Kanto Earthquake

The Great Kantō earthquake (関東大震災 Kantō daishinsai?) struck the Kantō plain on the Japanese main island of Honshū at 11:58:44 am JST (2:58:44 UTC) on Saturday, September 1, 1923. Varied accounts hold that the duration of the earthquake was between 4 and 10 minutes.[2] This is the deadliest earthquake in Japanese history, and at the time was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the region. The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake later surpassed that record.

The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.9 on the Moment magnitude scale(Mw),[3] with its focus deep beneath Izu Ōshima Island in the Sagami Bay. The cause was a massive rupture of the Sagami Trough, due the exertion of enormous energy from the Philippine Sea Plate subducting under the Okhotsk Plate.

Outline

This earthquake devastated Tokyo, the port city of Yokohama, surrounding prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa, and Shizuoka, and caused widespread damage throughout the Kantō region.[4] The power was so great that in Kamakura, over 60 kilometres (37 mi) from the epicenter, it moved a Great Buddha statue weighing about 93 short tons (84,000 kg) almost two feet.[5][6]

Casualty estimates range from about 142,800 deaths, including approximately 40,000 who went missing and were presumed dead. The damage from this natural disaster was the greatest sustained by Prewar Japan. In 1960, the government of Japan declared September 1, the anniversary of the quake, as an annual “Disaster Prevention Day.”

According to the Japanese construction company Kajima Kobori Research’s conclusive report of September 2004, there were 105,385 confirmed deaths in the 1923 quake.[7][8]

Damage and Death

Because the earthquake struck at lunchtime when many people were cooking meals over fire, many people died as a result of many large fires that broke out. Some fires developed into firestorms that swept across cities. Many people died when their feet became stuck in melting tarmac. The single greatest loss of life was caused by a firestorm-induced fire whirl that engulfed open space at the Rikugun Honjo Hifukusho (formerly the Army Clothing Depot) in downtown Tokyo, where about 38,000 people were incinerated after taking shelter there following the earthquake. The earthquake broke water mains all over the city, and putting out the fires took nearly two full days until late in the morning of September 3. The fires were the biggest causes of death.

A strong typhoon struck Tokyo Bay at about the same time as the earthquake. Some scientists, including C.F. Brooks of the United States Weather Bureau, suggested that the opposing energy exerted by a sudden decrease of atmospheric pressure coupled with a sudden increase of sea pressure by a storm surge on an already-stressed earthquake fault, known as the Sagami Trough, may have triggered the earthquake. Winds from the typhoon caused fires off the coast of Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture to spread rapidly.

The Emperor and Empress were staying at Nikko when the earthquake struck Tokyo and were never in any danger.[10]

Many homes were buried or swept away by landslides in the mountainous and hilly coastal areas in western Kanagawa Prefecture, killing about 800 people. A collapsing mountainside in the village of Nebukawa, west of Odawara, pushed the entire village and a passenger train carrying over 100 passengers along with the railway station into the sea.

A tsunami with waves up to 10 metres (33 ft) high struck the coast of Sagami Bay, Boso Peninsula, Izu Islands and the east coast of Izu Peninsula within minutes. The tsunami killed many, including about 100 people along Yui-ga-hama beach in Kamakura and an estimated 50 people on the Enoshima causeway. Over 570,000 homes were destroyed, leaving an estimated 1.9 million homeless. Evacuees were transported by ship from Kanto to as far as Kobe in Kansai.[11] The damage is estimated to have exceeded USD$1 billion (or about $13,641 billion today).[citation needed] There were 57 aftershocks. Altogether the earthquake and typhoon killed an estimated 99,300 people, and another 43,500 went missing.[12]

Post Earthquake Massacre of Koreans and other Ethnic MinoritiesSee also: Anti-Korean sentiment and Well poisoning

The Home Ministry declared martial law, and ordered all sectional police chiefs to make maintenance of order and security a top priority. One particularly pernicious rumor was that Koreans were taking advantage of the disaster, committing arson and robbery, and were in possession of bombs. In the aftermath of the quake, mass murder of Koreans by brutal mobs occurred in urban Tokyo and Yokohama, fueled by rumors of rebellion and sabotage.[13] Some newspapers reported the rumors as fact, which led to the most deadly rumor of all: that the Koreans were poisoning wells. The numerous fires and cloudy well water, a little-known effect of a large quake, all seemed to confirm the rumors of the panic-stricken survivors who were living amidst the rubble. Vigilante groups set up roadblocks in cities, towns and villages across the region. Because people with Korean accents pronounced “G” or “J” in the beginning of words differently, 15円 50銭 (jū-go-en, go-jū-sen) and がぎぐげご (gagigugego) were used as a shibboleth. Anyone who failed to pronounce them properly was deemed Korean. Some were told to leave, but many were beaten or killed. Moreover, anyone mistakenly identified as Korean, such as Chinese, Okinawans, and Japanese speakers of some regional dialects, suffered the same fate. About 700 Chinese, mostly from Wenzhou, were killed.[14] A monument commemorating this was built in 1993 in Wenzhou.[15]

In response, the Japanese Army and the police conducted operations to protect Koreans.[citation needed] More than 2,000 Koreans were taken in for protection from the mobs across the region, although recent studies have shown that there were incidents where army and police personnel are known to have condoned or even colluded in the vigilante killings in some areas.[citation needed] The chief of police of Tsurumi (or Kawasaki by some accounts) is reported to have publicly drunk the well-water to disprove the rumour that Koreans had been poisoning wells.[citation needed] In some towns, even police stations into which Korean people had escaped were attacked by mobs, whereas in other neighbourhoods residents took steps to protect them.[citation needed] The Army distributed flyers denying the rumour and warning civilians against attacking Koreans, but in many cases vigilante activity only ceased as a result of Army operations against it.[citation needed]

Ethnic Koreans were persecuted after the 1923 Kanto Earthquake.

The total death toll from these disturbances is uncertain. According to the investigation by the Home Ministry, confirmed victims of vigilante violence were: 231 Koreans killed, 43 injured; 3 Chinese killed; 59 Japanese killed, 43 injured.[citation needed] In 2010, a study of Japanese childhood education reported that Japanese schoolchildren were often taught that contemporary Japanese official estimates were between 2,333 to 2,613 people killed in the massacre, and also taught that some independent newspapers claimed the numbers were as high as 6,600.[16] 362 Japanese civilians were eventually charged for murder, attempted murder, manslaughter and assault. However, most got off with nominal sentences, and even those who were sent to jail were later released with a general pardon commemorating the marriage of Prince Hirohito.

All of those charged with murder were civilians, despite the fact that some military and police units are now known to have taken part in the crimes, prompting accusations of a cover-up. On top of this violence, socialists like Hirasawa Keishichi, anarchists like Sakae Osugi and Noe Ito, and the Chinese communal leader, Ou Kiten, were abducted and killed by members of the police, who took advantage of the turmoil to liquidate perceived enemies of the state amidst claims that radicals intended to use the crisis as an opportunity to overthrow the Japanese government.[17]

The importance of obtaining and providing accurate information following natural disasters has been emphasized in Japan ever since. Earthquake preparation literature in modern Japan almost always directs citizens to carry a portable radio and use it to listen to reliable information, and not to be misled by rumors in the event of a large earthquake.

[Source: Wikipedia]

Dear Rosie: School

Sydney talks at length about schooling for Frank and Renie and about their limited budget. Note that over half of Syd’s annual income of 300 pounds (say the equivalent of $65000 CAD today) is expected to be spent on Frank and Renie’s education for the coming year. In Canada today, that is about $30000, or about the same cost of private school for two students. Therein explains the draw for English families to live and work abroad in the British Empire. At home, they could expect to live a very ordinary life; in the colonies, it was a life of luxury — servants, nice clothes, clubs, the racetrack, membership in the Freemasons and often, paid trips home.

Tokyo
27 Apr 1911

My own Sweet Girl,

I am so sorry I was unable to write you on Wednesday as usual but my usual Tuesday evening at home was booked up this week by having to entertain a Japanese at the last moment.

I had no letter at all from you last week altho’ one I believe did actually arrive on Saturday afternoon after I had left for the day. So on Monday I had two from you. I was pleased, it was ten days since I had heard from you and was therefore getting a little anxious.

So you still weep over your Hubby, eh? That is silly! I thought you would have got used to it by this time! 4 months isn’t it? How the time flies! Well, I don’t care how quick it goes for I’m longing for the time to see my precious darling here.

By the way, I suppose you did not go to see Mr. Potter? Evidently not, or you would have mentioned it in your letter.

Well now, what about Renie’s schooling? Am glad you have had a letter from Mrs. Broad, but are not the fees rather much? You must not forget that there is Frank to be considered also, darling, and I fear my limit of 90 pounds will hardly cover the expenses for two at the rate of 12 guineas per term each. There are clothes to buy, railway fares, pocket money etc. and then there is the extra expense of holidays. Our friends or relatives can hardly be expected to keep them for nothing and if they were to stay at school, the school fees will be higher still. I really think you ought to see Mrs. Broad, explain the situation and get her to quote you an inclusive fee to cover holidays and clothes if possible.

I am, of course, very anxious for Renie to go to boarding school as soon as possible, but as she will have to make the school her home for at least 2 ½ years I am not inclined to rush things. Otherwise, it may put me in a very embarrassing position. Three hundred pounds a year out here with a wife and 3 children is none too much and we shall be obliged to live a ‘retired’ life! Anything less will be ‘pinching’ to make both ends meet. I tell you this because the school arrangements must be left to you, and when you know how much I can spare you for making the necessary arrangements, well, you can go ahead!  And 90 pounds a year is the absolute limit to cover everything.

The best thing, undoubtedly, is to go down to Hastings if you are bent on sending her there and see Mrs. Broad and ‘knock her down’ to the lowest she will take. It is much better than all the writing. You’ll find she will come down alright. Pupils are not easily found nowadays. They cannot afford to throw away any chance of getting them even at low figure!

I will send you 10 pounds to go on with and you can take a few days holiday at the same time and if then you can fix it up with Mrs. Broad, leave Rene there and at the same time you can look out a school for Frank. On second thoughts, with regard to Frank, it has occurred to me that Mr. Potter might speak to Mr. Ewart to get him into the Merchant Taylors School. There is one, of course, for the sons of gentlemen, and there is another branch, I believe, for boys, whose parents have only moderate means. I am writing to Mr. Potter and I’ll certainly mention it to him. You might also write to him about it. It would be fine to get Frank there as he is just the age to be eligible for admission. Furthermore, there are no fees and 20 pounds a year would cover all his expenses.

I forgot to mention that Mr. Ewart is a Governor of the school and therefore if he will only interest himself on our behalf, Frank’s admission to the school is assured. I don’t care about asking him without first mentioning it to Mr. Potter so will wait to hear what he has to say.

Am so glad to hear darling that you are getting stronger. See what a little help will so for you! Now mind you try and keep that girl as long as you can! Otherwise you will go back again [into depression].

So Maurice is nearly rid of the ringworm, am so pleased! It has been troublesome, hasn’t it?

I still keep pretty well, occasionally have attacks of indigestion but am not troubled much.

The weather now is getting warm and indeed some days are quite hot. But. Of course, it is not wise to discard winter underclothing yet.

I went out on Sunday with one or two fellows to see a famous temple just close to us, one of the oldest in the country, about 200 to 300 years. You must understand, there is very little here that is really ‘ancient’ from our point of view. Therefore, anything that has stood for about 200 to 300 years is considered quite ancient!! Most of the houses being built of wood seldom last more than 20 to 30 years.

I had a walk in the afternoon through Hibiya Park. The azaleas looked lovely! And immediately thought of you darling, and how charmed you would have been. There was also a fine band playing at the time and consequently great crowds of people. This was the first time I had heard a Japanese band. It was splendid. I understand they play every Sunday afternoon when it is fine during the summer, so shall make a point of going to hear it.

Things are going very well at the office and we are doing splendid business and making fine profits. So on the whole everything is looking ‘rosy.’

Am sending a few more cards for the kiddies.

With fondest love my own

Ever your devoted

Sid

Dear Rosie: Spring

Sydney tells us he is feeling settled in Tokyo and enjoying his life there, worries about Rose Mary’s ‘fits of depression,’ expresses his distain for Japanese music, records the excitement of a visiting American aviator, praises the spring weather and Japanese blossoms, and laments that all the servants are making him lazy. The end of the letter is missing.


The Tokyo Hotel
Atago hill Park
3 Apr 1911

I was hoping to have been able to send you this letter  by today’s mail but unfortunately put it off till too late and it must therefore go by the usual Wednesday’s mail

I got two letters from you dearest on Saturday, one dated the 17th Feb which came via America and the other my birthday letter wishing me all the good things. Many, many thanks darling and I only wish you were here to give me a real birthday kiss!

I am so sorry to hear you are still having fits of depression, but you must ‘buck up’ and look forward to coming out to me in a few months. I am going to have a chat with Wheeler tis week about it. And then I shall write to Mr. Potter. I would of course rather wait a month or two before mentioning it to the letter but as you are not keeping so well as I had hoped you would I shall write sooner than I had intended. In the meantime, my precious darling, have patience, and we will see about getting you out in August or September! Anyway, before the winter commenced. As a matter of fact, even if you come then, your time will be fully occupied, I expect, getting things ready. And in that, you will have to get the aunts to advise you.

There is not much news to tell you of. Last Saturday I went to a Japanese music hall and of all the piffle you ever saw in your life, that takes the family biscuit.The music consists of a pair of clappers! A rotten tin horn!! with the occasional use of the drum while a man at the side is continually shouting with a voice like a sawmill in distress!! Preserve me from any more of them! That’s all I say!

Yesterday was Sunday and there was a big meeting at a place called Meforu about 5 miles from Tokyo to see an American Aviator. Of course, ‘everybody’ was there. I was there. It was a lovely day and hardly a breath of wind, the flying therefore was excellent.

Today is a public holiday but unfortunately it has rained all day! Most disappointing as there was a great deal of excitement over the opening of a new bridge over the river about 1 1/2 miles from here.

Yesterday, several of us went for a walk before tiffin round Akasaka, one of the best parts of Tokyo. We are thinking of leaving the hotel to take a house as one or two of the boys are dissatisfied with the attention here. As a matter of fact, hotel life gets a bit monotonous after a while.

The cherry blossom is now quite out, and some of the roads where there are long avenues of these trees, are simply lovely! I do so wish you were here to see them. You would be charmed! These blossoms only last about ten days, but then, of course, there are other trees to follow. In fact, it seems to me that every tree you see has a blossom on it or will have soon. You can imagine how lovely they will look in the summer time.

The weather’s still chilly and we have not yet done with fires as April has many cold days and one has to be careful not to catch cold but on the whole the climate is certainly better than England.

I wonder how you will like Tokyo? I didn’t at first but now that the weather is better and I’ve been out and seen different parts of it I’ve changed my mind and really getting to quite to like it. Nevertheless, one has to give up a great deal of the pleasures of ‘home’ with nothing much to compensate you for those losses. However, altho’ I have plenty to do at the office, life on the whole is easier than it is at home. The only thing is one gets awfully lazy, servants wait on you everywhere and I, being no different to the rest, take full advantage of it.

I am so glad to hear Mr. Potter has been so kind to you. He really is a good sort and I should certainly take the opportunity if you can to see him one day very soon and tell him how you feel about staying away from me. He will help you I know and push things forward for us. I shall in all probability be writing him this week. You ought therefore to see him about the same time! And then if you can get anything definite from him set about selling up! All the ‘furniture’ may go except the piano. I will advise you later of this, but you must of course keep all the linen, plate and all small stuff of any value that can be packed in cases. But don’t trouble about crockery!! We can buy it here quite cheaply.

(missing page or pages)

Dear Rosie: Wedding

Sydney is anxiously looking forward to the wedding in two months time. More petulent behaviour between the two. As well, we discover that Rosie’s brother Gus lives in London too. Likely, he too is attending school while the parents live in Hong Kong. Syd seems to greatly enjoy Gus’s company, and that their get-togethers are full of raucous good times. And again, it is evident that Syd loves his Rosie to bits.


8 Grove Road
7 Jan 1897

My own sweet girl

I received your letter the night before last and was so pleased to hear from you. It does seem such ages since you were here dear. If the time is going to drag like this up till the happy day, it will seem endless. I am glad you arrived safely. What a hurried parting we had dear. That train time has been altered. What a pity Mr. Isitt is set so much against Gus coming down to the wedding. It will disappoint him. I have not seen him yet. I do miss you dearest girl and long for the time  when we shall be together for always  and I expect you miss me as well down in that dull place.

I suppose dear there will be a good number at the church, will there not? Do you think Mip Jarman will play the wedding march for us? I wrote Mr. Jarman last night to tell him about the almanac, etc and I also asked him about giving the information at Tip tree. I had thought of that before you wrote and intended asking Mr I.

Since you have left I have been thinking so much about you darling. I ‘m afraid you must think me very unkind to treat you as I do sometimes, especially on Sunday going to Gus’, although it happened for the best. But sweet, do not think I have a sulky temper and likely to be always like that . I only did it for a bit of fun and did not think you would take it to heart. I am so sorry Sweet. You will forgive me, will you not? We were very happy together at Christmas, were we not Sweety?  These happy holidays will always be impressed deeply in my memory. I can remember almost all we spoke to each other in that brief holiday. But soon, ah, only a matter of weeks now darling and we shall be together again.

I spoke to Aunt the other evening, what you said about her going with you to buy your dresses. She said that she would be delighted and suggests that you should wait as long as possible and then the spring fashions will be out – when you come up to see the doctor would be the time. I should say now dearest girl, do not be long in making up your mind as to which day is to be the ‘happy one’ as I am all excitement to know. I have an awful sore throat and do hope that it will soon be better. It is wretched, cannot smoke with any degree of comfort. I hope you are well dearest and free from colds etc. Take care of yourself, won’t you, for my sake.

Good night my own sweet girl, with fondest love and heaps of loving kisses from

Your loving Sid

Dear Rosie: Come

Syd writes Rosie, imploring her to come stay with his family for Christmas. Rosie is boarding. Her father disappeared from Hong Kong in 1890 when Rose Mary was 18. Her Mother Mary was living in York. The prospect of having Christmas alone must have been daunting. Rose Mary was 23.

South Norwood
[Friday] 6th Dec 1895

My own darling Rosie,

Once again I am writing you but I do not think it unkindly of me keeping you so long. The fact is I have been rather busy this week and have not got home till late. I have your umbrella alright so you need not worry anymore about that. I suppose you heard that Gus and Lena were married on Tuesday. When will our turn be dear, I wonder?

I have been thinking of you so much lately, my darling, and especially at night when I go to bed, that I lay awake for – I was going to say hours – not quite so long as that. How are you getting on at dear old Kelvedon? Although I was there such a short time I remember as distinctly as possible every nook and corner I went to.

I’m afraid I cannot come down to you this Christmas. Dear Mater wants me particularly to be at home. Of course, you know darling, poor Pater was here last year and this is the first year she has spent without him since they were married. So you understand why she is anxious to have me at home. She wants you to spend Christmas with us. Will you dear? I do so want to be with you this holiday and it may be some months before I can again. That is, of course, if you get a berth. Do come dear.

You did mention in one of your letters that Mrs. Isitt would leave it whichever way we liked. I’m sure it is very kind of Mr. and Mrs. Isitt to invite me and I thank them most heartily and feel very sorry I cannot come down but you quite understand the position in which I am placed, do you not dear?

And again, if you do come up, I don’t want it to be any expense to you, do you see? I shall send down the necessary and if there is any arguing there will be “ructious” mind. I  have been having an awfully heavy time at the office the last day or two and this evening I finished up with a bad headache.

Well, no more now dear girl. With kind regards to all and lots of love and kisses to my darling sweetheart from

Sid


Notes:

* Kelvedon is a village not far to the northeast of London on the way to Colchester. It has a population of 3485 (2012). 
* “Ructious” is not in the dictionary but “ruction’ means an argument or quarrel

Dear Rosie: Disaster

What follows is our earliest correspondence between Sydney and Rose Mary Caldwell, his girlfriend. Sydney is 18; Rose Mary 21. He and Rose Mary will not marry for another 4 years. Sydney is working in an office, probably clerking in a London bank. He is living with his parent’s (Robert and Sophia) and younger siblings, Ernest (16), Ethel (14 ), Eva (12 ) and Sophie (10). Rose Mary (21) is away somewhere, perhaps for Christmas holidays. Sydney anxiously awaits her return. He and Rosie appear to have established a significant relationship.

December, 1893 Tuesday

Dearest Rosie,

I don’t wonder you thinking me “awfully frivolous” not writing you as often as I should, but am glad you don’t think me unkind and forgetful of you but you know letter writing seems a fearful bore to me and the more I put off writing the more I want to, but I will write you a few lines about myself and home (I say home because I have a lot to tell you about it).

We are only just returning home after being away for more than 6 weeks, the latter part of the time have been staying with my Aunt at Forest Gate (Grace’s mother) and have had a most pleasant time down there. All Christmas week I kept it up, first one place and then another. Forest Gate [London neighbourhood] one night, Croydon [south London] the next and Teddington [southwest London] the next but the best night was having to stay late at the office ‘til about half past ten. But still I didn’t mind that after so much enjoyment or rather dissipation, but of course these sorts of things must come to an end, which they did.

The four of us – Ethel, Eva, Ernest and myself are going to a dance tomorrow evening in Selhurst. I dare say you know the people. The father of these girls or rather step-father is Heaver – owns a lot of property in the Tennyson Road. I’ve had an invitation to see some friends at South Croydon tonight.

Did I tell you anything about our house, I don’t think I did. Of course to commence with (it’s like a comedy). Vic and Eva are at home ill, soon afterwards (you remember that fearful gale about a month ago). Well, about 5 o’clock in the evening a 20 ft chimney blew from the Hagg’s house next door and fell onto our roof and smashed a number of tiles and guttering, Not contented with that must fall on to the next and do the same thing, eventually landing on the Conservatory smashing it to atoms and Evas machines(?) as well. I never saw such a sight in all my life.

No sooner was this done with when, Sunday, pipes burst during the frost and simply swamped the place, and to make it worse, the servant cleared out, so you can just imagine what a fearful time the mater has had of it but Thank God it is nearly all over with now. It has been simply two months of misery at home.

Well dearest, I haven’t time to say any more, am writing this at the office. By the way, when do you think you will be coming home? Should so much like to see you. I suppose for about a day in six weeks ______ it strikes me you won’t stay it much longer. Write soon.

With fondest love,

Ever yours,

Sid

Dear Rosie: War

In this letter Sydney expresses concern that the family may not have enough food because of war shortages. He assesses the children’s progress and gives Rose Mary plentiful advice on managing their advancement. He is thrilled that Frank has joined the Artist’s Rifles. He is working long hours and business for his company, he says, is booming. I believe he is living in the Bluff Hotel. The Bluff is a district on high ground overlooking Yokohama. Foreigners lived there.



Bluff
18 Mar 1918


My own darling Rosie,

Just received your letter of the 25th January and was pleased to hear from you once again. Letters are few and far between but I can quite understand you have plenty to do and consequently little opportunity for correspondence. I have been frightfully busy too, seldom getting home before 7:30 pm and generally tired out and more fit for bed than anything else. However am really very well and so have nothing to complain of except that I miss you so and long for the time when we shall be together again.

I am getting very concerned about you all now that there seems such difficulties over the food problem. I do hope that you are having enough to eat. Each week one sees the toll of ships sunk by submarines and with the vast numbers of American troops crossing the Atlantic must make it all the more difficult to supply the increasing demand for food stuffs.

I am very interested in your suggestions to come out to Japan again Darling. But as things are now and with Frank in [military] training I am afraid you could not be happy away from them all, even if you have me. I miss you so much indeed, but would rather put up with that than know you were unhappy worrying about the others at home. No, for the time being _____ you had better stay where you are at least until the war is over, which, let us hope, will not be too long now, and then you [can] come out again for a couple of years while the boys finish their schooling, and then perhaps we can both have a trip home.

However, it must rest with you Darling, and if you can make arrangements to take a trip via America I shall be quite happy as I shall know that you will see the children properly provided for in your absence.

Vi, I think, ought to be in school for some time yet. She is rather backward for her age and not at all fitted for office work, unless she has changed a good deal.

So Frank has joined up. I was particularly pleased to hear that he has been able to get into the Artist’s Rifles, O.T. C. and I shall be glad to have word of him from time to time. I know the Regiment of Old. When I was in the Queen’s Westminsters, we used to consider them the elite of the volunteers.

Please thank Renie for her photograph. It is splendid of her. Her letters too are extremely interesting and make me feel very proud of her. I must also congratulate her on coming out 3rd in the competition on efficiency at the office. This, I consider all the more praiseworthy as she has not had the opportunity of an education I should like to have given her and which doubtless many of her competitors had received and therefore, more or less, leaves her at a disadvantage. Both Mr. Frazar [and] Mr. Bowden think a great deal of her and there will be, I am sure, always a place in the office for her. Would she come back to Japan[?]  There is just a possibility, by the way, of her meeting Tony Klingen (sp) in London. She leaves the firm at the end of this month in order to act as companion to a wealthy Dutch lady on her way to Holland. I expect she will write to Renie.

Tell the ‘Boys’ I was so pleased to have their letters and to know they are getting on so well at school. Maurice, by the way, ought soon to improve in his letter writing and I would suggest you make a point of this when you have occasion to see his master. Don’t say anything to Maurice, but quietly help him along. How is the violin going? I am looking forward to seeing him a brilliant violinist one of these days. You must see that he has lessons under a good master. I am quite prepared to spend some money on it. By the way, with regard to his school fees, ask Mr. Curtis to pay it and if I get a ‘wad’ at the half year in April will send you a hundred pounds to pay for these extras.

There is very little news as I have often remarked. I had very pleasant weekend at Kobe  and Mrs. Drummond put me up. We went for a car ride on the Sunday through the hills at the back of Kobe and I enjoyed it immensely. Mr. Frazar was with us too. I had some auditing to do and a Masonic Meeting on the Saturday evening and so filled up the time very profitably.


We are doing a tremendous business and this year will most probably be a record. There is, of course, a good deal of responsibility for me but I’m enjoying it. Although I shall be glad when the slack time comes to have a good rest and perhaps my long looked for trip home!

There is some news of course!! H____ Frost is engaged to be married to a Mr. O’Dell, the fellow who wrote “All at Sea” which was put on at the G_____ I think just after you left for home. He is much older than she is but quite a nice fellow and I know him intimately.

So sorry to hear of poor old George’s [Sydney’s sister Millicent’s husband] illness and hope he has quite recovered by this time. They always seem to have the doctor in their house. Give my love to them.

Must really close now, it’s getting late and I am tired out. Take the greatest care of yourself Darling for

Your everloving Syd

Dear Rosie: Nikko

Tokyo
10 Aug 1911

My darling Rosie,

I ought to have written you in time for today’s mail but only had time to send a few cards to the kiddies. I expect, therefore, you you will be rather disappointed. I’ve been awfully busy lately. One or two have been away from the office and it has made it such hard work to get things up to date.

I had your letter on Saturday just as I was leaving for Nikko for the weekend and so did not have much time for writing you a long yarn but was able to send to the Post Office for the money order for 2 pounds 10 which I hope will be useful to you. It is not much dearest, but if you are pressed, ask them at the office for more and I will repay it here.

Well, I suppose you would like to hear a little about what Nikko is like, eh? Altho’ I left the office about 11:45 we did not reach the hotel at Nikko till a quarter past six. What a lovely place it is! The most lovely hills and waterfalls and running streams at every turn.


The hotel is some distance from the station, I should say about 2 miles, and uphill all the way. We have to pass the famous Sacred Bridge (I think you have a postcard of it; if not I will send you one). And from there to the hotel about three quarters of a mile we run beside a rushing torrent with the most glorious hills on either side. We had no time, of course, to go anywhere on Saturday evening.

So on Sunday morning I went to the early service at the church conducted by the Bishop of Tokyo (also staying at the Hotel) and after breakfast we started off with three other tourists (Germans) for the Terami Falls, about 3 miles distant, one of the finest sights I have ever seen! We were able to climb up the rocks and actually get right underneath the falls.


We came back to tiffin and in the afternoon a big party of us ladies and gentlemen went to see the famous Temple quite close to the Hotel. Oh dear, how I wished you could have been there too, but still, you shall go there next year (D.V.) Sweetheart. [D.V. = Deo Volente, latin for God willing].


On Monday morning my messmate [table partner in the hotel dining room] and I took a short walk before breakfast across the stream, which is a series of miniature waterfalls, the water rushing between the big boulders (I am sending you by the same post views of these places I visited).


After breakfast, a party of us went to the Jakko Falls. These are not quite so good and we had to jump from one rock to the other and at one place, before we got to the falls themselves. But still the country was very beautiful.The finest I have yet seen in Japan so far.

We were going to ‘tour’ and go through Chunenji, a very beautiful spot further up in the mountains but we changed our minds and saw Nikko instead. So I must go to the other place later in the autumn when the leaves begin to change colour. That is the time, they say! If I go I will write and tell you all about it [and] send you some more views.

Yokohama Razed

1 Sep 1923 2 minutes to noon

Yokohama/Tokyo

Maurice Bruce, on arriving back in England, relates his experiences of the earthquake to a journalist. He was likely staying with his grandmother, Mary (Mitchell) Caldwell in Hull, Yorkshire. This seems to have run in the Yorkshire Post.

Some Grim Incidents
Thrilling narrative of the fall of Yokohama

The claim of Mrs. Henderson of Yokohama to be the first British woman survivor of the Japanese earthquake to arrive in England is already disputed. Mrs. Cranch of Yokohama, who has relatives in Hull, arrived in the SS Minnedosa on Thursday, two days earlier, though, of course, Mrs. Henderson could not be aware of that when she described herself as the first arrival.

Mrs. Cranch is a member of an English family which settled in Japan in 1911. Her brother, Mr Bruce, went out in that year ______________ and was joined there by his wife and three children. They have lost everything in the disaster and the fate of three members of the family is still uncertain. Mrs. Bruce sailed for England from Japan immediately before the earthquake and so escaped it. Her son, Mr. M Bruce, an employee of the Rising Sun Petroleum Company, who arrived in England with Mrs Cranch, owed his life in all human probability to the fact that he happened to be on holiday at the time of the shock. His sister, who was one of the staff of the General Electric Company, equally certainly escaped death through the circumstance [that she departed]  the office one hour earlier than usual. Otherwise, she would have been on the fourth floor when the huge building collapsed.

It is, however, to be related in this connection, that another member of the staff, Mr Marcus Colter, who was standing in a doorway on the third floor when the collapse occurred, descended with the falling building and landed absolutely uninjured, Though almost choked with dust. Many staff were less fortunate. Sydney Bruce and his eldest son were in Tokyo at the time of the shock. The first thought, naturally, was to get to Yokohama to learn how their relatives had fared, but they found that every means of ordinary travel was cut off. They therefore trudged the 18 miles to Yokohama.

The hoped-for reunion did not take place because they arrived to find everything in unspeakable confusion. Mr M Bruce, who relates these facts, was by this time on a boat in the harbour. His sister, with other refugees, was sent to Kobe, roughly 200 miles away, and at the other side of the island. Mr M Bruce afterwards heard ____Kobe____ and that they had been seen by a friend on a passing ship, but beyond this, he and his mother have absolutely no tidings of them. There is good reason to hope, however, that they are quite safe.

Relating his own experiences, Mr M Bruce said to a Yorkshire Post representative that he was on the pier bidding goodbye to some friends who were about to sail on the Empress of Australia. He was one of the many people doing so and most of them, though by no means all, escaped death or injury in this way. Thee was a slight shock, then a heavy one, and then the huge pier collapsed, although the portion of the structure where the liner was berthed was left intact. After recovering from the shock sufficiently to observe things — a matter of a few moment — he looked landwards and rubbed his eyes in horrified amazement. The magnificent city had crumbled into ruin.

[The rest of the article is missing. It appears to be from the Yorkshire Post]

Earthquake: Missionary

This is a lengthy account of the earthquake by one who lived to tell the tale, missionary B.S. Moore. It includes the accounts of other missionaries with whom she worked in Yokohama. The holocaust Moore describes was of such a magnitude and ferocity that I am left dumbfounded that all seven of my family survived unscathed (Sydney, Frank, Maurice, Vi, Vi’s husband to be Joe Fish, Eva Cranch – Sydney’s sister – and her husband Bill). Moore and her associates likely swapped stories with my uncle Maurice Bruce and his aunt Eva Cranch, all of whom were on the SS President Jefferson together, returning as refugees to Canada and the U.S.  Although a number of religious pronouncements have been removed for readability, there remains a strong evangelical flavour to the writing. That aside, this is a story worth reading. Indeed, it will take your breath away…. OUR MARVELOUS ESCAPE FROM DEATH

 11:59, September 1, 1923 Yokohama, Japan

Accounts by B.S. Moore and Others, 1923

DURING the passing moments of midday, while the Oriental sun was shining and a gentle breeze was blowing, came a sudden roar as of a subterranean clap of thunder and quick as a flash of lightning the house began to rock and bounce up and down. We were beginning to eat lunch, beautiful tomatoes, carrots, onions and “cucumbers, made a very inviting lunch indeed, especially in hot weather as the temperature was 90 to 95 degrees. We all started for the door, but were thrown violently against the walls back and forth, when suddenly the west side of the house raised up. The vibration hurled us twelve to fifteen feet eastward out of the house against the fence. The house was thrown in the same direction, just missing my head, but caught my wife and her Bible woman, Grace Suzuki, under the wreckage. Buried out of sight they began to call on Jesus to help them.

Wife was nearest to me, so I began working with all the strength and swiftness there was in me. Great power came upon me, it seemed my arms were like Sampson’s, everything, big and small, boards, timbers, tiling and all, gave way as I worked. My hands were bursting, the skin of the palms of my hands could not stand the strength that entered my arms. I could see it tear but no pain. The earth constantly rocking and rising up and down at intervals made it difficult to work. As I removed the roof, my wife appeared to be alive and saying, “my poor arm, Jesus you will help me.”

I worked so fast it seemed I had them both out in two or three minutes, although there were tons of wreckage over them, a nine-roomed house used as a Bible Training Home, all furnished, having collapsed in a few seconds, and under this they were caught. My wife could walk, so I sat her on a rock, but she was trusting in and praying to the “Rock of Ages.” Our Bible woman whom I rescued, could also walk, but was bruised about the face. She went to a nearby Japanese “Dispensary” and obtained some gauze and cotton and some disinfectant in a clam shell. There I did my first work of a surgeon, giving first aid. I bandaged the arm and fixed it up as well as I could, then sat down and held a prayer meeting in the middle of the road. All pain went out of the arm and never returned. Fires were raging on all sides except a narrow space in the direction of “Sagi Yama,” a small mountain to the south of us.

We read in Isaiah 29:6: “Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of Hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.” This we experienced in the Yokohama disaster, which laid it flat in from five to fifteen seconds. Thundering beneath us were shocks swift as lightning, tearing the earth into thousands of pieces. Opening it large enough to take in houses, as one man told me he saw houses go out of sight as the earth opened and closed. Autos and rickshas were seen to go down in the fissures of the earth. It is indescribable. Thousands pinned under houses calling for help everywhere and very few people to be seen to help them. The Japanese were dazed, they had no presence of mind to act.

We wondered where to go as the fire came down the valley fanned by a typhoon. Our Japanese servant, Kimpachi, (No. 8 gold is name in English) informed us we must move quickly to the south and ascend the mountain for safety. We pulled out of the wreckage a few Japanese beds (thin mattresses) and a few cans of fish and prunes, etc., and went bravely up the mountain. Wife never complained. After reaching the summit I went again to the wreckage and at great risk of life was successful in the rescuing of some thin summer dresses, a suit of underwear and some canned beans. The fire was raging and roaring like thunder, miles of blaze, fanned by a gale, was a startling scene., I returned through the narrow street, which was about eight feet wide, the fire burning on one side.

This was my last trip to the spot where we resided until after the fire had consumed everything. We settled down again on the “Mount of God’s choice” for us and held prayer meeting, weeping over the burning city, realizing what it meant with half a million or more shut up and surrounded by fire with no way of escape. Only a few very fortunate ones near the edge of the city found refuge in the park and bay. Thousands jumped into the canals only to perish by water, by suffocation and fire from burning boats. Suicides were numerous. The Japanese are fatalists, and have no hope, no consolation in their gods in such a time.Men Ought Always to Pray and Not to Faint Prayer Changes Things

Out in the middle of the road, amid the ghastly scenes, we united in prayer, weeping before the Lord, imploring Him to please stop the quakes, but no response, only a vision came before me that as the Heavenly Father was of purer eyes, He could not look upon sin (Heb. 1:13) for He turned His face away from looking upon the terrible scene of Jesus Christ His Son hanging on the cross, bearing our sin and sickness, our judgment upon the cruel Roman cross. We asked the Lord to remove all pain from my wife’s broken arm and restore and preserve all our lives from death which was seemingly imminent and He graciously answered prayer and Mrs. Moore’s condition was quite normal from that time on through the terrible destruction with its scenes of horror and woe all around us. Our neighbors were nearly all killed instantly. One family never even screamed. Doctor, wife, nurse, and two children all hurled into eternity with many hundreds of thousands meeting the same fate; think of a city of over five hundred thousand people wiped out in a few hours; on every side of you raging fires, oils and explosives helping in the destruction of the city of Yokohama and its people.

The chemicals and explosives at Yokosuka all exploding and burning amid many war vessels, including a giant super-dreadnaught of 42,000 tons reported a total wreck as she was on the the dry docks nearing completion. What an outlay of money all wasted! Surely “He maketh wars to cease unto the ends of the earth.”-—Psa. 46:9. “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Shocks continued constantly; for about one week there were over two thousand with only a short cessation between sharp jerks and splitting of the earth. The earth settled in places and the east coast dropped down eight feet.

Preparing to Climb the Mountain

We had pulled out of the wreckage a few Japanese futons (beds) and a few cans of eatables, and a few pieces of wearing apparel tied up in a sheet (which we gave away to others on the mountain and on the ship), and amid raging fires on every side, we wended our way through the narrow, crooked passages in which a number were also trying to make their escape to a place of safety. Finally we reached the top of “Sagi Yama,” a small mountain, and there we sat down. Our hearts were so anxious as we felt many of our dear Christians had perished. Soon news was conveyed to us that our Japanese pastor with his wife and son were gone, also Bro. Sato who worked in the Fukuin Printing house, a gospel and Bible printing company in which the manager and the whole staff of seventy employees perished. This was one of the largest Bible printing houses in the world. Printing plates to the value of nearly $250,000 have been totally ruined. This represents versions in as many as twenty-five languages and dialects for Japan, China, Siam, and the Philippines. The American Bible houses were totally destroyed by the fires which broke out spontaneously in connection with the quake fanned by a 50-mile gale of wind, a heavy typhoon which increased the fire to such proportions that it formed into whirlwinds of funnel shaped clouds, water spouts or cloud-bursts not being a comparison, sucking up houses and many people into the air only to fall down again crushed and roasted, except one, who was seen to disappear in the clouds and never returned. We trust he went up and joined Enoch and Elijah. Translation power and faith is being given God’s children these days preparing them for the “Parousia”—1st Thess. 4:16-18. “The dead shall be raised and the living caught up in a moment in a twinkling of an eye—1st Cor. 15:51, 52. Resurrection in Prophecy, “Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust, for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out her dead. Come, my people, enter into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For behold the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.”—Isa. 26:19-21.Fires Rage and Fearful Sights

For fifty miles from Yokosuka to the north of Tokyo the greatest conflagration of ages beheld for the first time, storm and tempest and devouring fire. People who defied God and cursed Jesus our Lord were all being consumed. The din, the smoke, terrible explosions, and nerve-racking shocks unparalleled in history. The shocks were so violent and houses fell so quickly and fires spread so rapidly. Oils and combustible materials fed the flames in every direction. There were no means of escape as open spaces were few. Only one park of any size where five thousand fled only to meet their fate by suffocation as the fires raged and surrounded the people, their clothes on fire and cinders raining upon them, members of families running through the smoke calling for their loved ones with no response. Thousands pinned under the buildings calling for help but no one available, beholding with their eyes the oncoming flames fanned into a fury with the raging winds and in a few moments they cease to be. Rescue work was limited to the water front where quick work rescued many from the approaching fires. A number who could swim were picked up by ship launches and saved, but many drowned, while others bled to death, no surgeon or nurses to stop the blood by the use of tight bandages. This should warn all to prepare to meet the Lord.

We stood beside a rough bandit and he remarked, as we wept over the burning city, that we should not weep as it would make us weak in our body, just say “shi kata ga nai,” (it cannot be helped), however, we could not help but weep as we saw hun-dreds of thousands of people were being roasted and cremated, for we could smell them roasting, while thousands of others jumped overboard into the canals and bay to escape the fire, but alas only to perish, with the exception of a few who bailed water over their heads or ducked themselves under incessantly for seven hours until the city was practically reduced to cinders. These are realities we shall never forget in this life.A Typical Feudal War

NEWS of the escape of a large number of criminals reached us, because the prison had been demolished, therefore this stirred the civilians into action. They armed themselves with bamboo clubs, with knives tied on the ends, and with such swords as they were able to get from the wrecked homes. The earth was still rocking and screams as of wild hyenas or other wild beasts were filling the night air as the war began and increased in fury killing and pillaging everywhere. About four hundred Japanese refugees taking refuge in an open space at the end of Yawata bashi car line were all killed by the escaped criminals. The fight.

[photo: Yokohama Park. Scenes of Death and as the few who escaped remarked. It was a veritable hell.]

ing then spread to Tokyo. Kyoto and other towns began clamoring over where the next capital should be set up. Many innocent Chinese and Koreans, and nine Americans were slain, also after the quake wholesale massacre of Koreans followed. Five were lined up before our eyes and taken just behind a hedge fence to be killed. My wife buried her face in her pillow to avoid the horrible scene as they marched right past her as she was lying on the ground. It was surely a sight which would unnerve a strong man to say nothing of an injured woman. From good authority a message was sent to the United States that 15,000 Koreans were imprisoned and 250 were bound hand and foot and soaked in oil and burned alive, also eight Koreans were bayoneted to death in the presence of a party of American tourists, who were then forced at pistol point to drive their auto over the dead bodies. An American citizen, assistant dock superintendent of Yokohama, is quoted as an authority for the charge that the Koreans were burned alive. Dr. Thompkins alleges that Japanese officials issued orders directing that as many Koreans as possible be killed. Also while communication was still in the hands of Japanese control, anti-Koreans took advantage of even the great catastrophe to unjustly accuse Koreans of looting, poisoning wells, incendiarism and all the crimes of the calendar. Japan clamped their censorship and refused to let the reports go through. “Truth will out.” All the wireless equipments on the ships were sealed and no true report was allowed to go out, but after the ships left port and proceeded beyond the three mile limit they rushed the news through, though only fragments of the awful fate of the devastated region were told.

Civilians Complaining

Threats were being made in our company of what they would do if they could not obtain food. We remarked, “there is a field of young onions-and green corn, eat that” and next morning for breakfast they were devouring corn and young onion’s and bon-fires were made where they roasted the corn, and hungry crying children were satisfied. Soon many were out in pursuit of prey. All were soldiers in such a time, of the type of the Samurai days, head hunting and so forth, no law, no order, no policemen to be seen, no Red Cross, no doctors nor hospitals. All were gone and no help for the wounded and dying. All was confusion and fighting. Some wicked fellows brandished their swords in front of us indicating what they could do, but one fellow who knew us said, “You and your wife have been kind to the Japanese, they will not hurt or kill you.” However, our hope was in God and we had no fear, our prayers had reached the throne and our wonderful Savior protected and cared for us. This same bandit was exceptionally kind to Mrs. Moore. He went and hunted the forsaken homes of foreigners until he found a wicker reclining chair which he pulled out and brought up the mountain and helped Mrs. Moore upon it feeling very much satisfied that he had succeeded in making her more comfortable. Some distance away there was a dairy sheltered under the mountain side which had escaped the flames and this bandit went twice and brought milk. Surely God cares for His own. Learning also that the wounded missionary liked fruit he went and found a pear and a small bunch of grapes and brought them to the missionary. A Japanese asked him, “Do you not like fruit?” He answered, “Yes, but the missionary needs them more than I do, I will do without.” Just think how God had touched the heart of one who had been so wicked and caused him to make such sacrifice.

This might put some Christians to shame, because it is easy to give when you have plenty, but to make a sacrifice when you are divested of everything, all your goods, food, clothing, home, no money, no place to lay your head, then you are in a position to appreciate the words of Jesus when He said, “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath no place to lay His head.”

Secure in Jesus’ Care

The wind changed during the early part of the night, blowing the fire in our direction over the mountain. Sparks like golden leaves or a fiery snow storm came tumbling down over the mountain. Many picked up their few belongings and fled like maddened animals. We said to a company near us, “Hold your ground. There will be no harm to us here.” “All right,” they

[photo: A scene of total loss of property and life where hundreds were working in factories, words fail to describe the wails for help; all were cremated.]

said and abode where they were and not even a hair of our heads was singed, all praise to God alone who loves and protects His own. Underneath were the everlasting arms and the angel of the Lord encamping around about us, Psa. 34:7, and the banner of His love over us. How could we be harmed? Greater is He, the Holy Spirit, within you than he that is in the world.” Comrades, take courage and press on toward the mark.

Fire, War, Death

The war still raging, and the wounded groaning and dying all around us, the dead are covered with a piece of rough straw matting. The soldiers brought some rough boxes wherein were placed the dead. We were called upon to preach the funerals. The graves were dug with a piece of an old garden hoe. We spoke to the company concerning the future after this life and salvation purchased for us through the Blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, then sang “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder, I’ll Be There.” We could think of no other kind of hymns, heaven is our objective. The earth still in convulsions it seemed more like a resurrection than a burial from the fact that when Jesus arose from the dead together with many bodies of the saints, there was a great earthquake, the soldiers fell as dead men, the centurion feared greatly, saying “This was the Son of God”—Matt. 27:51-54. We buried the dead quietly just as the sun was setting, and all stood with bowed heads weeping. It was a solemn and never to be forgotten time. The dear, stricken people gathered around us and thanked us for the kind words spoken which brought comfort to their hearts. Surely these are the closing days of man’s rule on the earth. Therefore, dear reader, prepare, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Revival on the Mountain

Three groups of various sects were engaged in earnest prayer. Some were praying to “Nichiren,” the founder of a sect three hundred years ago, a man who consecrated himself, to the gods and by lying on the ground in the woods for three days and nights without clothing, allowed his body to be bitten by vermin of all kinds in order that he might conquer his flesh in a moral way while he established his faith among the people. Another was a Buddhist sect who prayed to Buddha, and also the Shintoist, who venerate the dead, praying to the departed spirits of all dead relatives, emperors and statesmen, also the dragon, the fox, the Hachiman, eighty thousand gods incorporated in one, including the god of fire, but no answer came. Next in order was our band of five all praying with strong crying and tears, earnestly asking Jesus to have mercy on the dear, stricken people. Suddenly the idol worshipers ceased to call on their gods, saying, “Teacher, pray for us, we are suffering.” Others said, “Teacher sing, 0 sing to us. We heard you last night on the street preaching about great judgments coming on a world of sin and this must be what you told us.” Then we prayed and sang, “When He Cometh to Gather His Jewels,” chorus in Japanese:

All the people wept and said, “What a beautiful song.” Then we all prayed for them and they thanked us for the comfort which had come to their hearts. There were no more heathen prayers offered during the time we were there. They looked to us for comfort and were amazed and wondered as the power of God would come upon Mrs. Moore, causing her to pray and praise God in a heavenly language, called in the Greek “Glossa.” It surely puts the gloss upon us and makes the face to shine and the heart to glow even in the times of greatest trial and suffering, Jesus, help us ever to shine for thee. Eternity alone will reveal the work of the Holy Spirit through the seed sown in hearts in such a time as that. Many new converts were swept into eternity in a few seconds, but most of the older Christians were safe.

Missionaries and Churches

Two missionaries of the “Tokiwa M. E. home” were reported

[photo: Cherry Blossom Season at Hommoku, Yokohama, Japan, Everybody at this season is cheerful.]

killed, also one in the Ferris Seminary. When rescuers tried to get her out she said, “Never mind me, I am going to heaven, try to save the girls.” It was a girls’ school and she was willing to sacrifice her life for their sake. Also two Y. W. C. A. workers were reported killed in Chinatown, where fifty thousand of Chinese perished. As to churches and missions, there was not one of any name but that was totally destroyed, including every Mission School, Salvation Army barracks, and all in the city of Yokohama. Not one escaped destruction.

The water front was the “Mecca.” Many fled to the piers and sampans, barges and ships for refuge only to soon be surrounded by fire. Oil tanks exploded as the fire from the burning hotels, clubs and steamship offices spread, fanned by a heavy gale of wind blowing the flames over the water. Many oil tanks connected by pipes separated and the oil poured out over the harbor and ignited, turning it into a veritable hell, consuming boats loaded with people and all the freight on lighters, some loaded with gasoline and benzine, naptha and coal oil. The Japanese freighters lying in the harbor did no rescue work and they refused to take any one on board, thus thousands perished as the smoke enveloped them. They leaped overboard and many roasted alive on boats. When the smoke cleared away there was no one, in sight and every boat had disappeared. The bottom of the bay raised up and down and shook the ships so that a number were totally wrecked. The steel plate loosened and they sank. The great Empress of Australia, loaded with passengers, was just pulling out from the dock when the first shock came, which swayed the ship and threw many to the floors and decks. At first it was thought that the ship had hit the dock too hard in backing out, but instantly the passengers saw chimneys and buildings swaying and falling. Then they knew it was an earthquake, also instantly the great concrete pier collapsed on which hundreds of people were standing who were farewelling departing friends, throwing most of them into the bay, where they scrambled among the wreckage. Bro. D. G. Swanson of the Salvation Army was among them. He said a number must have perished. He was able to swim, so made his escape, and quick work by the ship launches rescued others. The disabled liner for a time seemed doomed as in backing out the propeller was twisted by being tangled up in the chain of the “Steel Navigator,” a large sea tug then in harbor. The “Australia” was held there for many hours. Finally the captain signalled a Dutch liner to come to her aid as the oil which had ignited on the water was burning all around the ship and the crew fought valiantly with many large hose to force the burning oil back from the ship. With the city and boats in the harbor on fire the temperature arose to 140 degrees. On board the boat the people almost suffocated. The Dutch captain sent a message back saying his ship was loaded with benzine and oils and it was a great risk to undertake, however, the British are persistent, you know, and they believed in being pertinaciously solicitous in such a time of dire need. Finally Sunday morning the Dutch captain answered the call and ventured near the blazing oil, sent a wire cable to the crippled liner laden with refugees and passengers, who were well nigh overcome from heat and fear. Slowly the great liner began to move as the brave Dutch captain steamed up and every one gave a sigh of relief and soon they were anchored outside the breakwater most of which was demolished and under water. Thus the “Empress of Australia” with more than a thousand human lives was saved. We saw English, Americans, Canadians, and people of all nations take off their hats and say three cheers (banzais) to the Dutch captain who ran the great risk of being blown to atoms to save the lives of others. God bless him. “Greater love hath no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Amen.

About five thousand people had fled to this park for refuge, the only large vacant space in the city. Sights were shocking. Some with legs or arms off, mangled in the most frightful manner, were taken there by their friends, bleeding and dying, and no one to help them. Great fissures had opened and the water and mud as great geysers spouted out of the earth. The water was nearly waist deep in places as all the water mains were broken and the fountains of the deep were broken up, while gas pipes separated added to the horrors, and flames were intensified by the gas explosions coming from out of the earth. It seemed as though the earth was afloat. The earth’s surface seems to be very thin in this region. On Sunday morning the park was literally covered with dead and dying, lying in the mud, faces downward, (the mud was eight inches deep), with clothes burned off, necks and backs burned and blistered. There they lay, poor, suffering souls. No one could help them as there was nothing to bring to them, not even a drink of water. The canals were putrid with filth and dead bodies and many even drank that. The dead were in heaps in some sections of the canals. Many went insane and went roving about; suicides were numerous; people in general thought the end of the world had come. One policeman who was also fleeing was called upon to help rescue a young Mexican woman who was pinned under the house, fire breaking out near by, he remarked, “shi kata ga nai, mina san mo sugu shinde shimasu.” i. e., “no help for this, everybody will soon be dead,” and he went his way without helping. Thus they resign themselves to their fatalistic ideas. Nearly all who took refuge in the park perished.

The Wounded Foreigners

Among the foreign refugees were people of almost every nation, wounded men, women, boys and girls, some with legs cut open, hands crushed, parts of bodies torn away, many of them died of infections, and the ships were not provided with facilities sufficient for such an emergency although doctors and medical missionaries who were aboard on their way to China and Korea worked untiringly night and day. The day following the quake over seven hundred operations were performed on board the Empress of Australia, on shore, and on the French liner. Everybody worked with a will and divided clothing and all they had with the refugees. Thank God for such a benevolent spirit.

Many died on their way to America and were buried at sea. The greatest toll of life aboard the ships was on the Empress of Australia, the crippled ship. She reported by wireless one day they were proceeding slowly because there had been up to that day forty funerals at sea, somebody’s loved ones committed to the cold briny deep, awaiting the resurrection with many a torn and bleeding heart left behind.

Our Departure from the City of Destruction

Three days after the quake we were notified by Captain Swanson of the Salvation Army that passage was available on the Empress of Canada for foreigners who wished to leave and advised us by all means to leave at once because of Mrs. Moore’s wounds, which had no attention up till this time. We did not want to go. We were willing to remain and share the fate of our dear Christians. They knew we were homeless and almost penniless and could not help them, therefore they said as we asked them what they thought about our leaving, “Yes, teacher, you should go, as you could help us more from America than you could here and we Japanese can get along somehow.” We did not run away from our work. It was the greatest trial of our life to have to leave.

We started for the harbor in a drenching rain and high wind. When we reached the boat what little clothing we had was soaked through. For food we had a can of fish and glass of honey, which was pulled out of the debris after the house fell. However, we did not have any appetite for food because of the odor of human flesh roasting all around us. We passed by many Koreans who had been slain in the uprising or revival of feudalism. The trip to the boat was not a pleasant one, we had to climb over debris and wreckage of all kinds and as far as eye could reach over the city of Yokohama, there was not a house left, nothing but smoking embers, a vast cemetery of hundreds of thousands cremated. The Union church, a fine stone structure was lying in heaps. Tons of it were thrown for sixty feet as if a great explosion had taken place underneath it. Also the English church, a large brick edifice, was thrown across the street in heaps. The foreign cemetery was as if it had been bombarded, the monuments broken and the slabs thrown aside as if a resurrection had taken place. We all took courage and firmly fixed our faith in the blessed hope of His glorious appearing.

Our Bible woman and Bros. Kimura, Kishii, and dear Bro. Swanson our Salvation Army friend accompanied us to the boat. We wept much as we separated for our hearts were all knit together in the love of God. Poor tired brothers and sisters, wet, and only one thin piece of clothing on and that dirty, no home; no food in sight—thus amid a storm of wind and rain we said good bye, waving our hands. We had no hats, all went up in the flames. Church, mission and Bible training home, all furnished with all we had, reduced to ashes, the common fate of all. We took joyfully the spoiling of our goods, knowing God’s ways are not our ways, He knoweth, and “all things work together for good,” whether we can see it at the time or not.

At the Front of The Battle

We had felt definitely led of the Lord not to go to the cool mountain resorts to spend the summer as most all of the mission-aries do, but just to stay in the city at the battle’s front and to pitch our gospel tent in a new and neglected locality where the gospel had never been preached and the people had never heard of Jesus the mighty to save. Anyone knows the chances for being wounded are more at the front of the battle than in the rear behind the stumps, so we battled away during the hot summer months preaching nightly to large crowds who attended and listened with rapt attention. Scores, responded to the gospel call and the altars were filled with dear hearts seeking God and finding Him, whole families were gloriously saved.

The tent meeting was closed about two weeks before the disaster; however, the people of that community begged us not to leave them but to build a church for them there, therefore we contracted with a man to build a church which was under construction when the quake came and so far as we can know nearly all the new converts were swept into eternity to be with Jesus before they were tempted to backslide. How we do thank God that He helped us to obey Him and that we stayed in the city and preached the gospel to thousands in the open air and everywhere. We had never seen such a revival spirit in Japan before. It seemed everybody wanted to hear the gospel. People came from long distances to our home to pray. God is so faithful He had been drawing on hearts and wooing them to Himself knowing the time for them was short in which to seek and find the Savior.

Personal Work and Street Work

We had such a strong desire to get the gospel to as many as possible during the hot weather and as old and young, and all classes, are out in the streets during the summer it affords a splendid opportunity for sowing the seed. Crowds would gather and stand and listen for hours and we just wondered why there was such a deep interest being manifested, but it was God’s faithfulness in giving them their last message. Many came to our home as early as 7:30 in the morning for prayer and at the mission there was deep interest in every meeting and large baptismal services were held with the power of the Holy Spirit resting upon them. During the summer many asked me, “Why are you not up in the mountains?” We said, “We are not loafers and it is too expensive up there, also business men object to missionaries taking such long vacations each year as they can only take from one to three days at a time, and some might be saved by our remaining at our post of duty.”

A sun worshiper became very much interested in our talk with him. He said after praying five minutes to the sun he could look through the people’s heart and tell whether they were honest or not when they came to deal at his store. We remarked if he could do that, the God who made the sun could do far greater, He the Creator, the Living God whom we served. I gave him our little paper in Japanese, “The Fukuin Tankaito” (Gospel Searchlight) which his wife read also and became convinced of the truth and the light of heaven shone into their hearts and they were both trusting in Jesus when the quake came and they perished, as the land in that section was opened in hundreds of places. We believe through our ministry there will be some trophies from that section for our summer’s work which will shine as the stars forever; although dear wife bears, in her left arm, scars of a brave soldier, one, who never questioned God or complained, knowing “He doeth all things well.” Thanks be unto Jesus who giveth strength and victory.

On Board the Mercy Ship

Our long weary walk is over and at last we are at the harbor waiting in the drenching rain anxiously inquiring, “When will a launch come for us? Will there be room enough to take us in? What, if after all this long walk we could not get aboard, could we possibly stand here for hours or wait until another day?” were questions many asked. At last we see the launch coming speeding toward the shore, every one takes courage as the British officer steps ashore and says, “Take your time, plenty of room for all” as he helps aboard those who are unable to help themselves, and how safe we felt leaning on the strong arm of the kind officer who pressed his way through the crowd and all the time taking great care that no one bumped into those who were wounded. At last we are in the launch and speeding over the rough waters until we reached the ship outside the breakwater. For a time it seemed we might never reach it as the gasoline engine gave some trouble and refused to work until our launch had drifted far away from the ship, but at last the engineer regulates the engine trouble and soon we are drawing along side the great ship where again the strong arms of kind officers assisted us up the long flights of steps and landed us safely on board. At last we are on the deck. How good it seems to hear every one speaking our own language, and kind nurses on each side assisted Mrs. Moore to the waiting room and brought us large bowls of Oh, such good barley soup, it surely was the best we ever did taste. We were so hungry, so thirsty, so tired and dirty, we could only sit there weeping and thanking God for His love and mercy to us. Then the ship doctors bandaged the broken arm, we had a hot bath, and passengers divided their clothing with the refugees but our bed must be the deck floor, nice and clean. All things ready we lift anchors and sail for Kobe, reaching there next morning at 8:00 o’clock. At the next pier in full view lies the “President Jefferson.” Leaving wife alone I hurry off to see if we can get space for two. At first they say no, but after considering they said, “yes, there is a small plain room in the hospital ward No. 5, and if I could be nurse for Mrs. Moore we could take that as they were limited for help. We gladly consented, then with the help of some Eurasian boy scouts of a school in Yokohama (but had been away to Kobe on vacation) they helped us along the dock and brought a Jinricksha to take Mrs. Moore to the “President Jefferson.” Thank God at last we are on board the American ship, not forgetting the kindness of the Canadian captain and crew, for the “Empress of Canada” was mercy ship No. 1. The Jefferson, carrying a full capacity list of passengers, took on one hundred and fifty-two refugees, some badly wounded. One woman had her leg cut open between the knee and the ankle and she had to walk a mile through fire and smoke with burning buildings on each side and she with her husband and little four weeks old baby for which she manifested a dislike saying, she “never had kissed it for it was not made to order.” Poor woman, like many others, “without natural affection,” hating even their own offspring. But God heard our prayer, as we earnestly implored the blessing of God upon all on board and asked for a safe trip and a smooth sea across the Pacific, which had so recently experienced a great upheaval of its mighty waters when the ocean bed blew out under a large island, ripping it into pieces, and sank with all on it, a total loss of property and thousands of lives. Our Lord said there would be great raging waves of the sea and men’s hearts failing them for fear. His prophecy fulfilled before our eyes. Luke 21:25-28. Coming out of Kobe harbor, after another day and night, we find ourselves again in sight of the one time Yokohama, now the city of destruction. We pass the great fortifications all of which are destroyed and guns pointing downward. In ten seconds of time God destroyed more strong forts than several hours of bombarding with sixteen inch guns could have done. We again drop anchor in Yokohama harbor a couple of hours, just long enough to take on other refugees. Soon the twelve o’clock noon gong sounds on board and we lift anchor and depart for America. Never shall we forget the sense of awe and heart sickness as that ship gong sounded our departing. It was as if the funeral knell of the millions of dead was being tolled and we were constantly in tears for the sake of the dear missionaries and Christians left behind, unheard of as yet at our departure, and Christians wet and homeless, no food or water, amid the roving brigands with knives tied to bamboo poles hunting for prey. On board we asked again special prayer for the suffering that God would not let one die, and the result was, not one on our ship died and the trip over the ocean was said by all the ‘” to be the smoothest in many months.

We reached Victoria, B. C, Sept. 15th, and after a few hours there many were refreshed by the good fresh milk and flowers and so forth which were sent on board by loving hearts who felt a deep sympathy for those who were wounded and had lost all their earthly possessions. During the night we proceeded on to Seattle arriving there Sunday morning at three o’clock. No one was allowed, however, to land until seven o’clock. Bro. Leonard Cross and wife, and also Brother Brousseau and wife from Bell-:ngham, were there to meet us, and finally we are ashore with a sheet tied by the four corners (substitute for our wardrobe trunks), which contained a few things that we pulled out of the wreckage; and no home this side of the ocean, as all we possessed was in ashes in Japan. We were conveyed to a reasonable hotel and there we committed ourselves to God to care for us and supply our needs which He graciously did. He never faileth. Mrs. Moore’s arm was quite badly twisted, having never been set, and the unskillful surgeon in Seattle only delayed the recovery in order to experiment and make a bill. Finally after six weeks had passed and wife was able to travel to Long Beach, Calif., a good Christian surgeon, one who believes in Jesus Christ, agreed to set the bones and straighten the arm so it would become normal. He said he could do the work but God alone could do the healing as the muscles and ligaments had all contracted so badly and the bone splinters, clotted blood, and broken tissue had to be removed. Just think how that arm had stood in that condition for six weeks without inflammation or pain, or blood poison. To many people this seemed almost unbelievable, but with our God all things are possible and He did keep that which was committed unto Him. Mrs. Moore had no temperature at any time, tho it took real grace and patience to stand the strain for those days lying on the mountain and eleven days on the ship and one month at Seattle, but His grace is sufficient for every test in life, and “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose.”—Rom. 8:28. Some one might say if you believed God was able to heal, why did He not heal you instantly? Because His ways are not our ways and He had a plan to work out. Mrs. Moore’s brother, who was backslidden from God, and from preaching the gospel, and was in a serious condition spiritually was saved, restored, and is now preaching the gospel.The Destruction of Tokyo by Quake and Fire (The Moral Conditions)

TOKYO, the national capital of Japan of about three and one-half million population was seething with Bolshevism and extreme views on matrimonial lines were being advocated by Mr. Kurata and other writers of magazines, setting forth such teachings as matrimony not being the climax of love but a “death pact” the highest point of true love to be attained. Mr. Arishama, famous novelist and writer, set the pace for the loose lasciviousness of the depraved people by eloping to Karuizawa with Mrs. Hatano, also a famous writer and wife of a well to do business man. They indulged themselves and then committed, suicide by hanging themselves after strapping their bodies tightly together. They were supposed to enter into a beautiful flower garden where they can play and enjoy themselves to their heart’s content out of reach of their persecutors. This is The-osophy, and heathen philosophy (much practised also in more civilized countries where spiritualistic seances and various devilish cults have sprung up). Many love affair suicides followed Mr. Arishima’s death pact idea to such an alarming extent that the daily pilgrimage of the unfortunate to Karuizawa, and the suicides were reaching hundreds all over Japan. Many made the house a shrine of worship where the death pact had been consummated and the president of the N. Y. K. Japan Steam Ship Co., who owned the house, ordered it razed and the spot guarded to prohibit the love (lust) victims from following the example on the spot where Mr. Arishima committed the fatal deed. “When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James, 1:15.

Political Crisis and Social Corruption

PEOPLE were clamoring for franchise and great crowds were marching in front of the Capital Palace demanding democratic liberty and making threats; something was sure to happen. The army was drilling to the highest point of efficiency and the navy constantly at target practice and continued at the same for three days after the quake. Imperial orders must be obeyed even in time of so great a calamity. The military headquarters at Tokyo were broken up and no one to issue orders; therefore the poor people must suffer and die for lack of aid. Three-fourths of Japan’s population are tired of iron handed oppressive Imperialism, and are going to start a rebellion or fierce revolution if they are not allowed more freedom in franchise and a more liberal democratic form of government.  Before the great destruction the people had massed together by thousands carrying red banners, some of the inscriptions read “destructive associations” and “down with the present government.”  Tokyo was a bedlam of contentions and strife, fighting in the universities almost killing the president of the “Tokyo university.”  Lawlessness whether justifiable or not to some degree, by the treatment of teacers and selling scholarships and committing sin set the pace for moral destruction, especially at Waseda University where they had to their credit over one thousand feminine students whom they had led into lives of shame and made them secret servants to gratify their lustful desires; thus Tokyo with her pride and her boasted philosophy and art, shuddered under the terrible weight of sin fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 24:20-“The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall and not rise again.” Prostitution is legalized with about thirty-five thousand girls at Asakusa segregated quarters and there was said to be no less than two hundred thousand licensed girls in Tokyo alone netting the government one million two hundred thousand yen annually. There was no restraint taught, just indulge and enjoy yourself to your fullest satisfaction on all lines.

Hell Enlarged

Like as of a lightning flash, and as the sound of cannons roaring poor, proud Tokyo begins to shake like a drunken man, Isa. 24:20. Listen, her towers are falling, iron bridges are twisted and thrown down, her dancing houses are all aflame, hundreds of thousands of victims are surging back and forth surrounded by fire, soon the shrieks of woe and thirty-five thousand are roasted alive in one park alone; but the end is not yet. The greatest tragedy of all was in the Hon jo district formerly occupied by the imperial army and navy clothing department, (but the buildings had been torn down) and about twenty acres of land now vacant. This was supposed to be an ideal retreat for homeless refugees fleeing to escape the fires that were raging on every side, as the terrestrial vibrations continued in violence with nerve racking incessancy, the swarming safety seekers increased to about forty thousand, and still there was plenty of space on the twenty acres of ground. Surely no one could imagine danger from fire in such a commodious haven of retreat. But a great danger approached as the people poured into this section with what clothes and furniture they could carry. Suddenly fires encircled them, but they had followed the “ancient precept” that the best place of refuge in time of earthquake is to flee to an open field or bamboo grove as the bamboo roots matted together are not apt to allow the ground to crack into open chasms, thus you feel secure. The open fields is next best as there will be no danger of being struck by falling tiles or bricks or crushed under falling walls (all rich men’s homes have high walls of stone or brick, the middle classes have board fences seven feet high, the poor are exposed, no walls of any kind in most cases, just a single room for a family of six or more packed together like pigs in a sty).

Whirlwinds of Fire in the Twenty Acres

A Japanese Christian man realizing the fearful predicament began warning the people and entreating them to repent and turn to Jesus. Some threw mud on him but many fell on their knees and repented as whirlwinds or fiery geysers roaring like thunder swept down upon them, “For behold the Lord will come with fire and with His fiery chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire.” Isa. 66:15. The swirls of fire geysers sucked up many into the columns of smoke and they were thrown hundreds of yards away, while the forty thousand roasted alive in the great conflagration. One man supposed to be the preacher was caught up with his son from the midst of the shrieking, roasting hordes and was seen to disappear in the clouds high up in the air, the two sons were killed. The mother who miraculously escaped told the story.

Brother Juji Nakada writes, “I want to let you know the most beautiful story. Mr. Higuchi, who came to Tokyo some years ago and was converted under the ministry of one of my fellow workers, when the great quake came, he and his family escaped to the military clothing ground where over forty thousand people assembled. When he saw their doom had come he began to preach to the people to repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Many people at once prayed to God for salvation and were saved from their sin. He had preached about fifty minutes under fierce opposition from some who were mocking and throwing stones and mud on him saying, “There is no God, no Buddha in such a time as this.” While he was preaching a whirlwind of fire came and he was taken out like Elijah, and disappeared in the clouds. Report from Jessie Wengler Hachioji, Japan

I KNOW that you are anxiously awaiting a letter from Japan with the news of our safety and we are glad to report the wonderful keeping power of our God in the time of awful calamity through which we have just passed. Thousands are today without homes and families, and with insufficient to eat, and the sad and harrowing sights that we see on every hand make our hearts ache and nerves are almost at the breaking point.

This is the worst calamity and catastrophe that has ever come to Japan, and I trust that I shall never pass through anything like it again. There are today at our very doors thousands and hundreds of thousands without homes, without their loved ones, with not enough to eat and their only possession the kimonos that they wear. There are hundreds of thousands suffering from wounds and burns which they received in the terrible earthquake and fire. In Yokohama alone there were 500,000 buried under the fallen structures and burned in the fire that followed the earthquake. In Tokyo there were even more as it is a larger city and it has been stated that in one park alone, where thousands had fled for refuge from the flames, 35,000 burned to death from the flames which surrounded them on every side. Such awful scenes no one can imagine unless they pass through such a terrible calamity. Surely the seals spoken of in Revelation are being opened and we who have witnessed this awful destruction can readily believe that the Word of God is true and literal in its application and not in any way figurative when applied to the wrath and judgment of God.

Such a complete destruction of a city cannot easily be imagined; but it is today a heap and utterly destroyed. At the first shock practically every house in the city went down with thousands caught underneath, and in a short time fire broke out all over the city. Soon the city was a place of terror and, as a Salvation Army man said to me, “If anything could be nearer a living hell, I do not know what it could be.” From under every building came awful screams for help with no one to deliver. Some managed to dig their way out and to escape for their lives to parks and hills and mountains from the flames that came from every side and all at the same time. The water mains had been broken in the earthquake and there was no way to fight the fire; besides practically all the firemen and the police force had been killed in the earthquake.

The rich and the poor, the foreigners and the Japanese were all alike—lost all they had. One man, who was caught under the Grand Hotel, one of the finest for foreigners in Yokohama, was so pinioned that he could not get out and the fire was rapidly approaching. He offered anyone who would deliver him $10,-000.00 which he had in his pocket, but those who heard his offer, although they would have gladly delivered him! for no price at all, could not get to him for the intensity of the heat, and the poor man perished in the flames. The richest man in Japan by the name of Yaseda lost all that he had and today has only the kimono that he wears and is in line with the rest receiving his daily portion of food that is allowed all the sufferers.

It is wonderful how the Lord kept me. The earthquake was just at 12:00 o’clock noon and we were just ready to eat our dinner when everything began to rock and reel in a terrible manner and there was an awful roar that made us feel as though the earth was going to break forth under our very feet. At first I held onto the door and prayed to God to help us, and He surely did. Then my servant and I felt that it was better to leave the house as it seemed every minute that it would fall in. So we ran out into a field nearby where hundreds of other terror-stricken people had fled for refuge. I cannot tell you how I felt, but I know that the Lord wonderfully preserved us. Being alone with no other foreigners and only my helper who does not know anything about trusting the Lord, or real faith, I called all the harder on the Lord who kept us and did not permit the destruction to come to us.

All that day the shocks continued and we could not go into our houses again, and all night we stayed out as the shocks continued and we did not know when everything would go down. But Hachioji suffered less damage than any other city of its size, for which we praise the Lord. On Sunday we went back into our house which had stood the shocks and had been only partly dam-aged and no fire came to our city. It is wonderful how the Lord has preserved all the missionaries. All are safe. Brother and Sister Juergensen have not yet returned from the mountains where they had been during the month of August. Their house in Tokyo was damaged and they cannot occupy it for some time and will stay in the mountains until things are remedied somewhat. The church in Tokyo was so damaged that they cannot use it until it is practically rebuilt. Every church in Yokohama was destroyed-—none left of any denomination.

After the earthquake I went as soon as possible to Yokohama, thinking to relieve the Christians and any whom I might help; and also to send a cable to you who are in the homeland. I could not send a cable or anything of the kind as Yokohama was in such confusion. There was a reign of terror for at least a week after, the Bolshevik element that had been in Tokyo and Yoko-hama were bent upon all the destruction they could do As vou know there is a great hatred between the nations

It was difficult for me to get to Yokohama at all as the roads had been torn all to pieces and the railroad and tunnels between here and there completely destroyed. As there were no men to go I felt I must go and bring as many as possible back with me to my Place which had not been so completely damaged. I was enabled to bring back with me some that were destitute and had lost everything they had, family and all. We do not know what is ahead, only that there is already a great scarcity of food and prices are very high and many to provide for. “

We know that those in the homeland are willing to make any sacrifice and that your prayers have ascended in our behalf When practically all the foreigners are returning to the states I felt that I would like to go too, but the will of God be done. The Lord knoweth the way that we take, and His grace is sufficient. If any should be led to send for the relief of sorrow stricken hearts and needy people we will see that such is distributed and we can relieve some of the Pentecostal Christians who are not so apt to get help from other sources. In His love and service, I am,

Yours,Jessie Wengler.

America the Levite to the Stricken People

As soon as word had reached America that a great calamity had befallen Japan she began soliciting funds, food and clothing; despatching them as quickly as possible; millions were sent and relief work by the Red Cross and the Asiatic fleet which came speeding from the China waters, all helped to alleviate the suffering of about half a million wounded and a million or more homeless people which had been nerve wrecked and most of their relatives perished in the consuming fires as they had no place of safety in such a time of judgment.

At first when the U. S. battle fleet came in some of the Japanese thought they had come to take advantage of their helpless situation and ordered them to stop patrolling between Tokyo and Yokohama, and also to leave the harbor, but the brave American Admiral assured them they were only come for their good, and soon as they were sure their people were all safe they would depart, which they did after they had pitched tents at Tokyo and Yokohama to help care for the wounded and dying and feed the people. An American colony was formed at Yokohama on the reclaimed ground adjoining the harbor near the French Consulate, a large stone building which had collapsed and killed their ambassador and family.

The Nipponese were very, very grateful to America, and Premier Yama-moto received his first check, amounting to one million dollars, from Mr. Cyrus B. Woods, U. S. Ambassador to Japan He expressed himself as very thankful and assured Mr. Woods of most cordial friendship between the two nations in the future. America is open handed and open hearted as a people and very benevolent and possesses many praying people, thus God has blessed her and spared her from great calamities thus far. There are, however, fires of lawlessness, greed and national sins which will in the near future, if not repented of, bring in upon us a flood of swift destruction on wicked cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver in the west, and New York, Chicago and all larger wicked cities of the east, and all over the country where graft, greed, and pride prevails. Sins of the flesh unrestrained, divorce on the rampage, spirit affinity marriages, and a mad rush of fast living in general will sooner or later swamp a nation.

American and British Consuls Killed

According to these men, Mr. M. D. Kirjassoff, American Consul in Yokohama, and his wife, were both killed at the American consulate, which collapsed and burned, Mr. Hugh Home, British Consul in Yokohama, is also dead it was said. Yokohama, including the bluff and the foreign settlement at Yamashita Cho, is absolutely destroyed. It is feared many foreigners were killed, and many were at the Grand Hotel. When the first terrible shock came, some were in their offices, some in their houses, some in the Yokohama Club. All immediately scrambled into the streets. In so doing many were pinned under in between falling buildings or under falling roofs. Several husbands or wives were either killed or injured in their endeavor to save each other.

The heat of the raging flames was so unbearable that many jumped into the harbor. Fortunately some could find pieces of wreckage by which they could keep themselves floating on the sea until they were picked up. An employee of the American Shipping Board, Yokohama, was seriously injured about the face and on the legs. All these men escaped in their shirts and trousers. As a matter of fact, some lost all their clothing and were given shirts and trousers aboard the ship. The sight of these landing at the American pier was pathetic. The rest of the foreign refugees were being taken care of aboard the Empress of Australia in Yokohama. Foreign boats were transporting passengers and cargo between ports on the Japanese coast, which the law of Japan had hitherto prohibited.

Imperial Princesses Dead

The Prince Kanins villa at Odowara, where he and his family were staying, caved in. In escaping Princess Kanin, the daughter of Prince and Princess Kanin, was pinned in under a falling roof and killed instantly. Princess Yamashia has since died; also the Dowager Princess Kaya is dead.

Princess Hiagshikuni and her family escaped except the second son who was killed on the spot. Great anxiety was felt about the safety of other members of the Imperial family at Yokosuka, Hakone, Numazu, Akakura, Hot Spring and Karuizawz. Prince Sadashige Shirnazu was killed at his estate at Osaki; also it was fauna that H. I. H. Prince Hirotada Kacho was found dead on a train in the first tunnel in Yokosuka, as there was a land slide over the train.

Hakone Off the Map

According to Mrs. Mann, wife of the Rev. John C. Mann of the Momoyama Middle School Osaka, who returned from Hakone on the night of September 3rd, all the houses are caved in and wrecked, also the hotel at Miyanoshita is in ruins This hotel was where the high officials of Tokyo spent week-end and summer vacations reveling in sin with dancing girls. (The writer was there just three days before the quake and saw what was going on.) Prior to the earthquake, the water in the wells at Hakone was dirty, and this was generally thought to be a sign of the approach of a typhoon or an earthquake Then came the shock. Nobody in the house could stand; everybody fell flat. Mrs. Mann crept out into the road with great difficulty. The quake was so severe that Mrs. Mann and a Japanese woman creeping on the road found themselves passing by each other back and forth several times. When the Hakone Hotel fell,

it was feared many foreigners were killed. An English couple staying near the hotel, visiting friends in the hotel were killed. They left a child at home. Foreigners all fled from Hakone. Many large cedar trees were thrown down, shaken out by the violence of the quake, blocking all traffic between Hakone and Motohakone. Mountains dropped down and disappeared. “When God ariseth to shake terribly the earth, positively nothing man has ever constructed will ever be able to stand. Take warning. Greater things yet to come.

Aged Japanese Leader Miraculously Escapes Harm in Disaster

One of those who escaped bodily harm in the earthquake and fire was Madame Kajiko Yajima, the 90-year-old suffrage advo-cate and president of the Japanese Christian Woman’s Temper-ance Society.

After her home had been damaged by the earthquake she was removed by three girls to the residence of Marquis Kurods, when she was obliged to flee, because of fire, to the First Regiment barracks. She was later assisted to the Woman’s Refuge home.

Yokohama Poking Up Through Ruin of Late Disaster

YOKOHAMA is one of the bravest sights on earth today—as well as one of the saddest, for Yokohama is poking up through its grave. Yokohama, dead and buried, is refusing to remain that way. There is life in Yokohama—business—people living and working there. They are putting up sheds and shacks —flimsy shanties made from blackened bits of tin! Anything to keep off the rain! They don’t expect to keep out the cold.

Yokohama was dead. All the world knew it. All Japan knew it even better—but Yokohama is poking up through its grave. It isn’t being rebuilt. That isn’t the word. It may never be “rebuilt.” But it is carrying on, after a fashion—and to anyone who knew or who can even faintly imagine what Yokohama was after the quake, even to carry on, in whatever fashion, is a wonderful thing—a sad thing—and tremendously brave.

Ships are coming in and out of Yokohama. Out of all its once proud waterfront just a portion of one pier remains. And it is lopsided and is warped into waves and convolutions. But it is the only thing in all the former harbor alongside which ships may tie. Between this bit of pier is a long stretch of water— once a great continuous steel and concrete pier before the earthquake wrenched most of it into the water. This space is now spanned by a pontoon bridge—cumbrous Japanese sampans, sprawled side by side between the shore and the remaining piece of pier, and the boats covered with crude bridging, a bridge that tosses up and down and swings from side to side. Over this flimsy gangway goes every passenger and every pound of freight or baggage that enters or leaves Yokohama.

Ashore, the picture is still one of more utter destruction than anything the world war afforded. But in the midst of this the sheds and shacks and shanties are commencing to appear. The chamber of commerce is housed in a thing that would be a rather poor shed on a rather poor farm in a rather poor region in America. The silk association has another shed of the same caliber. They are the finest structures in Yokohama.

Stevedores, shipping agencies, export and import firms, all the businesses which are vital to a port, are building sheds and shacks, too.

There are scores of hole-in-the-wall restaurants made from scraps of wreckage, bits of galvanized iron, where the coolie workmen are building the shacks and piling up the debris and carrying the loads of material where they can buy their bowls of rice and tea.

The American consulate is doing well, thank you, in some army tents, and the British consulate is built out of nice, new lumber, too, and that’s something to boast of in a place where a fire-blackened board is not a thing to be scorned. There are graves scattered—like the hurried graves on a battle front. A crude cross, marked “R. I. P.”—sometimes a name; sometimes just “unknown.” There are many places where men shudder when they pass—places where loved ones died in agony. There is dust and dirt and noise. It is possible somebody in the place may once have had a shave—but I doubt it. There is a crazy little tent-restaurant, with the announcement: “Earthquake Cafe—Eggs and Likor—No checks.”

Over there is a place where a friend was killed—and over there —and over there. The shacks are going up all around, and old Yoko is poking up through its grave.

Two or three days before the earthquake while in prayer one day the Lord gave me several verses of a poem although now I can only remember four. They are as follows: (By Mrs. B. S. Moore)

Life’s scenes have changed

So soon all around us

The ocean deep and wide

Now roll between,

Hearts which loved then

Still love on forever

And earth joys changed so soon

To heavenly scenes.

We’ll catch the broken threads

Which here are severed,

And sing together

As we used to sing

Accompanied by the heavenly harpists

Only when the bells of heaven

Chime their echoes in.

Hark, we hear the voice above the tumult,

Saying ready be my Bride to come away;

Soon we’ll meet our blessed Bridegroom,

JESUS And the smoke of all earth’s battles cleared away.

In Bride attire with arms outstretched and waiting,

Our hearts cry out Lord Jesus quickly come

And from all earth’s heart-break, pain and

Take Thy Blood washed to Thy heavenly home.

Inside the same week many went to their heavenly home and we were rolling upon the billowy ocean separated far from those we had learned to love in the Spirit.

Earthquakes May Vitally Affect Nippon Policies Imperialism May be Checked as Result of Catastrophe

JAPAN’S entire future international policy will have to be changed because of the devastating catastrophe that has so greatly reduced her wealth.

The militaristic leaders will be unable to engage in foreign ventures and their expansionist schemes must give way for years to come to domestic economy necessary for the reconstruction of Tokyo and the other devasted areas.

Out of the most terrible earthquake destruction in Japan’s history a democratic form of government may emerge. The earthquake came at the precise moment when the appointment of Count Yamamoto as premier by the reactionary influences marked the opening of a new struggle between the democratic forces of Japan and those favoring a continuation of the clan and militaristic autocracy which has the final say at Tokyo in all important matters of policy.

Imperialism Is Checked

Had there been no earthquake, Count Yamamoto would have been expected by the reactionaries to develop a policy of impe-rialistic tendencies, especially aimed at overawing China and making Japan’s influence at Peking dominant by means of threatening gestures. The enormous property losses caused by the earthquake and the conflagration on Japan’s main island have abruptly terminated such activities by the new Yamamoto cabinet.

Instead of distracting domestic attention from the anti-demo-cratic tendencies of Japan’s leaders by imperialistic steps abroad, Count Yamamoto must give all of his attention to saving his country from falling to third or fourth class rank as a world power. The present calamity is more devastating than Japan has ever suffered through any war, because the Japanese islands have never been invaded by an enemy. The result is as if a war had been fought within Japanese territory and the enemy had been more ruthless than the Germans in France.

Faced by such a situation, the reactionary Japanese political leaders will have to amend their foreign policies entirely. No money will be forthcoming for aggressive movements abroad. All of Japan’s surplus wealth for an indefinite time must be used to reconstruct the devastated areas. This is a work which will call for a united front by the Japanese regardless of party connections. Amid such movements democracy finds itself. Count Yamamoto, conservative opponent of progressive ideas, must become the instrument of democratic reconstruction or he will be swept from power. The elder statesmen can no longer point Japan’s attention away from home conditions.

Need Money at Home

The movement among Japan’s militaristics to make their country dominant in all international affairs relating to the western shores of the Pacific must be given up. This movement, which to many observers seemed to indicate a future Pacific war, cannot be pushed forward while domestic reconstruction calls for a revival of the samurai spirit for domestic salvation.

Japan has been considering plans for reconstruction of Tokyo and the surrounding area for some time. But the cost was con-sidered prohibitive and only small, piece-meal plans were accepted. Now, however, replacement on a gigantic scale has become imperative.

The result will be immensely to Japan’s eventual advantage, if the Japanese give their whole attention to the job. They are capable of pulling through and of modernizing their mediaeval political system as well as building a new capital to rank with any in the world. But the cost will be the cancellation of all aggressive foreign policies.

Work in the Country Villages Kaminiva and Isamaga Hara

The Japanese got a very bad opinion of the gospel of Jesus Christ because of the Catholics who first came into the country in 1652. The Japanese said, “So long as the sun shall warm the earth let no man come to preach the gospel. If he does he shall suffer the loss of his head.”

When Commodore Perry went to Japan he concluded a treaty with the Japanese and up to that time it was a crime for a Japanese to be a Christian. The missionaries had a chance to teach the English language so that they could trade with foreign countries. They could only speak of Jesus in secret ways, drop a little seed here and there. They went on for many years until the ban was lifted and the gospel could have right of way and people could accept Christianity if they chose, although in public schools they are taught that Christianity is painted in blood and they will always have trouble if they have anything to do with it. But the gospel is a light that lighteneth every man that cometh into the world. It took many years to translate the Bible and songs and to get everything in working order. There are many things to bring the heathen in to deeper light but we thank God for the Gospel of Pentecost which so marvelously changes the hearts of these dear people of darkened lands. Those whom we have worked among are non-church-goers for we are not “sheep stealers.” We do not believe in that kind of business. If we do not have enough of the power of God to gather in the people, God has not called us. We do not believe in building on other men’s foundations.

God in a wonderful way has opened up the darkened places. Villages calling continually for us. If you go into these villages independently, or on your own accord unless you have the good will of the officials you cannot accomplish a thing. The priests turn loose against a foreigner and, let the children and dogs make all the noise they can. But if you will go into a village invited you will have the hearts of the people. Wisdom is needed.

A man well known in one of the villages had a very wicked grandson who spent thousands of dollars in sin. He got so low that he became a milk boy and delivered milk at our house. We had a Bible woman who was very spiritual and she asked him about his life and told him of Jesus. (He had been so wicked that his wife’s people took her away from him.) When he came to the house about the third time she talked and read to him and got him down on his knees to pray. He was saved right there and went back to his village proclaiming what God had done for him. The people said they would like to see that white man who served such a wonderful God, and so it came about that we were invited to the village of Kameniwa.

They received’ us royally. We almost felt like a king and queen with the attentions showered upon us. The people came to see us from great distances. When they assembled for meeting they were as quiet as mice, filling up the garden and every inch of space. We spoke to them and were afterwards served with tea and sweet potatoes. Most of them could not sleep that night and about 4:00 o’clock in the morning they came to our sleeping compartment and wanted to know how to pray to the heavenly God. So they knelt down on their knees and wept and prayed through to Jesus. The Japanese are taught to never show emotion in public, but the Lord broke them down. There was one very wicked man saved and baptized with the Holy Spirit sitting by his fire box. He had killed many people and had swords fifteen feet long, and even his wife said he was too wicked to be saved, but thank God He did the work. Praise our God.

Miracles of Healing

Miracles of healing, as in apostolic days. Back in the inland country districts where the soil had not been broken spiritually God gave us about one hundred souls in three villages who are standing in the faith. Among these humble people many real miracles of healing are wrought in Jesus’ name. There was a brother who baptized his family by pouring gallons of water over each one of them. This was done before he knew anything about the gospel only that he had heard we were in a village fifteen miles away preaching the heavenly God to the people and Japanese were receiving great joy and peace in their hearts and also being healed of their sickness.

The Japanese believe in looking to their gods to try to get healed such as “Ojizo sama, Kanan sama, and Hachiman and the fox, Inari san, but there is no result and all their prayers are futile as were Baal’s on Mount Carmel. This brother has been mightily used of God and he and his son go about the villages praying for the sick and preaching repentance to the sin sick with great results.

The work there in the rural districts is very intact as the houses were only slightly damaged. One day when this brother was out in the country on a preaching tour the priests attacked him and asked him many questions as to why he had played traitor and forsaken the Japanese gods. His reply was “that he found the gods were no gods, and moreover, he had found the Living God who had made all things and also saved him and his family from their sickness. ” When the priests heard this they pounced upon him beating him shamefully and ducked him in the water, holding him under and at the same time pounding him with clubs. When he arose out of the water and mud he started to sing “Aratani umareyo,” “Ye must be born again.” This enraged the priests and they said, “you proud fellow, we will kill you,” so they took hold of him and again threw him into the water field, beating him severely. Thinking they had killed him now, they let him go, and he arose again praying, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do,”, with tears of joy running down his face as the Spirit came upon him. His persecutors fled and he crawled out and with hands uplifted to heaven prayed for his persecutors.

A Test of Their Faith

His wife took sick with dropsy and suffered agony in her body until she finally succumbed; four doctors pronounced her dead. They made incisions in her body and found no circulation. The body had become cold. Her husband and a small band of believers prayed. The coffin was brought and while the relatives were weeping and sorry to lose her, God had heard the prayers of her husband, and the resurrection life, that Spirit which raised up Jesus from the dead entered into her body and she stood up before them whole; ail the dropsical water passed out of her body and the incisions which the doctors had made healed perfectly. The unbelievers who were present fled in great panic and the only good kimonos they possessed were spoiled as they ran through the rice fields.

We went with this brother to a new village and he reported to me that the master of the house where we were to be entertained was very ill. We were asked to pray for him and while we were making some necessary preparation for the meetings, this brother went in and prayed for him and when we entered the room he had already prayed for him and he was saved and healed with hands up toward heaven shouting, “Kansha itash-imasu.” Many were healed of cancer, hemorrhoids, lung trouble and an invalid raised out of bed after seven years sickness and they are around doing their work. To God be all the glory. Beloved reader, pray for us to be enabled to do the work which God has spared us to do, and to keep these natives going on in the work which they can do far better than a foreigner, in their own country. Prayers and finances and men and women of God are needed in these closing days to sweep the battle on to a great final victory.

Yours in His glad service, waiting, watching and working until He says it is enough.

Evangelist and Mrs. B. S. Moore.

Appalling Testimony of Mrs. Mary E. Cross MooreMy husband and I were living in Yokohama, Japan, at the time of the great earthquake which destroyed the heart of the Japanese nation. This earthquake without exception is the greatest disaster the world has ever known. But God who is faithful did not leave us without warnings and forebodings of oncoming trouble.

As the hot summer months came on and all the missionaries were planning to spend the hot weather in the cool mountain re-sorts we had no desire to accompany them. Instead we felt strongly led of the Lord to pitch our gospel tent in a new locality and spend the summer preaching to thousands who had never heard the wondrous gospel. This we did, having outdoor meetings as well as tent meetings every night. A wonderful spirit of revival was on from the start and over ninety sought God and many were saved and healed. Little did we think that that was to be the last chance that community was to have to seek God, and find Jesus as their Savior. We believe many who gave their hearts to the Lord Jesus in those meetings passed on into their heavenly home during the disaster.

For weeks before the quake we had great burdens of prayer and felt something was going to happen. A Japanese seer had foretold great disaster coming to Japan by earthquake while another Japanese scientist had written in the daily paper a few weeks before, that careful scientific study had been made and there was no fear of any trouble from earthquakes for several years yet. This again fulfills God’s word which says, “When they shall say peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh.”

This brings afresh to my mind a dream or vision which came to me. I heard a knock at the door and on opening the door there stood a woman dressed in a red suit which was covered in buttons large and small. On these buttons were carved crosses. She said to me, “I have come to warn you to be ready to flee from sudden and awful destruction.” She then disappeared. The red signified danger and the crosses suffering.

It all came true when on the first day of Sept., 1923, God let the great disaster fall upon the nation. It came so suddenly.

The weather had been almost unbearably hot for days but on Sept. 1st a heavy rain fell up until about ten thirty. Then the sky became clear as the sun drove the clouds away. My husband and Japanese pastor Hasegawa, had been down town all the morning on business and had just returned home about fifteen minutes before twelve o’clock noon. We sat down to eat our dinner, when we heard a noise as great as of the roaring of a thousand cannons. We looked at each other wondering what the fearful noise could be when the earth began to tremble and our house bounce up and down.

We were thrown in various ways, one at a time, and while trying to get out of the front door we were actually thrown across the room and out a side door. My husband was thrown free from danger, the roof of the house just missing his head as it fell. One of my Bible women and I were just behind my husband and were caught under the eave of the house as it fell. I was thrown against a fence and my arm across a tree with a beam across my neck. I could see my arm crushing but could not feel it. My Bible woman was a few feet from me. I could hear her praying but could not see her. As my husband was thrown free he immediately rushed to rescue me. He could not see me but could hear my voice. The Lord directed him and the first timber he touched was the one that was across my neck, and immediately it broke and I knew God would deliver me safely.

I felt no fear although I could see the large two-story house next to us swaying to and fro. God kept it from falling as my dear husband, a Japanese servant and another Bible woman worked with the strength of Samson to dig us out. Had the house fallen it would have ground us to atoms. At last I was free and husband sat me on a large rock in our yard while he dug out Miss Suzuki. Then we went out in the middle of the road to be free from the swaying house and prayed asking the Lord not to let my arm pain me. Mr. Moore took a piece of board from the fence and one of the Japanese girls took the band that held her kimono and they bandaged my arm and used the band for a sling. We sat in the road in great danger as the road was opening everywhere and the telephone poles laden with wires reeling ready to fall. There was no place of safety. People with ashen faces were rushing in every direction, asking where they might find a doctor, but alas! The doctors as well as other people were killed. The hospitals were all destroyed so there was no earthly help for the wounded and dying whose cries were filling the air.

Thousands were pinned under the buildings. Many were caught by an arm or a leg but no one to help them, so they had to lie and see their fate as the fire by this time was raging. In one American home as the house fell it caught four beautiful children in a window. The mother was unharmed and as she turned she saw her little ones with outstretched arms crying, “mama, save us, mama, save “us.” The dear woman was helpless and had to see her babies caught in the flames and burn. The mother became insane as thousands of people do in time of earthquakes. Many also committed suicide. Oh, that men and women would heed the commands, “Be ye therefore READY.” “Now is the day of salvation.” When God speaks to your heart, do not talk back to him and say, “Wait Lord until I put through another real estate deal or invest in more oil, and stocks of all kinds. Or wait Lord until I finish my college course, and attend another dance or party.” If you say that, then when God arises to shake terribly the earth,” as He says in Isaiah 2:19, where will be your refuge? Remember God doeth a swift work.

The city of Yokohama of 500,000 inhabitants went down in a few seconds time in the first great shock. After our house fell we thought of going to one of our mission buildings as it did not fall, but our servant boy said the fire was coming fast from that way and we must get to a mountain without delay. So we all started leaving all we had to be devoured by the flames, but we were so in love with Jesus and so thankful to Him for our lives that we did not even think of looking back to where our earthly possessions were left. All we had was what we had on, but before the fire reached the house Mr. Moore returned and pulled out a few pieces of clothing. As we went to the mountain we had to step across fissures in the road where the earth had opened and oh, such devastation and the wounded everywhere. The few houses then standing were dangerous to even pass by. At twelve o’clock that night another shock brought down the few remaining houses, and by morning the great city of Yokohama was a smouldering mass of debris and ashes, gone forever.

On the Mountain

As we started to the mountain we discovered others seeking a place of safety. Some who had escaped without injuries and some wounded were making their way to the mountain. Each one carrying some burden upon his back. Some with babies, others with a few articles they had gathered out of the wreckage. So we found it very hard to make our way through as the winding roads and paths were so narrow and the mountain side had shaken down and was sliding while we were trying to ascend. At last we were all at the top but found the grass covered places all taken so we located in an onion patch of soft ploughed ground. In the crowd we saw a man we knew. He belonged to a society called the Destructive Society. In other words ‘bandit.’ He came and spoke kindly to me and said he was sorry for teacher Moore. Then in a short time he brought a wicker reclining chair for me to lie on. He had taken it from a foreign house after it had fallen. God had touched his heart and each morning he took a pail and went down the mountain side where there were a few cows and brought me fresh milk. How I thank God for His care over us.

As the darkness of the night began to fall we had a feeling creep over us that is indescribable. The only light was from the flames of the burning city. In the darkness we heard only the groans and screams of the wounded and dying. Babies were being born prematurely and no one to care for them. The next day the dead had to be buried but there was not even a shovel to dig a grave, so they used a piece of an old hoe. Mr. Moore was called on to sing and pray as they buried their dead. It was a sad sight. Everyone wept, even the soldiers wept with bowed heads. We prayed that the Holy Spirit would plant seed into these hearts which would bring forth fruit unto everlasting life.

We knew not what awaited us; no home, no food and no clothes, but this we knew, we were in our Father’s keeping and felt no anxiety or fear. On the third day Brother D. G. Swanson of the Salvation Army, after looking for us, found us to our joy, and informed us that there was a foreign ship waiting to take all foreigners who wanted to go, and advised us we should leave as soon as possible because of my injuries. We asked God for strength to walk to the ship, then started, leaning on the strong arm of my husband and of Capt. Swanson. We finally reached the launch after a long walk through a drenching rain. As we passed through the foreign section where we had been accustomed to seeing such palatial homes and magnificent grounds, all was desolation, burned to an ember. The smell of burned and burning human flesh was terrible.

I could scarcely believe my eyes when I saw the remains of the Union church and the Christ church. They were large stone edifices, and as totally destroyed as if a heavy charge of dynamite had been touched off underneath them. As they were thrown across the street, we had to climb over the debris, under wires and trees and over dead bodies.

We passed men with long bamboo poles with knives tied on the ends. These they used as weapons such as they did in primitive days, but we had no fear for God was with us. We felt His presence all the way. We learned afterward that nine Americans had been murdered, two while on their way to the ship.

When we reached the pier we were taken aboard the launch and out to the Empress of Canada which took us to Kobe, four hundred miles south. Here we were transferred to the American ship S. S. President Jefferson. I had hoped that while on the Empress of Canada my arm had been set properly but on arriving at Seattle and having an X-ray taken we found the bones had not been set at all. I was sent to a Red Cross surgeon and they worked on the arm for several hours but failed to get the bones together one hundred per cent, but thought it would be all right. After seven weeks waiting we found there was yet no repair, the bones having slipped apart again by this time. I was able to travel so we decided to come to Long Beach, Calif. Here a Christian doctor called on me and examined by arm. He advised me to have the arm opened and the bones fastened together. He said he would do what he could, and God in answer to prayer’ would make it perfectly whole. I knew Jesus was able to put the bones together and make it whole without any aid, however, my faith did not touch Him for instant healing, as did the woman who touched but the hem of His garment and was instantly made whole.

I have known Him as a perfect physician for nearly twenty years. For some time I had a trouble in my side which hindered me from eating meat, also from sleeping on my right side. A few weeks before the disaster while at family prayer one morning I felt the Lord would have me be anointed with oil and prayed for according to James 5:14, 15. My husband, our Japanese pastor, and Bible woman prayed for me and I was instantly healed. We sent out and got a nice steak, cooked it for dinner. I ate all I wanted and felt fine. I have eaten meat ever since without hurting me for which I thank God and give Him all the glory. He is all powerful. We are so human we wonder often times when in great distress or trial why God does not deliver us when we first ask Him.” But God’s word says in Rom. 8:28, “All things work together for good.” If we hold steady He will bring His plan to pass.

Often times it takes physical suffering to break the strong hearts of others and cause them to yield and say yes to God. For some years my younger brother had been backslidden from God and preaching the gospel. Instead of feeding sheep he was feeding goats. I had warned him so often of the danger of disobeying God. He did not heed although he had great confidence in our prayers and faith. I wrote him just a few hours before the quake in Japan and told him I felt some calamity was about to fall unless he obeyed God. So after we returned home and he saw me suffering and knew my arm must be operated upon, he hurried home from town, called me into a private room and told me God had shown him it was because of his sin and disobedience that God had permitted me to be brought home so near death. I was very near and dear to brother’s heart. He was broken to pieces and has repented and come back to God, and has stepped out from business and, with his dear faithful wife, are now out in evangelistic work with my husband. I hope to join them shortly. God has spared my life for a wise purpose and I want to do his perfect will, and be counted worthy to hear Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

Yours in His glad service,

MARY E. CROSS MOORE.

Destruction of American Bible Society

(By Rev. Karl E. Aurell)

FOR some weeks already the press has given you detailed and baffling reports of the terrible earthquake and fire which occurred in Tokyo, Yokohama, Yokosuka, and many other localities around these places. While some statements have been exaggerated, I dare say, some of the pen pictures though unbe-lievable are not any too strongly colored.

On the first of September (the memorable day of the beginning of the terrible catastrophe), just at 12:00 o’clock midday, I stood at the exit wicket at the railway station of Kashiwabara, one hundred and fifty miles north of Tokyo, awaiting a train by which Mrs. Aurell and son were returning from Karuizawa. I was hardly touching the bars at the side of the wicket, when I suddenly discovered a waving or staggering sensation. For a moment I wondered if there was something the matter with myself, but soon was convinced that an earthquake was on.

The heaving and waving to and fro of everything about me made me step out into the open space by the station, so as to avoid being struck by possibly falling tiles from the roof. The motion of the ground became so violent that it was almost difficult to stand still. Two square water tanks on the other side of the tracks opposite the station rocked to and fro extremely, making the water splash over in great quantities, first on this and then on the other side, until it seemed there would not be much water left in them. During this interesting time the train pulled in; but none of the passengers somehow had noticed that there was an earthquake. Forty minutes later, arriving at the lake, everybody was talking about the unusually strong earthquake, and wondered if something awful had not happened somewhere. Some wondered if Mount Asama, the famous volcano, fifty miles away, had not possibly erupted and gone to pieces, etc. I have mentioned the above to give you an idea of the terrible strength of the earthquake in the totally devastated districts, in view of what we experienced here one hundred and fifty miles away from there.

The Next Day

No news reached us here until about 9:00 o’clock Sunday morning, September 2. The reason for that was that all sorts of means of communication had been completely cut off. Then alarming reports came first by a milk man, and next by a telegram from Karuizawa. It was truly hard to believe that the whole city of Tokyo had been destroyed and was burning. But, as it was said that Mount Fuji was the center of the earthquake (that was not so,) we felt the reports no doubt could not be too strong. You may imagine the state of mind we were thrown into. What to think or do distressed us most extremely! Finally, that evening a party of us started off for Tokyo.

The trains were already crowded; and, as we rolled on towards our destination, people would literally “pile” into every car, even through the windows. The rudeness: and unreasonable things that were done made it practically impossible to avoid fights throughout the whole train. Just before entering the city suburbs, everybody had to get off the trains and walk across a river on a pontoon bridge. The railway bridge was supposed unsafe, and there was no bridge for the public near, outside of this contrivance. It was deemed unwise and dangerous for more than two or three hundred people to cross this pontoon at one time, and there were thousands of people on each side of the river, struggling to get over. Soldiers with bayonets had an extremely difficult time to guard and direct them. Had people been allowed to rush on freely, this bridge would not only have been broken down, but thousands would have been drowned.

At Tokyo

Well, we managed to get across; and walking a mile or more we scrambled with the masses on to another train, which took us just inside the city limits. Then from there, as no transportation facility of any kind was available, we walked, and walked, meeting thousands upon thousands of homeless people. The great and famous Ueno Park was covered with weary and disheartened refugees. Reaching the part of the park facing the largest extent of the city, we have our first view of the great devastation.

Oh, what a scene! On the left, the famous Ueno Station, with many hundreds of cars, all absolutely demolished to heaps of stone, brick and scrap iron. In front of us, for miles and miles the same condition prevailed. Electric cars, motor cars and everything reduced to ashes and rubbish. The wire entanglements in the streets made our progress slow. Telegraph poles were still burning—in fact they were the only pieces of wood that could be seen in the whole devastated district. At certain places much smoke and heat was still emitted, making it dangerous to pass by. One of my companions said that he had visited devastated Belgium and other places in Europe, but this scene to his mind surpassed that as a calamity.

We lingered a little in the Kanda Ward, at the city Y. M. C. A., the national Y. M. C. A., and the,’ Baptist Tabernacle. All these buildings were supposed to be fireproof, but alas, though the concrete walls, floors and stairways stood the test, every last thing inside of them had been wiped out of existence. Even the contents of a good safe in the tabernacle, when it was opened, had withered so that, when touched, they crumbled like ashes. The fine Salvation Army headquarters, the Y. W. C. A., churches, schools of all descriptions, and banks, all alike totally gone!

I cannot go into details—it would require days to do so. We spent the night at a missionary’s house in a spared part of the city. We were frightfully tired, so that we slept most sweetly despite hourly quakes that still came during the night. In the morning we started out together, but soon found that our different interests and objectives made it impossible to continue to keep together. At the temporary American Embassy offices at the Imperial Hotel, I registered all the members of my family as safe; and looking up Mr. Ziegler, who had spent the past terrible days in the hotel, together with him I walked over to where the Bible House had once existed. I knew it was destroyed before I went there. I had hoped that in some way the Lord might have preserved it; but he had allowed it to go with the rest.

The walls stood up very well; but the fire had done havoc with all that was consumable within. The only thing I could see was the safe. But I could not get to it because of the still burning timbers that had fallen down from the two floors and the roof above. On one of the walls Mr. Tanaka had stuck up a note for me, which said “Staff safe.” Having seen this, we walked up as far as the ruins of the Methodist Publishing House. Even the wooden blocks of the paved street were partly burned. Parting with Mr. Ziegler, I set out for Mr. Tanaka’s home. It took me at least three hours to get there. All was well there—only the plastering of his house had been pretty thoroughly shaken down. Some of the members of the staff had been to see him during the day. It was good to see them and spend the night.Mr. Tanaka’s Story

Mr. Tanaka’s story is too long to tell. The gist of it is: At noon of the first they were suddenly annoyed by a terrible rumbling noise and shaking of the whole building. Something like that had often happened when large motor trucks rushed by on the street. But this time it was unsually annoying, and increased and lasted minute after minute. They realized it was a terrible earthquake! What should they do? They grabbed the bookkeeping material and cash box, rushed downstairs, chucked them into the safe, shut it, and hastened out into the street. The earthquake lasted four minutes. Next door, in the drug store, inflammable acids somehow were ignited in the rear and started a fire. This was fought with might and main and happily put out, and all seemed safe in that locality. In many other parts of the city fires had started by the time our men went to their homes. They, of course, were anxious about their respective homes.

Tanaka and the assistant bookkeeper, before leaving the Bible House, had opened the safe and taken out the ledger and other important books, with the cash box, carrying away the same with them. Finding all well at his home Tanaka could not resist going to the Bible House again in the evening. He found it intact, and no fire in the immediate neighborhood. It was midnight by the time he got home.

Early Sunday morning he went there the second time; then what he had feared really had happened, the whole Ginza street had gone down in ashes. Of course there was nothing to do but to retrace his steps home, disheartened in the fullest sense of the word. He could get no information to me. He could not get a train out of the city. And, in addition to that, a report commenced to spread that the Koreans were up to mischief everywhere, throwing bombs and setting fire to the still remaining parts of the city. Tanaka was out every night till 12:00 o’clock, assisting the police in guarding their community. We do not know what to think of this scare. We are inclined to believe there were bad elements of the Japanese behind it. Yet, it does seem true that some of the Koreans took advantage of this occasion to give vent to their feelings of resentment against the Japanese. Time may make that clear.Further News

The first three weeks it was dangerous to travel. The extreme excitement, amounting to panic or mob psychology, was really alarming. Many of the missionaries I know met with very un-pleasant experiences. Though I traveled and walked about con-siderably in Tokyo, personally, I escaped such. I was not even questioned by a single person at any time.

By this time things have settled down remarkably. Everybody is busy. It is interesting to observe the diligence that is put forth practically on every burned-out little plot of ground, especially in Tokyo. As a result, as far as the eye can see from high points, already vast expanses of one-story galvanized-iron-covered huts are seen.

Yokohama

About two weeks ago I went to Yokohama. It is truly awfully depressing. As yet, the “settlement” (the whole section between the bluff and the bay), I mean the ruins are almost untouched. Hundreds of thousands of bodies are still uncovered. The condi-tion of the bluff is also deplorable. It is practically deserted. As a rule the buildings on the hillsides slid down to the base of the bluff, disappearing into the raging fires. You can imagine what awful things did happen!

The Fukuin plant fell in from the first shock. The employees who escaped by getting under presses, etc., have great tales to tell. One boy in the office said that he tumbled over and rolled under a “counter” accidentally and was saved. After the quake was over, he managed to knock out boards enough to get out. Besides Mr. Muraoka and his staff in the office and the seventy others, four of his immediate family in the old home in another part of the city were killed. That company and family were terribly hit, and we all feel badly over it.

A Fortunate Discovery

Two men of the Yokohama office of the Fukuin Press hap-pened to be in Tokyo, and thus escaped a like fate with the others. One of them is a Mr. Orisaka, who was their outside represent-ative. As a result of the disaster he forgot at first that large quantities of printed sheets usually were sent to a distant place to be folded for binding. About a week ago it occurred to him that we may have some printed sheets out there, and he sent word that investigation should be made. Later he went out to check up, and to his surprise he found we had printed sheets for nearly 13,000 books, and they were in fine shape for folding and binding. They are worth 3,600 yen—all paid for. That was a surprise to us also, and at the same time a very fortunate discovery. We have asked this man to see that they may be bound the soonest possible. Binding concerns are scarce in our part of ¦Japan these days, so that it will be difficult to get much done in that line until Mr. Orisaka gets started. The binding of these sheets in various styles will cost us more than 9,000 yen. But, let me say again, we are very glad for this discovery.

A Summary of Earthquake Figures

It is impossible to estimate accurately the loss of life and property in the time of a great earthquake disaster. Sufficient is known, however that September 1st, 1923, was the greatest seismic disaster recorded in history. Also that the first reports were not exaggerated. An earthquake is the most unnerving thing that a human being can experience. The Far East has experienced many earthquake disasters, but the severest seismic upheaval previous to the recent one was that of 1703 in Yeddo, Japan, the loss of life in that disaster was estimated to have been two hundred thousand.

In the matter of loss of property and life, and the extent of devastation, the Yeddo earthquake was only a mole hill compared to Mt. Fuji or Mount Ranier. A people with less fortitude or natural cheerfulness than the Japanese would have been prostrated by the magnitude of the great misfortune; no natural phenomenon can give you such a shock as an earthquake, and it is an eloquent testimonial to their courage that the Japanese are going about the work of reconstruction with great determination. Yokohama poking her head out of her grave of hundreds of thousands of dead and cremated in the ruins where one feels uncanny it takes courage for them to go ahead once more.

The licensed prostitute quarters were shut up so there was no way of escape and all were roasted alive; truly Hades opened her mouth wide to receive its victims. Yokosuka the naval base totally in ruins, where fifteen large tanks of oil and gas broke loose on the water burning for four days amid the submarines and torpedo boats; also many aeroplanes were reported destroyed.

The Island of Oshima explosion caused the total loss of all, the Island disappeared. In the tidal wave the ocean bed blew out and where it was before time five miles deep, it is said now to be twelve miles deep or bottomless. This convulsion in the seas caused a great upheaval of the ocean and the sea was rolling and roaring as the waters came with a mad rush over the beach towns and villages carrying everything before to destruction. The loss can never be told; eternity alone will only reveal as the beach was swept from Atami to the north east extremity of the Peninsula about forty -five miles.

Scientists tell us the gas pressure is high and the earth is caused to expand, letting in the water which causes a combustion, the interior of the earth being very hot and in places a molten mass of liquid fire. Amid whirlwinds of fire, forty thousand in one section perished; thirty-five thousand in another section, and in yet another thirty-two thousand five hundred licensed prostitute girls perished and many other fields of dead similar only greater far than any slaughter on any battle field, a more complete destruction and desolation.

Quakes are trying on the nerves of the little Nipponese. No sooner have they repaired their pontoons, and temporary piers, where the massive concrete ones collapsed, when here comes another disastrous shock and throws them into the sea again, and six hundred more homes go up in flames. It is very disheartening indeed. No wonder they become desperate and go insane, they are un-nerved and pressed out of measure.

Earthquake: M Bruce

“Describing Japanese earthquake 1 Sep 1923 by Maurice Bruce. He afterwards got on to the Empress of Australia docked nearby” Notation by Frank Bruce. The Empress of Australia took euro-american survivors to Kobe where it appears they were distributed among available ships for repatriation to North America and Europe. Maurice likely connected with his Aunt Gertrude (Bruce) Cranch through a Kobe-based marshaling and registration process, then sailed with her on board the SS President Jefferson to Victoria, BC, Canada. Their probable journey from there would be to Vancouver, then to Montreal or Halifax by train and finally by ship to England. Why the letter ends mid-sentence we’ll never know.

The Admiral Line
Pacific Steamship Company
On board SS President Jefferson
Enroute to Seattle


September 11, 1923

Darling Mum,

I know quite well you have heard of the terrible earthquake, fire and typhoon which have wiped out Yokohama and almost all of Tokyo.

I heard that Dad and Frank walked back from Tokyo after the earthquake and joined Vi in reaching Yoko; a young chap recently out from London and who was staying with us looked after Vi, and as far as I can tell be all four together, safe and sound.

I happened to be on the pier at the time seeing somebody off on the “Australia” and just as they were hauling up the gangway this thing started. I stood calm while everybody lost their heads, screaming, fainting and running in all directions. I soon was unable to stand up and when I found the pier going in I beat it for the opposite side and in crossing over, the whole place went in and I was thrown down of course. I hurt my arm and shoulder a little but not seriously and under such circumstances one does not notice such trifles anyway. I got to the side of this place which had not fallen in and was on the point of swimming to the land when somebody I knew came running up and, I tell you, we were glad to see each other and immediately decided to board the French mail boat which happened to be in at the time.

As soon as the strongest jerk was over which brought down all the buildings a terribly thick cloud of dust came over from the land which filled our eyes and throats. Then the typhoon and fire started creating the most terrible sight of the lot, a sight I am totally at a loss to describe. The whole place — the Bluff [neighbourhood of Yokohama situated on a rise where the Bruce’s and other expats lived], the wharfs and settlement [where foreigners lived] was on fire with a terrible wind which threatened to blow us clean off the pier altogether. Explosions were to be heard all round and the lighters, barges, launches all were flaming and being blown on to us gradually. Well, we had a terrible time on that ship and the storm not abating until the evening at which time there was an extremely anxious [end of letter]

Earthquake: V Bruce

Vi Bruce writes home to her mother, Rose Mary (Caldwell) Bruce, who left Yokohama for England two months before the earthquake. When the earthquake strikes at two minutes to noon, Vi, her brothers Frank and Maurice and her father Sydney are out and about in Yokohama and Tokyo. All survive. By twelve noon, the entire city was leveled and 140,000 people had lost their lives. The Great Kanto Earthquake was one of the five deadliest earthquakes ever recorded.


First Hand Account of the Great Kanto Earthquake, 1 September,1923

95 Kitano ___, Kobe
Sept 9th, 1923

Dear Mother,

Until this date (Sept 9th) I have not been able to settle down to anything like writing letters, reading, etc. The terrible earthquake having taken place on Sept 1st you can see how long it has taken me to gather my shattered nerves together sufficiently to concentrate on a letter.

Up ‘til now I have been waiting for more earthquakes and every little crack of the building I happen to be in at any time is enough to make me jump and my heart to almost jump out of me. I suppose you understand that I have lost everything  including your coat and fox which were in my room. I and the rest of the [expats?] with very few exceptions escaped with just what clothes we had on at the time.


Although my life has been spared I cannot help feeling a little sorrowful at having lost things that have taken me 3 or 4 years to collect, my beautiful fox fur and fur coat among them. But I am no different to anybody else I guess and shall stay here a while to try and pick up a little.

I expect you should like to know what I was doing  and where I was at the time of the quake. So will give as fully as possible what I can as I guess the rest of the family would be glad of some firsthand information instead of entirely relying on the newspapers.


There not being usual work on Saturday morning, I left the office at twenty to twelve. Guy Heller of whom I have spoken in a previous letter came round to take me on the Empress of Australia which should have sailed at twelve. We however changed our minds and as the car had come down to the office before going to the station to fetch Dad and Frank, Guy and I jumped in and went to the station.


We had not arrived there more than two minutes when a terrible rumble was heard like an express train coming into the station. The chauffeur gave an extraordinary grunt and dashed for the open, Guy and I doing the same. After hearing all the buildings in the [area?] have fallen including telegraph wires and other kinds and when we could see a little through the terrible dust from fallen buildings I told the chauffeur to drive home as I knew it would be no use waiting for Dad as the trains after a quake like that would sure to be delayed and I was anxious to see if 203 [203 Bluff, their house]  had gone over the cliff.

When we got to Sakurzarito (sp) Station we found the open space so broken up that we had to abandon the car and make our way as best we could along the creek, jumping over great parts or mounds where the earth had either fallen away or been heaped up as if by magic. It was an act of providence that there was no current in the wires altho’ you may be sure I did not touch one. The streets were a regular network of wires and it was very hard to keep a footing over the broken ground.


I don’t know what I should have done so far from home without Guy. He was perfectly wonderful. He seemed to keep up as though he were used to it as an everyday occurrence and one would never have thought that the kid had only been in the country three months. He literally dragged me home, altho’ I would have stopped for a rest many times.


We were filthy in no time as it was now raining and the dust was fearful. You cannot imagine it at all. The water mains broke with the first shock so that the Yokohama Park was almost flooded. We had to run along thro’ 6 miles of sloppy mud towards Hanazono Bashi by the Park and we were caked with mud to our knees. Japanese yelled to us to go to the Park but we took no notice and made our way as best we could over wreckage strewn right across the road.


We were just able to get across the wooden bridge at the bottom of Jizin Zalch (sp) altho’ both sides of the canal banks had given way and the bridge was left in the middle. The Temple Court was already a flaming mass as we tore up the hill. And as the bottom of the steps was blocked we had to go thru the temple yard which was then on fire. Our house was still standing altho’ it had a decided list towards the town, there having been a landslide at the back of the house. The kitchen had completely disappeared and what remained was burning.


Tired as I was, I ran down the side of the house, which any minute was ready to fall and yelled to Guy to save the house. I had fully intended entering the house to gather up a few things but I was so exhausted that all I could do was lie on the grass and gaze at excited groups of Japanese who were beginning to appear from nowhere apparently.
Some asked me where they could find a doctor, others wanted me to sell my clothes, others wanted food. I just waved them away while Guy stood guard over me and prevented any more from bothering me.


By about two o’clock (we had had ___ _____) the fire along the Bluff had crept around our section and so in order not to get trapped we had to go round into the [neighbour’s] kitchen garden to escape the terrible heat of two or three houses burning at once. As I had not seen the rest of the family since morning, I did not know whether they were alive or dead and only found out next morning.I refused to leave our vicinity of the Bluff in case Dad or one of the others arrived.


During the early afternoon an old American lady came down into the garden. She said she had fallen with part of the roof ____ a top window of ______  ______, rolled down the bank and was picked up by a Japanese who brought her over to us. Having her to look after I forgot myself for a time.


About six o’clock that evening when Guy and I were gazing at the ruins of our home from the gate, Mr Holly came along and insisted that we spend the night on the race course with his wife. As we had no food or water we were glad to do as he said and made our way as best we could over the heaps of debris in the dirty village which fortunately had not burned. We could buy no food of any sort in the village so had to rely on what we could loot out of the field near the race course.


All the time at the [house?] there was no sign of the servants and I wondered if they had been in the kitchen at the time. However, just as I got round the corner towards Hakamura Aoki I saw ______ across the road from somebody’s garden and clutched hysterically at my arm and begging news of the rest of the family. Of course I could tell her nothing and told her not to worry. She said that all her children were safe and the other amah whose nerves were almost as bad was with her. That is the last I saw of them.


Some of the Bluff foreigners had already congregated in the course but the Holly’s found that the Griunnesey’s (sp) was more comfortable. So we transferred to that place about 7pm. As was the case with many houses, probably including our own, all those which did not completely collapse were shaken considerably inside causing causing the upper stories to topple downwards and form a mass of debris in the basement or ground floor, altho’ the outward appearance of the house may appear practically normal.


It was a most extraordinary sensation during the worst of the shock. I described it as this – as I ran from under the big iron bridge outside K. Station I was lifted completely off the ground and thrown back. I felt as tho’ I was in the air and only touched the ground at intervals. It was impossible to keep your balance and Guy and I had to cling to each other to keep from falling. Most of the Japs around us were thrown to the ground. The tension in the atmosphere was awful and the earth rocked like a dinghy on a choppy sea.


To get back to events as they happened the first night. Smaller earthquakes continued throughout the night and to all accounts have still been felt up to now [Sep 9] in certain parts. The red flare in the sky told us that more of Yokohama was being reduced to ashes. The only thing that we saved besides what we had on was an old Mackintosh which Dad brought from home which happened to be in the garage. I think the only thing that did not burn on the Bluff was our garage, it merely collapsed. Guy and I had to share the old Mack that night.


We were not alone with the Hollys. About 3 or 4 other Americans joined us. The ridiculous Japanese soon lost their heads and all night (we couldn’t sleep) we heard intermittent yells coming from the direction of the dirty village which they were looting. Looting in Yokohama is still going on and some rather terrible stories have since reached us which may or may not be true. About 7am next morning Geoffrey Feaion (sp) came along and said that Dad and Frank were already on the Empress of Australia since they had walked thro’ wreckage from Ouiori and that Dad wanted us at once on the boat.


Just then MacPherson and 2 or 3 other foreigners came along and I asked them to go along with me. You cannot imagine what it is to see miles and miles of ruins if you have ever seen any. It is a truly horrible sight. From the beginning of the dirty village to the Grand Hotel corner where we got into the lifeboats it was nothing but ruins. Nothing stood above a foot high. I did not recognize one inch of the Bluff the whole way unless I stopped to figure it out.


We had to walk along the whole of the Bluff and go down Camp Hill as the town from Jizin Zaleh (sp) was absolutely impassable. Camp Hill was an absolute mass of ruin and it seemed impossible to imagine that the day before it was lined with prosperous shops of all descriptions and as you left it. The town looking toward Theatre Street from the foot of Camp Hill was absolutely flat and a few Japs were making for the shore. The corner of the Bund (sp) where the new bridge still is by the Grand that was had given way so that it formed a slope to the water’s edge. Frank I saw at the bottom of Camp Hill as he had left Dad to look for me.


We didn’t have long to wait before a lifeboat from an American boat “Steel  Navigator” [a freighter] came to shore and took about 30 or 40 foreigners on board who had gathered there waiting to be taken on to one of the ships in the harbor. There were plenty of ships in the harbor which stood by in case of emergency. Very few left the port during the two days that we were there.


On Tuesday morning at 6am we sailed for Kobe much to everybody’s relief. None of us had any idea where Maurice was except that he had gone down to see Dick McCleary off to Canada on the “Australia” and consequently at the time of the earthquake was taken aboard with the rest of the visitors to the boat who were still on the wharf as the boat had just left the pier when the disaster occurred.


Mrs. Calbeldu who was transferred to the Steel Navigator on the Sunday told me the concrete wharf broke in two and one man fell into the water. They yelled to the officers on the moving boat to take them aboard again and of course the Empress did so. Fortunately the French boat “Andre Lebon” was on the opposite side and both boats were very soon crowded with injured, dying or uninjured people who continued to arrive through the day (Saturday).


It was not considered safe for women to be ashore at all especially without a male escort, so you can guess I was jolly glad to have MacPherson, Lefevre, Guy and Grippen for an escort down to the boat on Sunday morning from the Grimmesey’s. The Japs up there were already getting a bit lively and a band of 6 or 8 ruffians came along bellowing _______ and waving a red flag on a stick and tried to force an entrance into the garden about 7am. Mac and Lefevre stood guard and wouldn’t let them pass and after a while they went on.


There was not a Japanese from the racecourse to the boat that was not armed with some sort of club, bamboo or even an iron bar as if they expected to be attacked any moment. Some of them looked rather fierce as they were getting rather hungry there being no food in the town of any description.


Maurice caught sight of me from the Australia and yelled across from boat to boat so I knew he was OK. Isn’t it a luck that all of us came through without a scratch?


I cannot stop at this time to tell you all the people who were killed but quite a number of foreigners I am sorry to say have lost their lives, among them being poor old Jock Latson and James Patterson. Both went down with their office buildings. There are many more I could name but I think I have given you quite a dose for this time and there are several other things I want to mention before I close.


The food we had on the boat during the four days from Sunday to Wednesday was perfectly wonderful considering the unexpected number who had to be catered for on the open of the business. It being a cargo boat they allowed us practically the run of the ship. I used the 3rd officer’s brush and comb and washed my clothes in the Chief Engineers cabin and bathed in the cabin adjoining the captain’s suite!! (By the way we had no captain as he had come ashore just before the earthquake to get his clearance papers and was killed by falling debris. It was awful ______ _______ as it was his first trip to Japan). I went to dinner last night [Sep 8] at the Oriental Hotel here at Kobe with the 3rd officer referred to above.


At present I am staying with the Libeauds who are awfully nice to me and are giving me a temporary home until I can find some place with the rest of the family. Frank, Dad, Catto and uncle [likely Bill Cranch. Wife Gertrude, Sydney’s sister, is believed to be the aunt who left for England with Maurice. See next paragraph] are staying in a temporary flat over the S and F ______  but they all came up to the Libeaud’s for meals with the exception of Frank of whom we as usual see nothing except when he comes “home” to roost.


Maurice and auntie you will already have learned have come home to England. They did not even wait to see us at Kobe, not even to see if any of us were alive. However, perk up, it is just as well as heaps of the [expats?] are leaving as soon as possible, some for Shanghai and some for home.


Mr Fish has been awfully good. He had charge of the outfitting of the I.G.E. staff and so I came off very well. He even insisted on a white lace afternoon frock which has since proved very useful when having dinner at the hotel in town. We see quite a lot of each other these days, in fact have done for the past six weeks and I think he is very fond of me. Anything else is quite indefinite as I am not quite sure of myself yet and also for other reasons.


Well, mother dear, you will not worry unduly about us as it is imperative that the three of us stay here for awhile to pick ourselves up after the bump, and perhaps next year I shall be in a better position to take the long trip home than I am now, at least I sincerely hope so as the outlook seems…[page lost].


[paragraphs added]

Earthquake!

 

Letter from Sydney Bruce in Yokohama to his wife Rose Mary Bruce in England, one month to the day after the Great Kanto Earthquake completely destroyed the city. Rose Mary had fortuitously left Japan for England two months prior…

46 Hariura Machi, Kobe, 1 Oct 1923

Darling,
Just had your letter dated the 23rd August, and a gentle reminder that I owe you more
than one. Have tried to write you once or twice but each time had to give it up – the
earthquake seems to have knocked all the stuffing out of me. What a bit of luck you left
here in July!! Not only prevented you from a bad shock to the nerves (although I expect
you had a bad time waiting for news of us) but you saved all your belongings, which
nobody else in Yokohama did.


The whole city and Bluff are as flat as a pancake. Dreadful sight, and it is a wonder that
so many of us are alive to tell the tale. Unfortunately, about 300 foreigners lost their
lives, quite a number among them are our friends – poor old Watson and Patterson, Tait,
Tom Abbey, Dr Reidhoad, Dr Wheeler, Dr. Ishiura, all gone.


I was on the train at the time, close to Omori Station, with Frank, Chapman and Catto,
travelling at about 40 miles an hour, and I have often wondered since how we kept on
the rails. The train pulled up eventually when we realized what happened, but we had
no idea of the extent of the damage in Yokohama, and the awful catastrophe which had
taken over the town.


We walked from Omori along the line to Kawasaki. The big bridge had sunk four feet in
the middle, and some of the bridge supports were right out of place. All this time
continuous shocks which nearly threw us off our feet, during one of which we were
passing a heavy freight train, and to see the engine being shaken as if it were a toy was
a bit scary to say the least.


From Kawasaki we took to the road. I think now this was a mistake. Nearly all the
houses were down, or partly so. And close to Tsuriumi we had to run through the fire. Of
course, it was already over, but still too hot to be comfortable. We eventually got back to
the railway again and from then on I decided to give the fires a wide berth, and as we
could not get further than Kanagawa on this account, we made for the Tokkaido in the
hope of eventually getting round the burning district and reaching the Bluff via
Nakamura. But we were too tired, and at 12 oʼclock at night found ourselves at the end
of the tram line beyond Nibombashi where we camped for the night in a field, being
provided with a couple of tatami by a Japanese whose house had collapsed, but had
escaped the fire.


At daybreak we started off again through the burnt district, a sight I shall never forget.
Great holes in the road, train rails twisted into all sorts of shapes, telephone and
telegraph wires blocking our path at almost every step. Bridges blazing away – we had
to cross one which was still burning. And tram cars, carts, and motor cars just burnt
where they stood from the time of the earthquake. Needless to say I had a very anxious
time, as I was not sure Vi and Maurice were alright. Fortunately, I knew where they
ought to have been at the time of the earthquake, but of course could not be sure. Vi, at
Yokohama Station in the car to meet me and Maurice, seeing some friends off on the
Empress of Australia. Comparatively safe places, although the pier where Maurice was
almost disappeared entirely into the harbour.


To add to our troubles it was intensely hot, and from 8 oʼclock on we got very little to
drink. However, we got out safely for which we have to be very thankful, and while our
losses are considerable – furniture, clothes and some stock in The Canadian Trading
Company – I am hoping I can recover my bonds (which were also burnt at the
Chartered Bank) as I happened to have the numbers of them in my safe at the Tokyo
office which was intact.


On arrival at the Bluff, at about 6 am, I was fortunate enough to have news of Maurice
and soon after was told that Vi was alright – Maurice on the Empress and Vi at the
Grimesseyʼs compound at Nagishi. So I sent word to her by young Geoffrey Fearon,
who just then came along, to tell her to come to the Bund(?) at once, and meanwhile
Frank, Levack and another young fellow named Heller and myself assisted in getting old
Captain Carst (who is unable to walk) down to the boat. Some funeral procession, I can
tell you (we were all dead tired and nothing to eat for 24 hours), having to climb over
fences and heaps of debris blocking the roadway, and wires everywhere.
I had previously been to have a look at the house – absolutely not a trace of anything
and about 12 to 15 feet of the bank had gone too. The one thing remaining was the
garage which had collapsed.


Iʼve been to Yokohama twice since, once to the memorial service on the 23rd
September, and again a few days later but am not anxious to go again as it has a very
depressing effect on everybody who visits it. Am enclosing a few photographs to give
you an idea of what it looks like now.


Thanks so much darling for all the trouble you are taking over the house, but am afraid
we shall have to let it go for a bit. I certainly canʼt afford anything like 1800 pounds for
one. Moreover, I cannot say when I can get home, although I should like to get away as
soon as possible but I must stay to try to recover my own property and that may take
some time, but as soon as I do I am off. Frank is also staying on for a bit, but Vi will
probably leave on the Katori Maru next month as arranged.


Just now I am oscillating between Tokyo and Kobe, as most of my staff are working in
Osaka for the next two months.


Tokyo is not quite as bad as Yokohama although miles and miles of it have been
completely destroyed by fire. Tokyo Station and all the offices in that neighbourhood are
all intact, however, likewise the new Imperial Hotel!! Although the Theatre and the big
Metropolitan Police Court were burnt out.


Sunday morning we had a rather bad shock in Kobe which sent all the Yokohama
refugees into the streets!! It was really nothing to worry about but everybodyʼs nerves
are badly shaken. So just even a door slamming is enough to give one the jumps.
Now about yourselves at home. I find it difficult to advise you. First of all I must ask you
to be careful which I know you always are, but I donʼt know what to do about Tubby.
Unless there is any real reason for keeping him at school after Christmas, I think he
should be starting in business. The expense is a heavy one for me now and he will be
nearly 17 and quite time he should make a start. Please consider this very carefully and
decide as promptly as possible, and also make inquiries regarding my brother if you can
and try to get those fees reduced. Bruces, _____ I think weʼll be together very soon and
they must do more than they have done hitherto.


Well, no more now. [Itʼs] nearly 11 oʼclock and I am tired. Weʼre dossing in a godown(?)
at present!! and Vi at the Libeaudʼs quite comfy and all well.

Lots of love and heaps of kisses
from your devoted
Hubby

Cattleboat Hell

Frank with his two brothers Maurice and Geoffrey work the summer of 1925 on the Canadian prairie, then take the train to Vancouver, BC in late fall. Jobs are hard to find and on Christmas day, Frank throws in the towel and catches a train east. He is England-bound. In Montreal, he greases the palm of a sleazy Swede in the railyards and gets on with the cattleboat Manchester Producer as a cattleman, feeding and handling the cattle on board. His passage home is assured …or so he thinks.

A brutal January storm breaks the ship’s rudder and for three weeks the ship drifts broadside to the breaking seas. Fearful of capsize, the captain orders all cattle and pens on the decks be thrown overboard to reduce windage. Calls for help bring nearby vessels but all attempts to secure a tow line in the heavy swells fail.

The tug fought through a Thousand Miles of Ocean Gales to Succor the Crippled Tramp – And We Sipped Hot Tea While the Cook Slept

I steadied myself against the edge of the iron bunk while the ship rolled heavily to port; as she regained the vertical, I l;eft the forecastle and stepped on deck into the cold wind. Inside, my fellow cattlemen slept uneasily in their clothes, breathing stertorously a close, damo atmosphere loaded with the mingled smells of cow, unwashed clothing, stale tobacco and the apples we had borrowed from the cargo below.

The night sky was brilliantly starred: the January wind still blew strong and steady over the Atlantic from the northwest. The ship, her rudder quadrant broken, lay as she had drifted for three weeks now, helplessly rolling broadside to the heavy swell. Each tremendous wave, rushing at the ship as she listed under the pressure of the wind, dealt her a smashing blow, and passed beneath us. Down the wind-fretted back of the wave she slid, trembling into the trough; listed again and waited for the buffet from the next onrushing wall of water.

 Now or Never!

Pulling up the collar of my old army greatcoat, I hung over the lee rail to watch the dim white crests of the waves leave the ships’s rail and with a hiss and a heave, leap away into the darkness.

I was pretty sure it was a hail that had brought me on deck; but we were in mid-Atlantic where hails are few. Sure enough, lights were dancing to leeward. Stately, swaying, they rode for a moment on the wind, then plunged with a sideways swing, and the next moment were again flung skyward. I dived back into the forecastle and punched a shapeless mass of blankets, clothes and sacking on an upper bunk. “Hey Bill! Goldern you; wake up. Here’s the tug.”

Groaning protests, Bill rolled out, yawned himself into cap and sweater. We went outside together.

The watch was already on deck. The tug had come a thousand miles and more to fetch us, had found us at night in mid-ocean. She was ready now to hook onto us in a sea that we had already seen during the previous two weeks, break like twine the three inch steel hawsers passed to us by other ships, salvage bent.

The tug came in close, hailed us again and told us to stand by to receive a line. Her searchlight showed our Old Man on the bridge, megaphone in hand. He yelled in a hoarse but surprisingly loud voice that it couldn’t be done – better wait til daylight. The answer, blurred by the wind, came booming back: “You take my line now or I’ll leave you.

The Old Man’s “OK” was the last of that laconic argument.

A Mighty Flail

Up forward, the crew were busy with the anchor winch. Spare hawsers were already coiled on the foredeck. Two days before, as another ship was preparing to tow us, the heavy hawser had parted. The end of the steel hawser converted instantly into a mighty flail, whipped around the bollard and disappeared overside, leaving the carpenter’s mate in a huddle on the deck with one leg nearly severed at the ankle.

 “I’ll cut your throat”

I felt in an inside pocket for cigarettes. Bill and I leaned against the rail next the cowshed and watched the crew lugging cables for’rard along the heaving steel deck. From the after-deck, littered with smashed cowshed and a tangle of wire ropes, with the dead steers still wedged between the winches and the hatch, they dragged the heavy rope. Past the galley door where we were wont to wait for the inevitable stew and the tea with coffee grounds; past the engine room door whence the negro stoker had flown by me with his razor the night before while the second engineer dived into his cabin for a gun, appealing to me over his shoulder as a witness:

“You heard that black devil say he’d cut my throat, didn’t ye, hey?”

Past the fiddley they lugged the heavy cable: the fiddley where in bad weather we let go our hold on the lifelines rigged along the deck and dived for the warmth of the stokehold, only to be soaked again as we descended by flying masses of brine from windward, which plunged throught the gratings and dripping steel ladders to the shining deck of the dim stockhold below. Past the steward’s pantry they dragged they dragged the cable forward, where we would go to draw rations and where the floor was still wet with the water that had flooded down from the smashed chartroom through the sacred saloon.

Bill and I smoked and gladly watched the crew working.

The wind pressed coldly upon us, but not with the solid, irresistible force it had shown during the worst of the weather.It had blown then miraculously from a clear steel-blue sky upon a grey and racing sea. It hadblown with incredible intensity and steadiness; now flatenning the seas with it weight, now whipping the flying spume up over the windward taffrail, heaved high as the ship listed, whipping it horizontally across the deck.

Bill and I finished our smokes.

Fishing for the line

Very soon the tug would send a line aboard.  She would do it by the simple process of slinging overboard to windward a lifebuoy with the line attached. the ships would drift faster than the buoy and we would fish for it with lines weighted with iron shovels or bars as soon as we had drifted down upon it. We began to get cold; our interest in the proceedings waned with every chilling moment.

Apple Pie

“Tea Bill,” I said, and we moved off in the direction of the galley. Making tea had to be done at some time between midnight and three in the morning, when the vituperative, whisky-ridden cook was snoring in his bunk. Ham, our tame cattleman-actor had even baked an apple pie at these unearthly hours. To be sure, the apples had been stolen from the cargo and cooked without sugar; and the crust made from the cook’s flour without fat, but in the circumstances it was a culinary triumph. Ham himself had brought me a piece and awakened me to eat it. After the first enthusiastic bite, one ate the rest out of love for Ham and respect for his remarkable achievement.

While Bill stoked up the big iron range with its railed top, I took a small saucepan, slid forward again to within earshot of where the mate was still grunting orders, and slipped below. I moved quickly aft along the rows of cattle between decks, assailed by the cloying smell of the animals, and of wet hay, and from the already rotting apples in the hold.

Near the end of the long line of weary, weaving animals stood the little Black Angus cow that had presented us with a shiny black calf a week before. With this single gesture she had attained a popularity with the entireship’s company, who whoile glad of the calf as a pet, were still more pleased at the prospect of having fresh milk in their tea.

Competition for the milk waxed fierce between thesaloon, the sailors and the cattlemen. Fortunately for the calf, it was a point of honor among the warring foster brothers to see that the calf was fed first. After that, it was anybody’s milk. Hence, it was as necessary to do our milking while the crew worked and the steward slept, as it was to wait until the fat and unmpleasant cook wassafe in the arms of Morpheus before making tea.

The calf was fed

It should be explained that tea as Ham made it, or as we made it, and as the cook mad it for Ham and us, were not recognizable as the same beverage.

The calf was fed. I took a cupful of milk in the saucepan, tied up the calf to the stanchion, fed the little black cowcrushed apples in a pail and hied me with my booty to the galley.

Hot good tea

The tea was strong and fragrant. We sipped gratefully, warming our backs at the stove, which had been generously stoked by the big-hearted Bill. My hands at the cup smelled of the apples and the cow. Over the cups we regarded ourselves with pleased and perfect understanding. Tomorrow. we thought, after three weeks adrift, we shall be limping south to the Azores. Moving slowly as we shall be,it is true; moving at hardly a man’s walking pace behind the tug from Queenstown that found ships in mid-ocean and made their skippers hook on at night. The sea would go down. Every day it would get warmer. Perhaps we could even lie on the hatch in the sun and watch the sailors chipping paint. Meanwhile the drunken cook was asleep and we had hot tea with no stale coffee grounds in it and made too, with fresh milk.

More Cattleboat

Manchester Producer

Sun March 7th

Dear Friend,

You will no doubt have all your heart and soul interested in this wonderful ship so I will try and outline the rest of the voyage to you.

It is just a week ago since you two fellows left us, and we have had some fun since then. No doubt you heard of the battle of Horta which occurred last Sunday p.m. when Paddy struck the apprentice boy and fought the 2nd mate, while Capt. and 1st mate were ashore.

After tea the police were notified and called to his arrest but never showed up till Mon 9 a.m. An old fellow came in armed like a warrior with a long fancy sword and two other big fellows. Paddy was paraded into the saloon before the Capt. and 2nd mate and these officials. He had tears in his eyes and shook like a leaf.

He sure put in a terrible night of misery after the deed. Mate had 4 stitches in his eye lid but is better now. Well Paddy handed me his roll of bills and apologized and pleaded to the Capt. but he had to go. He wanted me to follow and bail him out. He was to stay in jail till we sailed.

But he never went to jail. He went and told the British Consul and he let him off. Paddy got glorious drunk and after dinner Roy, Jim, Billings, Platt and I went ashore and passed Paddy on the water but he didn’t see us. He has been a different man since. He was drunk for two days after it and tried to make friends with the cattle men but they wouldn’t sympathize with him.

Now he eats in the pantry and not at the table with us. He gave the calf away to the ship chandler at Horta and I suppose it was through that he got off easy and got liquor instead of the jail. Well the night watchman wouldn’t let the calf go at midnight and the fellows were sore. Of course the customs guards would have stopped it. Ham reported it to the Capt. and told Paddy right to his face. Paddy tried to deny it but Ham told him off and cursed him. Paddy kept quiet.

The calf is here yet and the boys sure did rejoice and celebrate over losing their foreman. The 5 of us when we got ashore last Mon. went to the restaurant and hired a Ford for a tour around the island. The boy drove us and we left at 4 p.m. We went up and down hills all the way. Our first stop was to see a farmer ploughing. We got out and Roy, Platt and I had a try. I plowed once across the field and turned them [the horses] around to come back again. The share and mouldboard turns under the plow by releasing a hook. Like a side-hill plough. That’s the first time I ever drove oxen and it’s 11 years since I used a walking plow.

Next we stopped to pick roses and wild flowers. We saw some sheep and goats. A place where they thrash (a large flat circle of stonework). The oxen tramp the grain out on this stone. Then in a stable we saw a wooden mill — hopper, cog wheels and yoke all of wood with two flat round mill stones for grinding. Some machine. The old Dutch windmill is used for grinding.

We saw a 1926 Ford at the other end of the island at a small village. Shortly after, it came in dark and the last part of the trip was done in the dark so we didn’t see much but received great experience in fixing tires. Only had four punctures and one blowout. The roads were full of gutters and stones. On one steep hill the car refused to pull as the gas was low and the tank was too low down so we had to get out and push. We land back at 9:30 p.m., eat 6 eggs each and the boys bought some liquor after which we left for the boat. The end of a perfect day.

The trip cost us 25 escudos each. We went into the wine cellar under the cafe and you should see the liquor. Why the shelves all around were full of bottles. I bought a bottle of scotch to treat the boys on my birthday, Mar 16th.

Tue. we went ashore to spend all our money and some got tight again. The cooks were all tight for two days and the second steward too. First steward and Ham cooked for us and the cook on the tug baked our bread.

Slim left on Tue. night on the “Lima”. Capt. Steele came in on her and was 9 days coming so Slim will not get home very early as it takes her 7 days going to all the islands. The grub on her is terrible, all cooked in olive oil and garlick.

Wed. we were ready to leave but it was too rough so we stayed till 10 a.m. Thurs. and up to Fri noon made 119 mi. Then up to Sat. noon another 105 mi. and 95 till today at noon. So we are decreasing and the weather is calm and mild. Couldn’t be better only we get no sun.

Last but not least we had boat drill on Fri. and one boat was stuck fast and took about ten minutes to loosen it.

We got some baled straw from the islands; it came in on the “Lima.” It’s mostly wild oats and they sure are wild looking too. Manchester is a very quiet and refined boy now. I have got moved up on the next deck with the Capt. and the sailor with the broken leg has my room. Capt. Steele took his room.

We are back on the Liverpool track now and well over half way there. This last two days we have had a heavy swell and some wind but we made 133 mi on Tue. and 155 today. The crew are busy painting the ship again so it will be like new when we arrive.

The boys are having some fun trying to chew this tough oxen meat we got at Fayal.

Sun. March 14th.

Ha! ha! You’re missing the fun, a time of your life. I’ve laughed all day and night yesterday and all forenoon today, it gets more exciting all the time. The boys were making more escudos yesterday, cleaning the manure out again from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. All the boat had to be cleaned out and of course, 1st one would get Paddy’s goat, then another. After they finished, I treated them to whisky and Nic. he was absent so Roy told him the mate gave us all a drink, well he began to rave and he lit into the mate this a.m. about it. The mate asked him what was the matter with him. So they had a joke on Nic.

Today they had to throw out all that beet root pulp and hay and straw overboard. No feed or manure allowed to land. Nic and Paddy got to fighting words twice. The boys couldn’t work for laughing. Now we are going up the river against the tide with the aid of ‘Zwartzee’ and three Liverpool tugs. Some procession. On Fri. Ham and Platt came up to my room to have a friendly game of cards and so we played for a couple of hours when in comes the Capt. He says “Say doctor, you can’t bring these fellows up to your room, why you’ll behaving ____ in the saloon next.” In a few minutes he was back again to see if they were gone.

Poor cattle stiffs. That same morning we began playing coits  at No. 3 hatch and the mate ordered us away from there. Dogs life eh!

Capt. finally took responsibility to mix the isolated cattle after calling me a damned ass and a few other favourite expressions behind my back. I was laid in bed taking it all in. I can here all in my room through the single board partition.

Tue March 16th

We are still on our way inch by inch going up the canal. We got into the canal yesterday about 1 p.m. It’s fine scenery but early this a.m. was foggy so we couldn’t start till it cleared. One tug ran ashore in the mud yesterday and they got so scared they couldn’t cut the tow rope hence we almost capsized them. The boys had several photos taken yesterday by reporters. You’ll see them in the Mirror and Sketch. Last night they were ashore and got drunk while the ship was tied up. The vets were aboard and all cattle go as fats for immediate slaughter. The men and crew threw all feed over and now we have no feed for the cattle. They are starved.

You left that address in the foc’sl. Mr. E Bostock Smith, Heaseland, Barham, Canterbury, Eng (poultry man). We have plenty of inspectors, spectators and officials aboard. Expect to arrive tonight but probably in the morning. I must close now. Drop me a line to,

Yours truly,

Dr. P. Priestly, B.V.Sc.

23 Allen Croft, Birkenshaw nr Bradford, York, Eng.

Cattle Ship Perils

Cattle Ship Perils

Morning Post, London, March 20, 1926

Crew’s Terrible Experiences

Refuge in the Stokehold

Food Shortage

The story of a cattleman’s experiences on board the Manchester Producer, published yesterday exclusively in the Morning Post, has caused widespread interest.

The cattleman in question was Mr. H. A. L. Berry, a younger brother of one of the heads of Berry Bros. and Co., wine merchants, of St James Street, has supplied further details of his experiences. His story is corroborated by a young Englishman, Mr S. F. Bruce, a student of agriculture in Canada, who was also on board the Manchester Producer.

Mr Berry states that he was in Montreal, with the intention of taking a trip home to England, in January last. He was thinking of booking a passage when one of his friends suggested that he should ship on a cattle boat. The life was not easy; but he had lived and worked hard in Canada, and was not afraid.

“I was given the address of an agent in Montreal,” he said, “who arranges for the provision of men for the cattle steamers. I went to see him and he told me he would arrange a passage for me for ten dollars. This would cover my passage across the Atlantic and my food; I would also be able to ship back to Canada on a boat of the same line. He then landed me a slip with my name and the date, although the amount which I had paid him was left blank. No questions were asked of my fitness or experience in handling cattle.

Men of All Trades

“I met my fellow cattlemen at St John’s. They were of all trades and professions — farmers, mechanics, businessmen, an actor and others.  There was only one experienced cattleman in the party. The weather was [adverse] with deep snow on the ground, and the temperature was well below zero.

“When we got on board, we were herded into the saloon, and various papers were spread before us on the table. We were told to sign, and I asked what the papers were. I was informed that the signatures were for purposes of identification only; later in the voyage, however, we were informed that they were ship’s articles, which committed us to work, such as the cleaning out of the cattle pens and other work which we had not expected to do. 

“I now understand that before a man signs his articles they are read to him and the nature of his duties explained. This was not done, however; and it was not until towards the end of the voyage to Fayal that we were expected to do this work of cleaning out the pens.

“All the time that I was on board I did not see a life belt, nor did we have any lifeboat drill, even during the days when it was calm enough.

The Night Watch

I was appointed night watchman, and I was expected to see that the animals on deck were fairly comfortable during the night. But I had no electric torch or light of any sort provided for me, and it was impossible to see what was happening to the animals during the night. I carried on as best I could.

“We carried a veterinary surgeon on board; but we had no humane killers of any sort, and when the storm broke out and some of the cattle were maimed it was necessary to put them out of their misery. One of the crew hit the animals repeatedly on the head with a small hammer; they went down under the blows, but stumbled up again. It was a hideous sight, and we all thought it was more merciful to fling them overboard.

Refuge in the Stokehold

“Our own sufferings were unbelievable. When the storm was at its height we could hardly venture across the top deck. If we did we were flung from side to side and drenched with icy water. One heavy sea broke down a portion of the top deck, extinguishing the lights in the quarters of some of the crew and swamping them with water. One of the men was rather badly hurt, and they all thought that the end had come. They managed to escape, however, to the lower decks.

“We had deserted our quarters in the forecastle after the first night. The cold there was too intense.; so we installed ourselves on the lower deck, amid the hay provided for the cattle. Our real home, however, was the stokehold. When we came down from the deck, half-frozen, sore from buffeting, and almost blind with misery, this dingy black hole was a haven of warmth and comfort to us. We could at least dry our clothes and our bodies by the fire, while the negro stokers were great chaps.

The Negroes’ Prayer

“Few of us had any hope of seeing land again. Our rudder was broken and our steering gear was out of order. Our wireless too was out of action for a time. But these niggers were extraordinarily cheerful, with a strange kind of fatalism. They kept their mandolins whining pleasantly all the time — better music than the howl of the waves and the wind. They were true philosophers; one old darkey said to me ‘Dar’s de ship, an’ de waves; de cattle, de humans an’ de God; an’ Ah thinks de God will win.’ That was their prayer; all of us I think said prayers of some description.

“The misery of the cattle too was weighing upon us. We could, at least, grumble and sing, swear and pray; but these poor dumb beasts cold only stand there, in the filthy pens which had not been cleaned for weeks, and watch us as we brought their daily-diminishing supply of fodder and water to them. They must have been almost frozen; and it was probably the kindest thing to those on the upper deck to fling them overboard.

Spirit of the Men

“But the spirit of the men on board, in general, was immense. The officers and engineers would come down and talk to us in the stokehold. They were not over-sanguine, I think, of our chances of getting through; but they kept telling us that we were on a good ship, and that we wouldn’t go down. The apprentices and the steward, who knew something of wireless too, stuck to their posts night after night, until eventually they got it in order, and we were able to send out messages.

“The cook and his assistant worked all day in a galley awash with water, and managed to keep us alive. After awhile, when supplies started to run short, we broke open one of the holds, and ate some of the apples and the patent foods stored there.

“I wanted to say a word, too, about the assistance of the ships that came to our rescue. There were five of them altogether, and each one of them stood by and helped as best as they could. It was nobody’s fault that they could not take us in tow. The Mongolian Prince was herself running short of food, and she had to pick up one of the animals which we had thrown overboard and kill it for food.”

[World copyright reserved]

Forest Morning

Morning in the Forest

I spend my days now in the woods and on the mountainside, and share the deserted trails of the black bear with the occasional deer, and a still less frequent visitor, Brere Rabbit. Early every morning, I leave behind me the blue spirals of breakfast fires in the valley, and with two companions, strike out along the railroad to where the forest comes down to meet us. 

We are three silent men in the morning, and trudge along with mailed boots crunching on the trodden snow. Charlie, as the man in charge, goes ahead. With hands in pockets and bent head beneath a battered hat, he lifts his feet as though he would leave his footprints deep in the iron ground. Youthful James, in his old green mackinaw, with a piece of his twenty-first birthday cake in his lunch-box, ambles mentally from breakfast to geology, from his mother’s last letter to the prickly spruce we found yesterday; half bemused by these waking thoughts and the faint persistent vestiges of dreams from which he had been torn not an hour before, he stumbles occasionally in his heavy boots. The rails at our feet slide by in monotonous procession, alchemised by a frosty nacreous patine from common steel to a dull silver. 

The air is still and cold. Morning is detained as yet by dying night, though the stars have faded half an hour since. A cold transparency washes the shadows from their last tenebrous refuges among the trees and in the westerly hollows.

At the shed, we leave the track and take a steep and snow-covered trail through the slashing. Here, the protective influence of the trees has extended a little way on all sides into the clearing. Where the snow has dwindled, the foot sinks into the moist, re humus of the trail. Presently, no more than an occasional patch of snow lingers by a moss-covered log. Jack Frost, with his silver brush, has here laid a Parthian touch upon the farthest dead leaf, and fled upon the wind to the open hillside. The trees engulf us as we climb. Before morning is fairly come night has half stolen upon us under their leafy roof. To us they are now the innumerable pillars of a dim and damp cathedral, guarding the dark arcana of nature.

A squirrel, alarmed at our invasion, chatters at us suddenly from a great hemlock. With tail erect, he jerks his small body from one frozen attitude of defiance to another. Where our trail crosses a tangle of fallen trees, we find ourselves upon an old pack trail, broad and evenly covered with brown leaves. In places, young trees stand insolently in mid-road, vanguard of the silent sylvan army waiting on either side to close ranks in ineluctable reclamation. 

Where we stop to rest, warmed now and out of breath, the air is full of the sound of rushing water. For many days now we have worked within earshot of this heedless, hurrying mountain stream, with its swift passage in contrast to our own deliberate moves. 

Later today, in a stony spot near the water, we shall build a fire of dry cedar, lit from dead twigs with their parasitic murderer, the beard-moss, dead in turn and still clinging. The water for our tea, in the old black and battered pot, will have been caught in its flashing leap between the glistening, spray-drenched boulders. Thin sunlight will be in the tree-tops then, hardly filtering to the mossy ground; while the faint blue and fragrant smoke of our fire, starting with an eager leap from the flames to the moving air, will float leisurely between the trees.

Address: Box 176, Tunnel Camp, Britannia Beach, B.C.

Underground

S. Frank Bruce, 1929

Same old breakfast — cornflakes and powdered milk, eggs and bacon, thick toast browned hastily on top of the stove, hotcakes and syrup, black coffee. I gulp down the coffee, take a farewell forkfull of hotcake, grab from the bench en route to the door my dirty old waterproof jacket, and dinner pail in hand, join the passing stream of miners headed towards the mine portal

Here, in an open-fronted part of the warehouse building, I become a link in the chain of men passing the wicket. As I pass a small window I callout my identifying number to the clerk within. When the shift comes out of the mine the numbers are checked to ensure that no men are missing. I take a time-card, and carbide for my lamp, and join the other men waiting outside for the train that will take us nearly a mile underground to the main shaft

The miners stand in small groups, smoking, passing around a salty joke, or hailing a late-comer. Their work -clothes, stained a greyish-black with the mixture of oil and rock-dust from the drilling machines, distinguish the miners from “non-producers” – tracklayers, timbermen, electricians, mechanics.

With the arrival of the train, the office is beseiged by the out-coming crew, the “graveyard” shift, dirty, tired, but still vociferous, grinning, glad to be out, ready for breakfast and bed. We climb onto the rough cars, leaving a seat at the end of each car for the bosses, who emerge from the office stowing papers in their pockets. As the big whistle on the powerhouse nearby blows seven o’clock we start into the tunnel. The air is cold and dank, musty and sulphurous.At about ten miles an hour we trundle along in semi- darkness; the roof, illumined faintly by an occasional lamp to one side, seems low enough to touch. After the early morning rush I can now relax. The dim figures around me are silenced by the noise of the wheels, and sit hunched up against the cold draught. It is true that the imagination is most active when the senses have least to do.

Cut off from my companions by the noise and darkness, I compose a fiery speech, or explain to an imaginary and dumb disciple the cause of economic depressions. Almost immediately, it seems, we arrive at the shaft station, brightly lit, blasted from the living rock, with the marks of the drills on walls and roof.

Underfoot is heavy planking. The roof is about four feet from our heads and carries a maze of compressed air pipes, flumes carrying drainage water, of power-lines and light and telephone wires, the nervous system and sap-stream of this dendritic growth reaching into the heart of the mountain.

At the far side of the station, heavy timbering and extensible iron gates mark the foot of the shaft. A short ladder and platform give access to the top deck of the cage, which now stands waiting. The cage carries twenty men, ten on a deck. I join the general movement towards the gates, which close behind us.

With his hand on the bellrope, the cagetender waits to signal the hoistman twelve hundred feet above us. “All clear” comes from the top deck, the bell rings, we rise slowly from light into sudden darkness and feel the speed increase until the cage with its freight of twenty men is rushing upwards at a thousand feet a minute.  The movement is steady, powerful, and silent but the sigh of the shoes on the guides, and the rhythmical drumming of air on the shaft timbers, passed by the cage with little more than an inch to spare.

Cold draughts of air blow about erratically. A leap into light, and again into darkness; we have passed the first level, two hundred feet from the bottom. The flashes come at two hundred foot intervals every twelve or fifteen seconds. With the swiftly increasing altitude my ear-drums respond to the lessened pressure and crackle uncomfortably. I swallow hard in the darkness, hold on to my dinner-pail, and listen to the shiftboss in his easy confident tone giving the men their instructions for the day. He says nothing to me. I think that’s all right; I’ll be working in the same place.

The cage slackens speed, slows down, slides upwards into the lighted station, and stops with nice exactness. The iron gates fold and swing before us. We have climbed twelve hundred and fifty feet in less than a minute and a half and are not even out of breath. I look out for my partner, light my lamp, and walking gingerly in my worn rubber boots on the muddy planks between the tracks, start out along the level for our working-place.

Prairie Fire!

Sweating men and fear-crazed horses race the flames to save the grain

 

For a month the sun had dealt with us pitilessly. The wind, robbed of its moisture by the mountains far to the west, swept burning and parching over the rolling grain fields of South Saskatchewan, drawing the last trace of dew from the stooks of cut wheat, from the stiff stubble and the powdery, dusty summer fallow. From the train one could see the threshing outfits working at top speed while the dry weather lasted. The separators, half hidden by the loaded wagon on either side, lay in the hollows of the fields like sanguinary dragons, each with its long neck upthrust, spewing straw in a fine cloud onto the strawpile.

At the wayside station I watched the train leave, trailing behind it a swirling dust cloud. Close beside the railroad track, like giant tombstones stood the grain elevators, darkly red, springing from a tangle of dry grass and weeds to the brilliant sky. That night I slept with the threshing crew. There was a spare team and harness in the barn. I would take out a bundle-rack with the rest of the crew in the morning.

 

Sun and dust

The farm was large. We threshed for two weeks, moving the outfit from place to place, working south. Each day the sun blazed from a brazen sky. In the morning the dry wind sucked up the dew from the stooks, so that the machine for the rest of the day threw out suffocating clouds of dust. It was not so bad if one used a handkerchief as a mask. The horses stood nervously by the roaring separator, while the dust sifted down on them in a white coat. Very often they would start forward as one of them interpreted a squeak of the machine as a whistle from the driver. The man, balanced on the uneven load above the whirling knives of the cutter, would curse and grab the reins, while the menacing knives, swallowing the last bundle, would race all the faster.

We filled two granaries in the field, and then moved west to the last set-up near the house. There was no granary here, so we let the grain run out onto the ground, and built up an edging of planks around the pile as it grew higher. When a grain tank came back from the elevator empty, the driver would draw it up close to the separator, unhitch his horse and leave us to swing the spout over the pile to the tank. Things were going well for the farmers. Nearly all the grain was threshed, much of it drawn, and still the weather was dry. A wheat stalk powdered between the fingers. At this place the growth had been lush, leaving a long stubble. Then one day it came.

 

Fire!

 I had finished pitching off my load into the separator, had scraped up the loose wheat with a shovel, stuck my fork between the bars of the rack and gently untied the reins ready to move off. The horses laid back their ears expectantly, but I stood for a moment looking at the man coming towards us from the far side of the field. That in itself was not unusual, but it was remarkable that he should be running in this heat and waving his arms. There was no load waiting behind me.I chewed a straw and looked again. He was still running and waving his arms.

Suddenly the meaning of it drove my heart into my mouth. It was fire! Above the great strawpile was a wisp of smoke. I jumped from the rack, ran to one side. It was fire right enough. The far side of the strawpile was twenty-five feet of leaping flame. It was already in the stubble, twisting, flickering, flying before the wind. The wind had depressed the smoke and hidden it from us behind the straw.

My first thought was for the horses. I swung onto the rack, turned them from the already silent separator, and with the reins slapped them into an agitated trot. The flames were over the top now. As we went, I saw out of the corner of my eye the full grain tank. Sixty bushels of grain, a box and a wagon, waiting to be burnt. At a safe distance, we stopped. I pulled the pin from the doubletree, and drove the unwilling horses back for the grain tank. The whole straw pile was now blazing furiously. The flames were lowdown on the windward side and reaching for the wheat, the grain tank and the separator. The horses were pretty good, but badly scared.

As I turned them on to the wagon tongue, the farmer’s son appeared from nowhere and grabbed their heads. As a man who had a lot to lose, he was pretty excited. He was white and sweating, but habit steadied his hand at the bridles, and helped to slip the ring of the neck-yoke on the wagon tongue. He yelled at me all the time that the harness was rotten. I knew it was rotten. I was the latest comer on the crew, with rotten harness and twenty-year old horses. If they cracked up now it was his loss. The heat was blistering the plunging horses. I dodged their feet, hauling back on the doubletree, and got the pin in somehow. The smoke was bad. As the pin went in, I yelled to the horses, dived clear and went for their heads. They needed no urging. They went hard and fast away from those flames and took with them a load that, next day, took four horses to move it on the soft ground.

 

A Running Fight with Fire

 With the grain tank clear of the fire, I unhitched and tied the horses, grabbed a shovel, and ran towards others of the crew, fantastic figures in the dust and smoke, racing the flames, beating at the blazing stubble with pitchforks, shovels, anything. One drove his horses through the flames, cut a fireguard of a few furrows before the fire ate up the filled granaries and the best of the year’s work. But the wind was master of the situation, played with the flames and with us, blasted a smoking path two hundred feet wide, straight between the two granaries to the summer fallow a quarter mile away, where the fire died on the edge of the dry soil.

Exhausted, sweating, parched, we drifted back to the outfit and surveyed the damage. The farmer’s son, in the heat and excitement, had fainted and had to be dragged out of the fire, the threshing machine was scorched, and damaged as the tractor-man in a panic dragged it clear with the driving belt, some grain was burnt, half a day lost. But it might have been worse, we thought, even as we spent the night stamping out smouldering roots, and hoping that the wind would not change. As for the horses, they had been magnificent.

 

S Frank Bruce
294 Windsor Rd West, North Vancouver, BC
Phone: North 1654-Y