After sundown the spectacle was appalling. Huge warehouses, onl tanks, the whole of Yokohama: was blazing or red hot. Fortunately the buildings near the pier had burnt right out, so that the heat was not so intense, and everybody was easier in their minds as far as the safety of the Empress was concerned. During the whole night the spectacle was grand—fire, nothing but fire everywhere—anr 1 every few minutes violent shocks earthquake.
During the evening after the first danger was over boats were lowered and relief parties sent to the shore, and before long refugees commenced to arrive on board. As they collected it was pitiful to hear women inquiring for husbands and_ children, friends inquiring for friends and relatives, and as the night dragged on many stretcher cases were brought in. The medical department was kept going incessantly. Other ships in the harbour were also doing the same work. I think. the Andre Lebon and a Dutch steamer were the first to start it, and the result was that hundreds of people from the shore found refuge on the ships in harbour. They consisted of all nationalities, It is inconceivable that not one Japanese launch assisted in the work. There were seven launches moored to buoys just off the Bund together with the tug which ran away from us, which did nothing during the whole of the time the fire was raging. Round about the Customs loaded lighters could have been saved—by even one launch—before they were set on fire. One empty barge was used as a refuge for ubout 250 Japanese. "They got adrift with no means of propulsion, and finally drifted up against a barge on fire. All night, barge-men who were isolated had a terrible time trying to keep other barges away, merely because no launches would help them.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.