The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-06-17
A CITY DESTROYED.
Serinagur in India Oyerthr0wnby
all Earthquake.
A Large Number Of People Killed
Or Injured,

The city of Serinagur, India, has been
almost completely destroyed by an earth.
quake. The shocks, which occurred at inter
walls of ten minutes, were of great violence
The greater part of the city was destroyed
and the cavalry barracks are n mass of ruins.
Fifty persons are known to have been killed,
and hundreds of the injured have been taken
from the general wreck. The total loss Of
life or the number of the manned must romain
unknown for some time, as many OF the in
habitants are still buried in the ruins. When
tho shocks were first felt and the
people realized that they were being sub
jected to the awful possibilities of an earth
quake, the widest panic seized them. Every
one ablc to do so rushed from the trembling
houses and tlel to the boats on tho river and
OH the lakes, or sought the open country The
terrified inhabitants campcd in tho Haids that
surround the town. Serinagur is noar tho
centre of the Vale of Cashmere, and that
whole territory experienced the terrible
earthquake shocks. Tho damage caused
throughout the Vale iscnormous. The loss in
cattle alone is great. The aifrishtetl people
seom to be utterly helpless. and succor is be-
ing sent them as rapidly as the Indian
authorities can organize relief Many OF tho
houses yet standing show large rents in the
walls, and must be razcd to tho ground
The shocks continued for some days, and this
fact greatly retarded the work of rescung
the people pinned down in tho debris, and it
was feared that many of these would perish
before they could be reached by the relief
parties.
Serinagur, the capital and chief city Of
Cashmere, was founded in the sixth century
by Pravara Sen. 1t extends for three or four
miles along both banks of the Jhylum river,
which is there only hundred yards wide and
is spanncd by seven wooden bridges on stone
piers. Many of the city thoroughfares arc
canals. und these with tho river are crowded
with boats of all descriptions and floating
bath houses. Exteslding for six miles around
the northeast side Of the city is the beautiful
Lake of Dal dotted with islands on which arc
groves Of plane trees, and also with floating
islands artifcia!ly constructed, on which are
famous melon and cucumber gardens Tho
blue lotus flower also aboundS there. The
streets of the city are narrow and filthy.
The houses are mostly OF wood nnl mud.
bricks, three or four stories high. The gov
crnor's house is III huge fort at the south.
eastern corner Of the city, and theae is a
temple said to be capable of holding 90, GOO
worshipers Apart from these there are no
public buildings of interest. The city is tho
center of tho shawl trade, one-fourth of tho
inhabitants being engaged therein. The
manufacture of articles Of paper ml"he and
painted wood ware is also all important indus.
try. Some silk is produced. d.and large quantities
offruit are raised. Silver and copper wares are
manufactured, and lately oool deal o. paper
has been made In 1915 an industrial expo
sition of the products OF Cashmere was held
there Ten years ago Scrinagur had 1922 ,o0)
inhabitants, two-thirtls being MohnmmedanS,
and the remainder mostly Hinloos. But the
famine of 1878 reduced the population to less
than e., O0C and it now is probably not more
than rs. Ot0