ramework of the
house remained intact. The solidity of the structure which was the
work of Brother Gropper again shone forth.

They had the same impression that we had in Nagatsuke: that the bomb
had burst in their immediate vicinity. The Church, school, and all
buildings in the immediate vicinity collapsed at once. Beneath the
ruins of the school, the children cried for help. They were freed with
great effort. Several others were also rescued from the ruins of
nearby dwellings. Even the Father Superior and Father Schiffer despite
their wounds, rendered aid to others and lost a great deal of blood in
the process.

In the meantime, fires which had begun some distance away are raging
even closer, so that it becomes obvious that everything would soon burn
down. Several objects are rescued from the Parish House and were
buried in a clearing in front of the Church, but certain valuables and
necessities which had been kept ready in case of fire could not be
found on account of the confusion which had been wrought. It is high
time to flee, since the oncoming flames leave almost no way open.
Fukai, the secretary of the Mission, is completely out of his mind. He
does not want to leave the house and explains that he does not want to
survive the destruction of his fatherland. He is completely uninjured.
Father Kleinsorge drags him out of the house on his back and he is
forcefully carried away.

Beneath the wreckage of the houses along the way, many have been
trapped and they scream to be rescued from the oncoming flames. They
must be left to their fate. The way to the place in the city to which
one desires to flee is no longer open and one must make for Asano Park.
Fukai does not want to go further and remains behind. He has not been
heard from since. In the park, we take refuge on the bank of the
river. A very violent whirlwind now begins to uproot large trees, and
lifts them high into the air. As it reaches the water, a waterspout
forms which is approximately 100 meters high. The violence of the
storm luckily passes us by. Some distance away, however, where
numerous refugees have taken shelter, many are blown into the river.
Almost all who are in the vicinity have been injured and have lost
relatives who have been pinned under the wreckage or who have been lost
sight of during the flight. There is no help for the wounded and some
die. No one pays any attention to a dead man lying nearby.

The transport