The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-23

shocks, so feeble that many OF the inhabitants Of
Thebes were not sensible Of them, announced the
catastrophe which was shortly to follow. The
weather was csm the air pure the temperature soft
and somewhat humid, the people were CAV. and al
contributed augment the ecLat Of the regious es
tval which was to be celebrated when suddenly, at
hali.past IL terrible noise, followed immediatay
by q violent trembling, filed the inhabitants with
alarm. The people, not knowing what to do ran
out Of their houses or jumped out OF their windows
The continuance OF the trembling OF the soil. the
noise of falling houses, and the thick clouds ofdust
which rapidly enveloped the whole town, increased
the prevailing terror. The most dismal wailings
were heard from all points, and by general instinct
the people ran out Of the town. When the violence
OF the trembling had ceased and the cloud of dust
was dssipaed, the inhabitants took courage and
returned to ascertain the extent aud results u tha
terrible phenomenon which they had witnessed. IL
was found that all the houses OF the town OF tbeDes
and Of the faubourg of Peri had been rendered I'M
iDbaoable Many of them had been entirely dss
troyed, and covered the remains OF their former
occupants. Some of the churches were PROSTATE
OF others, the walls presented immense yawniDg
gaps.
The great aqueeuct of the town was considerably
Injured allowing the water to escape Mt many points,
ard all the fountains were rendered muddy for tour
and twenty hours
The principal shock wa. succeeded by several
others during the same and the following day. Ctt
which were felt on the nigh of the l9th-2O.h 4
August. Or the goth also the government commits.
sioner CT un-ed six shocks which were perc ,phble
AFTERNOON
the evening. On tie 2lst another shock proved the
continued activity of the disturbing force II was
observed that the oudness of the subteranean noise
was also in direct ratio with the strength of the
shock which followed it.
TO believe the statements Of persons who alepe
that they verified the fact by watching the falling Il
xtoDes from the Keeling houses, the impulse Of the
shock was always perpendl ,glar in point OF fast.
out incning 20 any particular point OF the compass
It is worthy of note that no Encouragement Of sas
remarked, neither any sinking or rupture Of the
soi no new springs were exposed, nor were those
already existing diminished. Such is the account
given by Dr. Orphandis, physician Of Beotia, in
his report to the government
The Project Of the same province says that he can
without hesitation determine the locality aec led BY
the shock to be the extent OF country terminated
the porth by Mount Atante, on the east by the Gulf
of EubGa on the south by the river Asopus, and on
impulse, or that at which it was felt with greatest
force, was Mount Ptoo; under which is gulf of
Lake Copias; in these rocks of considerable magni-
tude have been detached and thrown down.
1t appears that lately the 9th ult. the earth
gave such signs Of uneasiness that the Inhabitants
bad no heart for attempting to restore the town.
The Thebes OF to day is a modern town. 1t was SO
ruined in the of in dependence that scarcely ore
stone was left upon another Its reconstruction
dates from 1888. At the present moment there is
not house lef; unipjured hundreds have fallen and
the ruin is not at end. The government has sent
aid in money, tents medicine ard doctors. Eleven
corpses have been taken out of the ruins. The
bodies bore no trace Of wounds or other IN srks Of
violence, and the physicians suppose that the de-
ceased died of asphyxia. Nineteen persons were
dug out alive, and are doing well Intermittent
fever has been very prevalent since the catastrophe.
The extent of the mischief done to the buildings
of Thebes cannot yet be stated with statistical
titude but considering the superior density of its
population, some idea of the terrible character Of
the disaster may be gained from the returns Of
damage done to The negnboring communes. In the
commune of platee, two churches, church tower
md oiytea hou foti In fho
mune of Aulyde. two churches and twenty
three houses have fallen, aud those which
remain hang in the air. In the COM
mune of Akrefnon twelve houses have fallen
and two churches have been laid open. rock de-
tacbed from mountain near Kokino, in this com
mune rolled down to the village where fortunately
it stopped. In the commune of Thespiens the ham
let of Morokambo has been completely obterated.
At Erimocastro the dwellings Of sixty families have
been laid in ruins. In the commune of Tanagra
twenty-six houses have been destroyed. These fig
ures are irrespective of numberless houses rent in
twain many Of them from roof to floor. 1t is need
less to say that years must elapse before the havoc
made in the district can be repaired Indeed, it ia
doubtful whether any resource but emigration to q
more solid terrain remains to its inhab ltants.