The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-04-21
THE ISLAND OF DEATH.
A Graphic Picture of the DesOIation of
Chic.

LONDON, April II.
A correspondent of the Times at Chic
says: I have now made from personal
observation and with the help of others
pretty thorough canvass of the state Of
affairs throug ghout the Island. The total
number dead is scarcely less than 1000,
although some allowance may be due to
the fact that Immediately after the disas-
ter many persons crossed to the main
land, and some of those now reported as
dead may be there. The villages on the
southern side of the Island are COM
pletely wrecked, hardly single house
being left standing.
The centre of the volcanic action seems
to have been near Nenita, overlooking
Megalo Bay on the east coast, where 300
persons perished out of a population
Of 1900. At Vounos 26 perished out of
a population of 600. At Philitia 60 out
of 25O; at Klamonti 40 out of 1900,
at Armitia 40 out of 600 and at
Kenri 130 out of 480, on the western side
of the island at Mesta many houses
fell, but nobody was killed. At Vesta
three. fourths Of the buildings were
wrecked, but only one person was killed.
At Lethi % persons were killed out of
600, at Aigon;ma 40 out of 400. At
Anabatos - were killed. This is the
most northerly town on the west side,
which suffered severely. Other towns
were severely shaken, but are not in
ruins. The department of Chic and the
towns southeast of it suffered most of all.
Kallemissa is simply mass of ruins, and
it is difficult to distinguish one house
from another. I cannot conceive how
any considerable number of the popula-
ton escaped, yet only 448 perished out
of 300. Neighboring villages suffered
similarly. Seven of the principal con-
tanned $3.50 people and are believed to
have lost 1927 dead. At least nine
tenths of the houses in the southern and
southeastern portions of the island must
be rebuilt or repaired. The population
are now living in tents and there is great
need of food and shelter. The northern
part requires help, but to a less extent.
Those severely wounded are nearly all
being brought to Chic by men from the
ships. The work of clearing away the
ruins has begun here, but in the villages
the people are still panic stricken. Lit
tie can be done as long as the shocks con-
tinue. f2O0 persons, for example, who
perished in Thelopotamoi, only IS bodies
have yet been recovered, and q similar
proportion in other villages. About
$4,000 people are camping in the south
ern half of the island, with nothing but
what they have on their backs. Pro.
gress has been made towards systematic
ing relief organization. The people
are further demoralized by the preaching
Of foolish Greek priest, who warns them
all to fee as the island is about to be
completely swallowed up. The arch.
bishop and the governor are seeking to
allay the excitement, but many are still
emigrating to the mainland and to the
adjacent islands.
At Kallemissa German doctor, who
was in one of the houses at the time of
the disaster, relates that the first warn
ing he had was seeing the dishes OH the
table jump up and fall on the floor. A
few seconds later the walls fell out
wards. From this and similar testimony,
I believe that in this district the first
shock was nearly vertical, followed i'm
mediately by horizontal oscillations.