Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-04-11
THE HORROR IN THE LEvANT.
Graphic Recital of the Effects of the
Terribly Calamity In Chic.

LONDON, April 9.-The Times correspond
ent at Chic, under date of the 7th inst,
telegraphs as follows: az have just arrived
here from Constantinople, and find a PIC
ture of desolation such as is rarely wit
messed. The town looks as If it had been
terribly bombarded. Hundreds OF houses
are transformed into shapeless mass of
ruins, under which lie buried an unknown
number Of victims. The majority of
the remaining houses are already
cracked and roofless, and may fall at any
moment. Nearly every building in the
town has suffered more or less. The inhab-
itants wander about anxious to search for
missing relatives or lost property, but are
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 the po-
lice. Fear, grief and despair are
depicted on every face. All have some sad
or tragic tale to tell. The first shock was
felt on Sunday afternoon about half-past
one O'Clock. Immediately houses began to
fall, and wild shrieks were heard on every
side. Then followed an awful silence of
some minutes. Theterrifed survivors gradu-
ally Ventured into the narrow lanes and
reached open spaces. Shortly afterWard
another terrible shock completed the demo-
li,iOn. Then it remained quiet until sunset,
when 1t again began to shake the island
throughout as severely as before. All night
the shocks succeeded each other at short
intervals, and each one was preceded by
dull sounds like subterrannan explosions
Since that frequent shocks have been
felt. A few minutes ago, while writing the
present dispatch, l distinctly heard an ex-
ploslon-like sound and felt the earth trem-
10 Init a. / nm a
ing to fear An old Genese fortress con-
tanning about four hundred houses,
inhabited by Mussulmans and
Jews, suffered more than
the rest of the town. The ground there
sunk about half a metre, and nearly all the
houses We're Immediately destroyed, and
several hundred persons must have perish
ed. About thirty Mussulman women were
assembled in one of the houses, not one of
whom escaped. The southern part of the
island is said to have suffered more
than this town.
"The gun vessel Bittern arrived
here this morning. The Captain at
once came ashore, and after consulting with
the Governor of the island, organized relief
parties for tending the wounded and extri-
eating the dead from the ruins. He then
went over to Chesme and made careful in
qulries regarding the state of that town and
inhabitants. Tomorrow he intends visiting
the southern part Of the island, where less
has been done for the sufferers visited
Chesme this afternoon. Only about ten In
habitants were killed, but many houses are
In ruins and very many more are dilapi-
dated. The Mayor assured me that
three quarters of the houses are
in dangerous condition. The
inhabitants are afraid to live
even in those which are uniniured, 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 It is said that
throughout the district not less than 30, coo
people are without shelter. In
Kastro the work of extricating
bodies and attending the wounded is pro-
crossing satisfactorily, but the sitting odor
in the vicinity and many of the ruins shows
that the former operations is far from com
plete. On the other hand, some wonderful
escapes have occurred. One woman was
buried under the ruins for ffty.two hours,
and at last was rescued, having given birth
in the meanwhile to a child. The child is
dead, but the woman is doing well.'