The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-04-11
CHAOS AT CHIOS.
HORRIBLE RUIN WROUGHT by THE
EARTHQUAKE.
Sad scenes OF Death and DesOIatIon
Among the RuIns-TaIR or Turn
Ing the Town into One Great
GFAVe-SIIuatiOn OF the
Homeless People.

SnlVa leIeRIhPnb uuueF uAte VI tue Itu As
follows;
u have just arrived here from Oonstan-
tinople, and find q picture OF desolation
such ss Is rarely witnessed. The town
looks as II it had been terribly bombarded
Hundreds OF houses are transformed into
shapeless mass OF ruins, under which
lie buried an unknown number OF victims
A majority OF the remaining houses are al.
ready cracked and rOofess, and may fall
any moment, Nearly every building in
town suffered more or less, The inhabi.
tants wander about anxious TO search for
missing relatives or lost property, but
afraid 10 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, griei and despair are de.
picted in nearly every face, All llhavesome
sad or tragic tale to tell.
"The first shock was felt Sunday alter.
noon, about half.past one O'Clock. I'm.
mediately houses began to fall. Wild
shrleks were heard on every side. Then
followed an awful silence OF some minutes,
and the terrified survivors gradually VEN
tured into the narrow lanes and reached
open spaces, Shortly after another terri.
BILE shock completed the devastation. All
night shocks succeeded each other at short
intervals, and each one preceded by dull
sound oil subterTanean explosions. Since
that frequent shocks have been felt, A
few minutes ago, while writing the present
dispatch, distinctly heard an explosion
and felt the earth tremble; but, as am
under canvas, have nothing to fear.
"The old Genoese fortress, containing
about four hundred houses, inhabited by
Mussulmans and Jews, suffered more than
the rest Of the town. The ground there
sank about half q metre, and nearly all the
houses were Immediately destroyed, and
several hundred persons must have per.
ished. 1t Is known that abont thirty Mus.
sulman women were assembled In one
house, not one Of whom escaped. The
southern part OF the Island Is said to have
suffered more than this town. Her
Majesty's gun vessel Blttern arrived this
morning. The Captain at once came
ashore, and after consulting with tho Gov.
ernor OF the Island oiganized reliol parties
for tending the wounded and extriCatinR
the dead from the ruins. He then went
over 10 Ohesme and made careful inquiries
regarding the state OF the town and the
inhabitants. Tomorrow he intends visit.
ing the southern part Of the IslAnd, where
less has been done for the relief Of the
sufferers.
~ visited Chesme this afternoon. Only
about ten inhabitants were killed, but
many houses are In ruins and very many
more dilapidated. The Mayor assured me
threeiourths OF the houses are In a
dangerous condition. The inhabitants
are afraid to live even In those which arc
uninjured, for every night eince Sunday
frequent shocks have been felt Nearly
all prefer 10 camp out. As the weather is
lne, the hardship In this respect is not
great, 1t Is said that throughout! tho dis.
triCt not less than thirty thousand people
are without shelter. in Kaslro the work
Of extricating the bodies and attending
the wounded is progressing satisfactorily,
but the sitting odor In the vicinity ol
many ruins proves the former operation
is far from complete. On the other hand,
some wonderful escapes have occurred,
One woman was buried under the ruing
hfty.two hours, and at last was rescued,
having given birth in the mean time to d
child. The child 10 dead, but the mother
ls doing we'll"
Cnlos, April GA Medical Commission
10 now sitting to consider the expedienCy
Of covering the rubbish In the fortress
with earth, as there ID no hope Of saving
any lives, and dlsinterment OF the dead
might produce an epidemic. 1t is now
believed that throughout the whole island
which contained seventy thousand 10.
habitAnts, six orBeven thousand were killed
and 25 per cent Of tho survivors wounded
The French, British, United States and
Austrian gun.vesRels Ia the harbor are do
ing all In their power TO assist the authori
ties In the work OF relief. Only ten ol the
inhabitants OF Chesme were killed, but
many houses are In ruins, and thirty
thousand people are without shelter.
LONDON, April 10. - The sh Cks O.
earthquake In Chios have ceased. II is 10
lieved the number Of victims has beer
exaggerated.
A correspondent at Chios telegraphs hi
has visited the south eastern part Of thu
Island and found MenitN, town OF Il, ,00(
inhabitants, and the Villages OF Monster
Virinosis and PhillRtia masses OF ruins
Not single house escaped. English anC
American physicians are aiding the sur
vlvorB.