THE GREAT KANTU EARTHQUAKE

Transcribed from handwritten copy, so some mistakes! A Maitland.
23/10/26

Mampei Hotel Karuizawa

Sept 1^st 1923

My dearest George

Since twelve o’clock (its now 2pm) we have had a series of most terrific earthquakes. I had been writing letters, and was putting away my papers stamps etc when the first shock came. I stood in the doorway not anticipating anything but an ordinary shake when it increased in force & I fled down the corridor & leapt down the stairs outside where Major Isler & Mrs Allen were & also several Miro – it went on more & more violently & the whole earth rocked. Donald & Emily had gone to the village to bring some more Horlicks malted milk & I could not rest till I had found them so off I started Major Isler accompanying me – my knees shook so that I felt I should fall. He was pale too & we had not got more than a hundred yards when a second terrific shaking began. I have never felt such and earthquake since 1984. Well we went on & met Don & E at the tennis courts. Of course they were alright & we came back & there were s had ?? shocks in the half hour. Everyone was out look u at as and – it was in thick clouds for the rain we have had since yesterday had only just stopped about 11.30. Everyone we met was either green or white according to colosing ??? and I still feel sick and a weak kneed sp. No-one could eat midi tiffin. There were 2 shocks while we were in the dinning room, and every few minutes there is a temor. However we have brought Donald upstairs to lie down and got him away from the conversations. We have left the doors open & are ready to fly out. Its still so sultry & silent I don’t like it. The quietness of Asama has worried me all Summer. I suffer?? the constant smoke, one knows that the fires are having and outlet. I wonder what the news will report tomorrow. I have just been down to fill my pen. I found a letter & newspaper from you – so will read it & get consolation from it. I so dread tonight perhaps it will have settled down by then.

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I have tried to be brave. to keep my head  Poor Emily was so terrified – Donald luckily is too small to realise all – we have such frequent shocks its nerve racking but we are so much better off than others that we must be brave – well last night Miss Primmet sp? & I went over to the Karain\aiwa to see if we could get news. & there I saw someone who had a friend going to try to get down to Shidzouka today. I was able to write Papa a line to let him know we are safe so far. All the newspaper offices have been either razed to the ground or burnt – no water no electricity & news in Tokyo?? is written on large placards & sent around the city by a slowly moving motor. We got back & I came upstairs to be near Emily & don who hates me to be away for an instant – I had just got into bed worn out & so had she when news came that all lights must be extinguished the blace arricaded & a guard set – as some Koreans were at large with dynamite & were going torch the place – Imagine our consternation. We dressed at once. I got my money check book & jewellery together & there we sat till 2 am. Of course up here where I would not have Donald disturbed – all passed in peace & quiet – with one or two shocks to ones nerves. At last the police telephoned to say all was safe. they had caught 30 Koreans – the entire number known to have come up & Sato came back to say they themselves had caught 4 & the police 26 – all passages to Karuizawa were patrolled & we need have no more fears. Well dearest it did seem as if we were called upon to hear more than we could stand. However the night passed & dawn again brought consolation you see all our staff except four men have gone. Luckily we have some men amongst the guests – two who were in the war & we felt thankful for their presence. Major Isler & Mr Smith (a British Air man) are the ones I feel confidence in & though they spoke of going today, they are not leaving us.

You can understand dear that I feel I cant go away till I know something of Papa & Chester & while we can get to Hohe by rail the trains are crowded with such heaps of people escaping from Tokyo that its not safe to travel. Mr Smith had expected to accompany a lady & has Lady to Napoya & they went off to the station this morning, but came back as they saw it was impossible – people were even seated on the engine! & were standing on every available space. I cannot expose Donald to such danger – or does Major Isler think of going – when he does & if it is possible for me to leave I will go with him. Mrs Allans husband came over to Japan & was to have got off at Kobe but where he is she does not know & Miss Pernett things her brother was up at Hakore?? – so you will understand that we are a very unhappy lot of people. Refugees are pouring in - & food will be short – but I think we are alright – as the hotel has a supply. No women or children are allowed to go down to Tokio & no one without a weeks provisions are allowed in, but free passes are given to everyone away from Tokyo – as they want to clear the city. Some pact have escaped to waves went in rays from centre, as yet unknown – we hear that the only builds standing in Yoko are the Kencho & the Specie Bank but that the Bluff is safe as far as is known. I am writing this as the post is collected & I believe it may reach you before I can, but be sure that I will do my best & use my judgement for our won safety. None of us can do anything til we hear from the world – as we know absolutely nothing if conditions of housing Shipping or anything. I am alright dear, as I shall be able to get money from many people in Kobe & Mrs Stunzin will put us up or the Forsters will I know- should the hotels be impossible. We long to leave this fated country & will do so as soon as it is safe. We are alright here and I will wire you our plans as soon as I can.

I do not believe the Koreans intended any harm, but they say they ere dynamiting Tokio & you know the Japanese do lose their heads so – there are still heaps of people in Kamizawa as the exodus had only commenced – I almost hat to send this letter as I cant tell you anything definite but you will be longing to hear from us and should I not be able to sail myself by the Pres Wilson – perhaps this letter will go – Evan if I have to leave Karwawa before I get news (all depending on railway facilities) I will try to get to Kobe & if I don’t come myself will send Emily & Donald back with whoever goes.

These are conditions here dear. I feel we are safe up here – as safe as I shall ever feel in Japan again. If only I could hear something. we must hear soon for people went down day before yesterday to come back a report as soon as possible. They have to walk miles between destroyed areas but I hope telegraphic communication will be established soon.

I shall send this now & will write again as soon as I can – Ever lovingly Eleanor

PS Mr Anderson is just back from the station where he tried to get away down to Kyoto (he had expected to sail Sat too by the French mail) and no one is allowed to travel – no tickets issues as it is not safe – they cannot keep the people of the trains & one passed with 11 coaches with people swarming everywhere – so we are marooned up here – it will be days I fear before order is restored – I wonder if you will get this letter. 

Sept 4^th 11 am

Since I commenced this letter I have had no heart to write – and have not felt secure enough to sit down alone. But I will try & tell you all we have been through since Sat noon. We all took chairs out and camped in the garden – it turned in a most perfect day but all the time we had earthquakes more or less stiny by night news began to filter in that our experience was nothing & that Tokyo Yokohama Shidaoka Kamarkwa etch had all been shaken to the ground & that fires were raging in Tokyo – We went to bed Sa night full of fear partly dressed & to add to our fears we were in complete darkness I had a supply of night lights & we kept a light all night – at 10 –11 – 2 – 4 & 6 there were earthquakes & how thankful we were when daylight came – another perfect day, like we have after a typhoon. Asama looked mild & benevolent with no smoke & I went up to see Mr ? Ramsegso to tell them that Papa would not be up – on the way people stopped & we heard the most dreadful rumors all mostly surmise for railway communications, telegraphic telephone etc was al destroyed – However people who had been on their way up go through gradually & we heard that Tokyo was burning – Yokohama wiped away by a tidal wave & Shidoka Kamakwa etc wiped off the earth. We still know absolutely nothing of Yokohama – or any place but Tokyo – and the suspense is awful. Sunday afternoon about 5 o’clock I wired to you, as I heard they could get through to Kobe, and I hope that you receive it dear, for the accounts in the papers will be most alarming – never has Japan been visited by such a convllsim ?? & while we know so little what we do know is appalling – you will know more than we do – we hear that Lake Hakone has fallen in & that Vries Island emptied violently & that Kawakawa is gone – but until we hear facts one must hope against hope We do know that Tokyo in parts is ruined both by the earthquakes & fire – the water mains were destroyed & miles & miles were burnt . Sator (father) went down Monday & got back last night – His two sons are safe - & so is his son’s wife & children. Millions are homeless & half a million dead – still no news of Yokohama. What has happened to Papa & Chester & indeed everyone – we are anxiously waiting to hear bulletins are posted constantly with any news fact & we hope to hear today.

Sunday night at 10.30 & 11.30 we had very bad shakes – we hauled Don out of bed & downstairs the second one – but after that we were left in peace till morning & I was exhausted with anxiety & stain that I slept marvellously & so did E & Don.

Mampei Hotel ~Karuizawa

Sept 6^th 1923

Dearest George

As I write the date I realize its Chester’s birthday, and I had hoped to surprise him with a present! And now where is he? What is he doing – oh if I could only know that they are safe. We got some news yesterday from a man who had come up from Yoko The first word with any details that we have had with each report. Ones hopes are crushed & it seems almost impossible that people could have escaped. We spend all our time going to the bulletin board near the Post Office & everywhere are anxious faces & questions. What we do k now from this eye witness is that some of the settlement slaids??? – except a couple of shells of building  - with the collapse of the Standard Oil go downs oil spread everywhere carrying fire with it – but all this you will have known before we do. The bridges are all down & only by bicycle or walking can any news be got. We hear that the boats are taking away the people who were saved – to Kobe – and we all hope that our dear ones are amongst those saved. It says in the account that from Temple Count to the Gaiety Theatre all was down except one or two paine houses on the right hand side near the road – is it possible that one of those might be Chester’s. People fled to the Bluff Gardens & were from there rescued to the ships – as from the cricket ground in the settlement. They must have had constant shocks as we did. Some of the names of those known to be saved are published – The Taits - & many Pliss some known to me. For a short time a list was an unconfirmed list it was soon taken down – none of my folks were mentioned but Dr Wheeler, Mrs Robertson(sp) Flora Fordil) Mrs Box and a bout 30 others were down. The authentic`c list give the American Consul & his wife – Mr & Mrs John Mollison – but their 3 children saved - & Mr Shome told me that the Wights were safe. Also Hugh Home & his wife & son. I only hope that I shall hear soon. Mrs Thorn up here has heard nothing of Charlie nor Mrs Boulter (British Consul) of her husband. The youngest Abbey girl now a Mrs Carew has heard nothing of her people & we meet each day at the village.

About Papa I feel safer as I learn from authoritative sources that it has not been struck by a tidal wave - & that it is known to be all right as they have sent food from Midzroka to Numadazu where many refugees from Hakone have come. There is no water & no food & many wounded in both Tokyo & Yoko also at Hakone & Myanolshita.

We ourselves are alright – there is still food enough here & we are hoping to get a special train-ful? One within the next drew days – the Authorities are making the best attempt they can, but of course the trains are crowded with refugees from Kokio & surroundings when the train goes I will go on down to Kobe as we are expecting many, many refugees up here – indeed many have come already & Rwuizaia is making a concentrated effort to be ready for them.

The Wheens came back yesterday after a terrible journey from the Matsushima – and will go down at the earliest opportunity – Mr Anderson who is a very determined old man went off again this morning – having sent all his luggage off to Kobe yesterday – to sit at the station till a train came in that he could push his way into - & Major Isler saw him get on to a 3^rd class carriage. The former said it would be madness to ???/ like that & everyone who has attempted it warns people against trying.

I hope that my original tele persuaded?? you I trust that it did, since Major Isler has had a wire to the one he sent – also if my letter gets to you will you send it on to the boys as I cannot white to them separately – Perhaps you wired them that we were safe. The accounts must be most alarming – but they cannot be worse than the reality. – I feel that until I hear from Pap or Chester I wont know definite new. I think the Chronicle (Kobe) will publish peoples names as the relief boats arrive with there crews the mails between Kobe & kanuzaiwa are often as people have rec’d letters, but the telegraph is so very congested they have refused to take private wires – I can only say I will wire you as soon as I know something definite – as soon as we get down to Kobe I will send Emily & Don back home, but will stay myself  to see what I can do – I am going to try a reach Pap at Shirzwak by letter. The one I wrote & was sending down by hand did not go as they would not issue any tickets on the railway & the people could not go.

Every train comes in with people everywhere on the car tops & even on the engine top & in front & no food is to be got anywhere – along the line but they try & have water for the refugees – Mysansohita suffered terribly, but I hear only one life lost.

Now dear I must write to Papa –we have only had very slight quakes the last 48 hours but our nerves have gone to pieces - & we jump at every shake.

With love from us both – Don is well & happy thank goodness

Ever yours Eleanor.