In Japan? The answer Is that Japan js still yijyng and growing, geographically speaking. The earth cooling off, still has some raw and bubbling seams and Japan Is one of them. In Beppu, southwest of Tokio, the earth’s crust Is so thin the natives used the ground's heart for cooking purposes. Recently hundreds of Japan's mountains were blazing cauldrons. There are more than 200 volcanoes In the little empire. some of which periodically go on a rampage. Many disturbances occur In the sea about J apart ajtH tidal waves

Entered as Second-class Matter at Pogtoffiee, Indianapolis. Published Daily Except Sunday.

PROTEST MEETING AGAINST RATES IS SUDDENLY CALLED Shank, Invited to Speak, Doubts Wisdom of Plan. A mass meeting to protest against increased telephone rates In Indianapolis will be held at Tomlinson Hall tomorrow night. The fact that such a meeting is being planned was revealed today when J. Fred Masters, attorney, asked for the use of the hall. Masters said he was participating In the movement for the meeting, but was indefinite on who else is back of it. “It Is just a general uprising of citizens,” he said. “Everybody Is behind It. Everybody wants to do something about telephone rates.” It was announced Mayor Shank, Taylor E. Groninger, city corporation counsel; Edward O. Snethen, president of the Federation of Civic Clubs, and Albert Stump, attorney, have been Invited to speak. Mayor Shank said he was not certain whether he would speak. He said he doubted the wisdom of such a meeting at this time. In connection with the meeting. It was said an effort will be made to form an organization to fight the high rates. Resolutions to be presented at the meeting are being prepared. It Is understood the movement for the mass meeting started last Friday and that numerous Individuals have participated in arrangements.

follow. Now and then anew island appears or one sinks out of sight. Sometimes a hideous volcano will thrust Its seething head above the water, emit a roar of fire and lava and then go back down Into the sea again, amid an Inferno of hissing and exploding steam. The Japanese empire is believed to be the top of a vast submarine mountain range submerged ages ago. but still bursting Inside. Famous Fuji, 12.365 feet high, queen of the world's peaks, is a volcano supposed to be extinct, but many think It Is gathering its forces for a terrifio outburst *t some future time.

To the American Red Cross, Headquarters Indianapolis Chapter, 409 Chamber of Commerce Building, Indianapolis, Ind.: I am sending you herewith my check for ($ ), payable to Frank D. Stalnaker, treasurer, as a contribution for the relief of sufferers from the disaster in Japan. Name Street and Address City and State ?...

Fate of Hundreds of Americans in Earthquake Disaster Unknown, While Many Are Believed to Have Perished in Smoking Ruins. U. 6. FLEET COMMANDER ESTIMATES DEAD AT 250,000 Fresh Stories of Tragedy Come to Light as Details of Terrors Reach Outside World —Troops on March to Take Over Civil Law. BULLETIN Bu Vnitrd Pre*& PEKIN. Sept. 5.—A wireless message from Ofcaka savs the damage by quake and fire in Tokio is estimated at 20.000,000,090 yen ($10,000,000,000). By UNITED PRESS | ATE of hundreds of Americans who were caught in the areas of Japan devastated by 253 earthquake shocks Saturday and Sunday was unestimated today. Many were reported dead in the smoking ruins of Tokio, Yokohama and other communities obliterated in the catastrophe. With American relief ships in Kobe and establishment of new lines of communication into the devastated areas, efforts were being made today to locate the United States citizens who were unaccounted for. Dispatches from Tokio and Kobe placed a first estimate of foreign dead at 500. Estimates of the total casualties vary greatly. A dispatch filed at Osaka at 4:40 p. m., today gave the Tokio total as 15,000 dead and 100,000 injured. The Japanese home offices, according to a wireless message received at San Francisco, placed the Yokohama dead at 110,000 and the Tokio dead at 10,000. These figures do not take into account those who perished in other towns destroyed. Anderson Makes Report Admiral Anderson, commanding the United States Asiatic fleet, which is approaching Yokohama, made a radio report to the Twelfth Naval District at San Francisco, in which he said 250,000 were believed to have been killed. Fresh stories of death and disaster come, to light as refugee# who escaped the terrors of the catastrophe reach the outside world* Some are apparently too overcome to talk. A message to the British foreign office said foreign stragglers from-Tokio had reached Kobe, but that details were unavailable. Others who arrived at Kobe from Yokohama told of collapse of the American naval hospital, in which the commander was injured and some of the staff had been killed. Relief Organizations Active Recovering from the tragedy, Japanese and relief organizations throughout the world were bending on efforts to rush food and medical supplies to the ravaged areas. Huge liners were converted into hospital ships, the Empress of Canada was reported approaching Shanghai with several hundred wounded who could not be cared for in the overcrowded hospitals of Kobe and Osaka. The first contingent of the American Asiatic squadron, which hurried from China to help in the rescue work, put in at Kobo on its way to Yokohama. Communications throughout Japan, especially in the vicinity of the devastated region, are still in a disrupted state. Cables are clogged with frantic inquiries regarding the fate of persons trapped by the quakes in the burning cities. Railroads and bridges connecting Tokio and Yokohama with the south are completely destroyed and will require months for repairs. Japanese troops are on the march, headed for Tokio, to take charge of the capital until some order can be restored. San Francisco reports tell of strange tidal waves and currents still surging in the wake of ’s upheavals. One ship was swept twenty miles off its course. The Japanese liner Taiyo Maru sent distress calls while three days out of Yokohama, but nothing has been heard from the vessel since. U. S. Adriatic Squadron Rushes to Relief of Stricken Empire With Food Supplies' Bv CniUd Prtu # SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., Sept. s.—Nearly 250,00<$ persons ar# dead in the Japanese disaster, it is estimated by Admiral Anderson, commander of the United States Asiatic squadron. The latest estimate of victims in Tokio is 15,000 killed and 100,000 injured. Aaderson, who is rushing to Japan aboard his flagship, the Huron, to take charge of relief work, made his report in a wireless to Admiral Ebagie at tfce Twelfth naval district. (Contferaed on Face t) '

Forecast UNSETTLED today and probably tonight. Ft.ir Thursday.

TWO CENTS