The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-03-19
EARTHQUAKES AT ALEPPO.


eign Bible Society at Aleppo. -
Garden Of Ibrahim Aga, near the ruins Of
Aleppo, August %, 1922.
With heavy hear, l take up my pen
10 trace anew in my detected mind, the
most dreadful OF all events. The wounds
vt sffiiction must bleed alrcsh, when re-
call to my memory the lamentations of
fathers for their children, Of children for
their fathers, Of husbands for their wives,
Of wives for their husbands, running ma.
ked from place to place; imploriDg the
protection Of the Almighty, or wih their
feeble hands, trying, amidst the falling
ruins, to extricate themselves and their
relations. r ~ tf
Tn the night of the 18th Of August, "a
bout half past nine o'clock, Alcppo, the
third city in the Ottoman empire, built
entirely OF stone, was, in the space of a
few seconds, brought down to It's founds>
tons.
Twas atthat time asleep on the terrace
of my particular friend, Mr.. Maseyk, who
BY the help ofthe Almighty, was merci.
fully saved, with all his family.
About an hour previous To the grea,
shock, light one was felt, when took
the prccaution TO draw my bed from I'M
der very high wall, where j, was placed.
| WAS soon awakened by the fall OF that
wall, on the very spot where my bed
stood, 1 sprang from my couch, and with.
out waiting TO dress myself, fed into the
house, which found falling on all sides.
To remain in the house, or to take to
flight through the streets, amidst, falling
houses,appeared to be equally dangerous.
recommended my soul to God, and
embraced the latter resolution. In con.
sequence, descended the back stairs of
MIR. Mascyk's house, oy the Almighty's
guidance, for the great staircase fell at
the same time.
The darkness OF the night, and the
clouds OF dust that covered the atmos.
phere, prevented me from pe-csiviDe
the stones and rubbish on the stairs, " hich
had fallen from part OF the house, and
consequently was precipuated into the
court yard on dead body.
flow can express my feelings at that
moment, Ignorant on what body had fal.
len was half dead with fright and nor
ror afterwards learnt that i, was a
faithful servant, who second before had
descended those stairs, when some stones
oil an adjoining Turkish house fell on him
and killed him.
Quilted that melancholy SPOT. and.
like man deprived of his senses. ran a.
midst the falling walls to the gate of the
town, which is situated at some distance
from my friends house. IL was on INV
road, among narrow streets, that was
destined to witness the most horrible of
all scenes. The lights of the houses
whose sides had fallen, exposed to nv
view men and women clinging to the ru,
ined walls OF their houses, holding their
children in their trembling arms man
gled bodies lying under my feet, and
piercing cries of half buried people as
sailing my ears Christians, Jews and
Turks, were imploring the Almighty
mercy in their respective tongues, who,
minute before, did not perhaps, ac.
knowledge him.
Alter q great deal of trouble and ia.
.igue, running among the ruins,I arrived,
exhausted al the gate of the city, called
Babeifanige, the earthquake still continu
ing. Cold and dreadfully bruised and
cut in my body and feet, 1 fell on my
knees, among concourse of people, TO
thank the Almighty for my happy deliver
ance from the jaws Of death. But the
gate ct the city was shut; and no one
dared to risk his life under its arch to o..
pen it. After recommending my soul
again to my Creator, threw myself on
the gate. L felt in the dark, and perceiv-
ed that IL was not locked, but the erea,
iron bars that went across the folding
doors, were bent by the earthquake, and
the little strength retained was not suf,
hc!ent to force them. went in ouesl
of the guards, but they were no more
fell again on my knees before the AL
Mighty, who alone could save me from
the immediate peril of being crushed to
death. did not forget in my PRAYERS
the miserable creatures around me
While was in that attitude, four or five
Turks came near me, and Joined hands
tn pray IN their accustomed way, calling
out Gala Ala !" Having in sight my
safety, and that OF thousands of individuals
who crowded to the gate to escaped made
no reflections, but began to entreat them
in the name Of God, to help me to open
the gate, in order to save our lives and
those OF so many individuals who we're
continually perishiDg before us.
The Lord inspired them with courage;
and, providing themselves with large
stones, according to my instructions, in a
little time they forced the bars and open