The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-04-18
A TERRIBLE EARTHQUAKE.
The Island of zante Is Completely
Ruined.
PEOPLE PANIC STRICKEN.
The Country Presents a Fearful Spec
tacle OF DesOlation.
The Number of Killed Is Thirty and the
Injured Will Reach More Than
Two Hundred-several
Shocks Felt.

ATHENS, April 1.-THE island of Zsnte,
one of the principal of the Conan group,
was visited by most destructive earth
quake this morning. The greater part OF
the city of Zante was destroyed. People
were panic stricken, and the authorities
helpless. The streets were blocked with
the debris of the wrecked houses.
So far twenty bodies were taken from
the ruins. 1t is feared that many more
are still buried. Hundreds are injured.
Most of the inhabitants fed to the plains
back of the city, where they wander about
bemoaning the loss of their relatives and
property BY the recent earthquake. Tents
were taken to Zante to shelter the home
less, and again set up as shelter for
women and children. The city is a scene
of utter desolation. 1t is doubtful If 1T
ever RECEIVERS from the series of disasters
which has recently befallen it. There
will be great destitution9 and outside
help is urgently needed.
The shock occurred at 7:30 a. m. Most
of the buildings that stood erect in the
shocks of February and March were
either thrown down or shattered so as to
be unsafe for occupancy. The church of
st. Dionysius and government offices
were thrown down. Adviees from the in
terror show that the whole island is
devastated. Many villages are destroyed
and it is thought the loss of life is very
great. News Of the disaster comes IN very
slowly as communication with the in
terror of the island has been greatly in
terrupted by the destruction of many tele-
graph lines.
The full extent OF the calamity cannot
be estimated at the present. Warships
will be dispatched from Pireus with
clothing, provisions and medicines for
the sufferers. 1t is pointed out here that
the disaster is onfirmation of a predlc-
ton made a few days ago by Professor
Falb, who predicted the former earth
quake, that disturbances more serious
than the recent ones would occur on april al
16 or II. His prediction proved true, Tor
this mornings shock was the worst that
ever visited Zan5e, which is noted for
earthquakes.
A Zante dispatch timed at 800 p. M,
April II, says another earthquake OF ter
rife force occurred six minutes past this
morning. 1t was far more violent than
the first and the island is now entirely
ruined. The shock lasted 80 seconds.
Since then the ground is in a continual
movement. The morning broke with
lovely weather and a cloudless sky.
Without warning the island oscillated
with intense violence from east to west
for nearly minute. Clouds of dust from
the falling walls of houses and churches
enveloped the city.
The air rang with shriel1s of the people
buried beneath the ruins. The streets
presented terrible spectacle. Entire
blocks OF houses are destroyed, there are
assures in the roads over fifty yards in
length; all the church belfries and hotels
were thrown down or tottering to ruins.
Not dozen houses in the whole land is
habitabie. Killed, number in town,
| fourteen, and the villages sixteen. The
| injured number about 200.
The victims are less numerous than
might be expected, owing to the hour of
the shock. In the villages the destruc-
tion is incalculable; not one stone is left
upon another. The southeastern point
of the island was nearest the center
shock, and the level ground sank one
foot after the shock.
| Since 7:30 this morning two more heavy
shocks have shaken the whole Island Of
Zante. People are fleeing from all towns
to find safety in the plains and hillsides
All the terror-stricken thousands are
without shelter and few have sufficient
food.