The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-11-15
GI' lat OBSTRUCTION WROUGHT
BY EAE HQUAKES.

weeks ago to-day, there has been a
constantly recurring succession of
shocks in all directions from this city,
making circle of earthquakes of
which Constantinople seems to be the
geographical center. The reports that
have been brought every day by
Arabs from the desert have created
considerable alarm here, and some of
the inhabitants of the city have made
preparations for hasty flight from the
sections where buildings are put up
close together. The shock seems to
have followed the mountain chain ex-
tending from Java, beneath the sea
and through Asia Minor, and thence
on to the southern part of Russia,
continuing westward through south
ern Europe to Gibraltar and the sea
coast. The dispatches sent from here
by the agent of the associated press
have been meagre and unsatisfactory,
and have not given any idea of the
real extent Of the earthquake and the
enormous damage to property. Ru-
mOrs have been received here that Sc
we're earthquakes have been felt in
Europe during the past week, and it
is highly probable they have been
caused by the great eruptions in Java,
which seems to have been the terri
bic beginning of phenomenally long
series of similar disasters which have
not yet reached their hight. Hun
dreds of Europeans and Americans
are coming in from all over Asia Mi
nor and other sections.
Advices from Smyrna say that all
through Anatolia the inhabitants have
been leaving their homes and seeking
places of greater safety. That their
feaTs were well grounded the develop
ments of the last 4S hours show. Sat
urday night the shocks, which have
been of daily occurrence for the past
fifteen days, became quite severe, and
before daylight nearly all the people
in the shaken districts had left their
homes for tue open country. AS soon
as the sun Ssse up the sky became
suddenly overcast and black clouds
rolled up from the east with great ra-
pidity. In few moments there was
q very sudden depression of the bar
ometer, and many animals and birds
became alarmed and took quick flight.
Then the vibrations began to increase
in violence and frequency. Ten well
defined shocks are said to have oc-
cured before O'clock. About eleven
o'clock there came a most tremendous
crash. The walls of Smyrna, which
have been standing since the time OF
the crusades, were completely demol-
ished. With them many OF the re-
mains Of ancient Smyrna have been
destroyed. On the castle hill some
fragments of the ancient columns were
blown down and smashed into small
pieces, and many of the handsome
monuments along the line OF the
Smyrna 4 Alden railway are all In
ruins, and the tracks are twisted into
such shapes that it is thought new
lines will have to be run. The head
of Appollo and the Roman eagle from
over the gates were taken down and
saved. In the Franks quarter y num-
ber of marts are In ruins aud great
quantities of goods destroyed. For
two miles around the shores OF the
bay the ruins of the shattered ware
houses, wharves, cottages and huts
are strewn, and up the sides OF old Mt.
Pages the remains OF building after
building may be seen. Hardly a hu-
man being is visible within the limits
Of the city. Thousands OF the people
are now living In tents. Ihe loss OF
life In Smyrna is probably not over
l25 persons, owing to the precautions
taken for flight. Some $50 were in
jured while making their escape. All
along the western coast Of the penin-
sula the shocks were SO severe as to
change the formation OF the land in
many places. Some Of the deep bays