英語訳
【Upper Section】
None could remain unharmed. The boatmen, being those who made the sea their home, finally escaped with their lives through a narrow escape from death. Among the fishing boats that took shelter at Natsui, three vessels were severely drenched by seawater and even had one injured person, but the rest were all safe and saved their lives. Furthermore, around 3 PM that same day, there was a passenger boat (owned by Hidaka Isabuki of Shibushi).
Having already departed from Uchinouraharbor, it was rowing close to Shibushi port. While people were stunned and dizzy from the morning's calamity, when they saw that boat about to enter the port, they aimed toward the boat drifting offshore and called out various warnings to avoid danger, frequently shouting "Look out! Look out!" Just then, that boat capsized while spinning around two or three times like a reed leaf, and all six crew members were thrown into the sea simultaneously. They tried to swim ashore with all their strength, but the waves were high and the current swift.
Particularly the boat's head boatman Hidaka Ikichi (24 years old), helmsman Sameshima Shintaro (29 years old), steersman (23 years old), and three passengers - none could swim properly in such conditions. The people on shore wrung their hands in worry, but there was no way to help, and everyone could only curse and make noise. Fortunately, the young boatman, the steersman, and two elderly passengers were rescued, but the helmsman and one passenger ultimately became food for the fish.
Among those who drowned was a commoner from Kobayashi village No. 185, Aira County, Kokubun village, a soy sauce manufacturer named Fujisaki Tsunesuke (29 years old). Having traditionally sold soy sauce from his family business to this region and earning considerable profit yearly, this year as usual he had taken new orders from regular customers, left Shibushi ten days earlier to go to Uchinouraharbor, had already completed his business there, and on the very day of his death was returning to Shibushi via the aforementioned passenger boat.
This man appeared to be quite skilled at swimming, and for about half an hour he kept cutting through the raging waves, swimming toward shore several times. However, since he was fully clothed and still held onto his wallet and account book without letting go, always swimming with one hand, he ultimately met the aforementioned fate. Alas, life is precious above all else.
【Lower Section】
What good are earthly treasures when they cannot preserve one's life? To call it tragic would be an understatement.
●Disasters in the Prefecture
▲Violent Storm in Kajiki, Aira County: Kajiki suffered an extremely violent storm, with houses toppling like fallen shogi pieces. Eaves tilted, roofs flew off, tiles and rafters were blown away scattered everywhere. Not a single electric pole, tree, or wall escaped damage, creating a desolate and tragic scene too horrible to behold.
According to current official investigations, in Kajiki village's town and foothills: 212 houses completely destroyed, 72 half-destroyed, and 55 storehouses and horse stables completely collapsed. There were also deaths from crushing. The village office hurriedly established a disaster relief cooking station at Matsuda Kichizaemon's residence and took emergency measures. In just one day, 800 people received relief rice. The industrial school's second branch classroom, which was an addition to the middle school, also collapsed. There were six injured persons, and one horse was crushed to death. More than half of Nishi Honganji temple's stone fence was also destroyed. (See illustration)
▲Violent Storm in Yokogawa Village, Same County: In Yokogawa village, from after 10 PM on the 24th, an east wind began blowing gradually and became increasingly strong. Around 1 AM the next day, the wind direction shifted to southeast wind, becoming extremely violent, with heavy rain as well. Trees broke, houses collapsed, tiles flew and rafters danced in the air. The voices of old and young crying out for help mingled with the wind, creating a terrifying scene.
Around 2:30 AM it changed to a due south wind, which was violent for a time, but at 3:40 AM it became a gentle breeze and gradually calmed down, completely subsiding by 5 AM. Building damage included 62 completely destroyed houses, 16 half-destroyed, and 100 stables and work sheds collapsed.
▲Wind Damage in Kokubun Village, Same County: From around 11 PM on the 14th, violent wind conditions began, reaching extremely strong winds around 2-3 AM on the 15th, completely stopping around 4 AM. In Kokubun village, 242 houses were destroyed, 80 half-destroyed, and 130 stables collapsed. Among these destroyed buildings, those that suffered the most tragic conditions were...