[English] QUAKE EXPERIENCES. LECTURE BY CHAPLAIN FROM YOKOHAMA.

3 November 1923

QUAKE EXPERIENCES.

LECTURE BY CHAPLAIN FROM YOKOHAMA.

At the Cathedral Hall last evening, there was a representative gathering to listen to an address by the Rev. E. M. Strong, British Chaplain in Yokohama, who did such heroic work both during and after the catastrophe.

Mr. Strong gave a thrilling account of the events of the 1st September. Most affecting was the story of the heroism of a Boy Scout who, at the age of nine, died manifesting the spirit of Sir Philip Sidney. The audience heartily applauded Mr. Strong's tribute to the gallantry and devotion of the officers and men of H.M. Navy and the Mercantile Marine.

Mr. Strong said he was glad to have the opportunity of thanking a representative Hongkong gathering for the liberal contributions they had made towards the relief of those who had been broken and shattered in mind and body. After the earthquake it was an enormous relief to the people in Yokohama and Tokyo to know of the response being made throughout the world to their great need and it was peculiarly encouraging to know that the small foreign community had not been forgotten. He was asked to say "Thank you" to the people of Hongkong for the magnificent grant to the Kobe Relief Fund which had been allocated by Hongkong. He was also very grateful for this opportunity of making an appeal on behalf of the Churches, which had suffered heavily. Although the loss of life had been small among Christian workers, the loss in material had been immense.

In this connection, Mr. Strong mentioned that in almost every district the percentage of Christians killed was something like one-tenth of the percentage of non-Christians. Out of 4,500 Chinese about 1,500 were killed. Of these 150 to 200 were Christian Chinese and of them only two were killed. Not a single missionary had been killed and he did not know of a single Japanese pastor among the dead. He did not wish to make any comment on this; it was just a mystery which one could ponder over and decide about for oneself.

Explaining the attitude of mind of people who live in earthquake-ridden districts, Mr. Strong said there were three attitudes of mind which people took up in regard to earthquakes. There were, first, those who were frankly frightened; secondly, those who were perhaps equally frightened but who felt it was more dignified not to show too much fright, and, thirdly, those who really seemed to be completely indifferent either by natural courage or by having schooled themselves. People in the last class said, "I wanted to know what a really bad earthquake would be like and now I know."

NATURE OF SHOCKS.

As to the form the earthquake took, Mr. Strong said that the stories of survivors must necessarily differ owing to the peculiar circumstances of the case. Captain Robinson - all honour to his name for what he did through those terrible days - (applause) - was standing on the bridge of the "Empress of Australia," looking down one of the streets of the town just as the earthquake occurred. He said he saw six or seven ripples, or waves, pass over the surface of the land so that, as he looked down the street, he saw horses and carts and motor cars raised up like ships on the crests of waves. This would account for some people saying they felt the ground rise, while others said they experienced the contrary sensation; it depended whether it was on the crest or in the trough of the earth-wave.

The second shock, which came a few seconds later, was as though a giant was jerking the houses first one way and then the other, until they collapsed. There was next a tremendous roar and then absolute silence. This lasted for perhaps thirty seconds, and then one began to hear low cries and moans coming from under the ruins. Twenty minutes later another shock occurred which set free many people who were pinned down and to whom the fire was coming very close. To see the crowds, upward gazing, with faces blanched or stained with blood, Mr. Strong said was to be reminded of one of Doré's pictures of the end of the world. A few minutes after the first shock he was saying to himself, "Why is there no fire; they say there is always a fire after an earthquake!" Sure enough before many minutes he saw the first indications of the fire which later swept through the place, fanned by a strong typhoon wind which sprang up.

"LYCAON" TO THE RESCUE.

Before many minutes had passed a crowd which had swollen in number to 3,000 people were standing up to their necks in water just off the Bund. "You will ask," he said, "why they were not helped?" It was almost impossible to get a boat towards the land because of the inflammable stuff flying through the air. I want to place it on record that a Blue Funnel boat, the "Lycaon," was the very first to send a rescue party of any sort. (Applause.) It was organised by Captain Nelson, of the "B. & S." Office at Yokohama. At a quarter past twelve o'clock he got a boat to shore from the "Lycaon," filled it with badly wounded, brought it back to the ship, got four small barges anchored just off the shore and then went on shore himself and spent the rest of the day helping in other ways. (Applause.) At a time when everybody else was thinking of how to get their dear ones away or of getting away themselves, Capt. Nelson had the coolness of mind to think this out and carry it into execution.

BRAVE BOY SCOUT.

Mr. Strong told a story of a Wolf Cub, only nine years of age, who was found with his right arm and his left foot crushed to pulp. He had just joined the Boy Scouts and was ready to whimper with the pain of his injuries until he remembered, "I am a Boy Scout and Boy Scouts do not cry." He asked the bearers to be careful of his foot and arm and then he thought he could manage not to cry. At the hospital little Frank said, "Never mind about me, doctor, my time is up. Look after somebody else." He was put under an anesthetic, but he died. His mother, suggested Mr. Strong, would have an undying memory to treasure in the way her little boy had acted.

Mr. Strong also referred to the tremendous work done by the British and Dutch ships in port, whose crews worked all day and went on with stretcher work the whole of the first night, in spite of the danger from fallen electric wires, holes in the road and the darkness. Wonderful help was given by the officers and men of H.M. Navy; the "Despatch," the "Hawkins" and the "Durban" had given of their very best.

He asked the people of Hongkong, if they had the opportunity, to tell the officers and men how much Yokohama appreciated what they had done in those terrible days. (Applause.)

An exhibition of lantern slides illustrating the damage in Yokohama and Tokyo was given and afterwards a collection was taken on behalf of the Churches in Japan, of which, the Bishop mentioned, seventy were demolished, besides schools and hospitals.

Source:

Page 5, "China Mail", Saturday, 3rd November, 12th Year of the Republic of China
- 25th Day, 9th Lunar Month, Gui-hai Year
- Saturday, 3rd November, 1923 Common Era
Page 4, "Hong Kong Daily Press", Saturday, 3rd November, 12th Year of the Republic of China
- 25th Day, 9th Lunar Month, Gui-hai Year
- Saturday, 3rd November, 1923 Common Era