The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-04-21

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Between 1000 and 1000 or the 7o,o0
Inhabitants Of the Islaad Killed an
Many Thousands or the 0arvfvers nature
-0reat Destitutl On Anons the Theusand
- Homeless People,. ~.
. sc1o, April :. |
II 10 now believed that throughout the who'll
island, which contained N,W0 inhabitalt
1000 or '.O0) were killed and u per cent. Of
survivors wounded. The French, British
United States and Austrian gun vessels in ths
harbor are doing all in their power to assist
the authoritie, in the work OF relief.
Only ten Of the fnhabitants Of Chesme wert
killed, but many houses are in ruins and Al.
900 people are without shelter.
A correspondent at Scio telegraphs, undei
date of the 'th, as follows:
~ have Just arrived here from Const an tho
pie, and find a picture of desolation such "a /.
rarely witnessed. The town looks asi It had
been terribly bombarded. Hundreds of house,
are transformed into q shapeless mass OF
ruins under which lie buried an unknown
number of victims. A majority of the re-
main ng houses are already cracked and root
less, and may fall at any moment. Nearly ey
cry building in the town suffered more or less
The Inhabitants wander about, anxious Il
search for missing relatives or lost property
but afraid to risk their lives in the perilous
work Of clearing away the rubbish. Many who
are willing to expose themselves to danger are
prevented by friends or by the police.
Fear, grief and despair are depicted on
nearly every face. Nearly all have some
sad or tragic tale to tell. The first shock
was felt Sunday afternoon, about half past one
o'clock. Immediately houses began to fall.
Wild shrieks were heard on every side. Then
followed an awful silence OF some minutes.
Sk,r~
into the narrow lanes and reached the open
spaces. Shortly afterwards another terrible
shock completed the devastation. Ali night
shocks succeeded each other ut short inter
walls, and each one was preceded by dull
sounds like subterranean explosions. Since
that frequent shocks have been felt. A few
moments ago, while writing the present dis
patch, l distinctly heard IN explosion, and felt
the earth tremble; but, as am under canvas,
l have nothing to fear.
1.-THE old Gcnoese Fortress, containing about
400 houses, inhabited by Mussulmans and
Jews, suffered more than the rest Of the town.
The ground there sunk about half me: er, and
nearly all the houses were imme lately de-
stroyed, and several hundred persons must
have persisted. 1t is known that about thirty
Mussulman women were assembled in one
house, not one of whom escaped. The south
ern part of the island is said to have suffered
more than this town.
Il visited Chcsme this afternoon. Oily about
ten inhabitants were killed, but many houses
were in ruins and many more dilapidated.
The Mayor assured me that three fourths OF
the houses are in a dangerous condition The
inhabitants are afraid to live in those which
are uninjured, for every night since Sunday
frequent shocks have been felt. Nearly all
prefer to camp out. AS the weather is fine
the hardship in this respect is not great. 1t is
said that throughout the district not less than
10000 people are without shelter. In Kastro
the work of extricating bodies and attending
the wounded is progressing satisfactorily, but
the sitting odor in the vicinity OF many of the
ruins proves that the former operation is far
from complete. On the other hand, some
wonderful escapes have occurred. Ono WON
an was buried under ruins fifty-two hours. and
at last was rescued, having given birth in the
meantime to child. The child is dead, but
the mother is doing we'll"