Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-05-23
The Story of Antioch.

INV lpbVhJ VI A""VN"s
Rev. W. Brown Keer, late Harbor
Chaplain at Bombay, writes to the edi-
tor of the London Times in relation to
the earthquake at Antioch. He says
"It may interest some of your renders
who wish to compare notes to learn that
a severe shock Of earthquake was felt
here yesterday, precisely at s AM, En-
glish reckoning, or shortly before in
the day, Turkish time. The house which
/ was in was shaken violently to and fro
for four or five seconds, or, as one gen
tleman thinks, even more. A stove
weighing nearly hundred-weight was
overturned the walls of'stone and plas-
ter, with woodwork and beams, were
cracked, and the plaster fell on all sides
Books were thrown from the cases, and
a clock hurled from q bracket on the
wall intoan armchair, few feet distant,
without breaking the glass case or the
clock-works. Outside the house the
walls fell, the narrow streets (only about
twelve or fifteen feet wide, and some
less) being literally blocked up for long
distances with the ruins Of fallen houses,
and q dense cloud of dust arose on all
sides. Men, women and children ran
hithcr and thither, bewailing their own
hurts or the loss of relatives. went
down to the bridge, southwest Of the
city, about two hours after, at 10 o'clock
AM, and saw many dead persons brought
out of the city aud laid out for burial.
Later, l counted fifteen new graves, all
close by each other. Looking toward
the town, ruins could be seen in all di-
rections. Several acqueducts were bro
ken, and telegraph poles were thrown
down and the wires broken. The Greek
church, strong stone-arched structure,
built only few years ago, and capable
of holding 800 or 600 persons, was ut
terly ruincd-one side and the entire
roof was gone. The American Protest
ant church and premises are also greatly
injured, and four persons Of their small
community were killed, though the Mis-
sion families are all safe. The number
of killed and wounded cannot be ascer'
tanned with any approach to accuracy,
and, of course, flying rumors are album
dant, one man saying that he thought
there must be l,G00killed, while another
said there must be 500, and a third 20,
which is, perhaps, within the truth. The
city contains from $4,000 to $1,000 per-
sons, it is said, but no accurate census
exits. There was time from the begin
ming of the first shock to its close for
many to escape the falling houses or
walls, and during its continuance two or
three persons in the house where I write
walked across the room and mot very
quickly down stairs while the shock
lasted. Several smaller and lighter
shocks occurred for an hour or two after
wards, but not sufficiently strong tc
shake down buildings. These shocks
have continued at intervals through the
night, and another, more distinct and
wave-like, was felt to shake the mouse
with loud, hollow, rumbling noise
about half-past six this morning. The
first shock yesterday was Immediately
preceded by rumbling and creaking o.
the Joints Of the window and door frames
to which louder noise, like thunder
succeeded, and then walls and building
fell. Several mind7e are cracked, bu
all yet stand, though some Of the arche(
caravansaries and baths near them have
fallen. The old Roman bridge Of fouI
arches is rent in several places until thu
water can be seen through it from above
part of the parapet wall has also beel
shaken off, and the arch above the cit.
door at its east end has been hurled
down and lies almost whole. Much dam
age has been done to houses in the lowe
part of the town, and many of the IN
habitants are to be seen encamped abou
in the fields OF plain. 1t is nearly fit,
years since the last similar visitation
occurred to this city-viz,, on the l3tl
of August, 1S22-when some thousand
of lives were lost here and in Aleppo
at which place the interior Of the for
was entirely destroyed. Here the effect
of the shock are less visible In the uppe
part, or southeastern portion Of TIT
city, near the foot Of the lofty hills o
mountains on which the old Roman cas-
tie walls yet remain. Some distress OF
temporary kind will doubtless be felt
but the rains, which have been abundant
give prospect of plenty, and provision
are at present by no means DEAR