2-969-718 - /Heritage Images

Scene of the Recent Earthquake in Japan - Sinking of "The Diana", 1856. On 23rd December 1854, '...a large wave was noticed rolling into the bay, and the water on the beach very rapidly rising immersed the village of Simoda; it appeared to those on board the [Russian frigate Diana] as if the village was sinking...a second wave rolled into the bay; this carried on shore all the boats that were afloat; and on its receding all the houses that had formed the village of Simoda were washed into the bay, covering the water with ruins of houses and wrecks of junks...At three [o'clock] everything was still, and the ship in 22 feet water, making 22 inches every hour, until finally she went down. Around nothing could be seen but wrecks of junks and fragments of houses: from the roof of one of if the latter an old woman was taken, quite insensible'. From "Illustrated London News", 1856. From "Illustrated London News", 1856.