Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-04-20
A CITY LAID IN RUINS.
FPightfuI Disaster at zante, in the M9dit-
6pranean, from an Earthquake.

6Prdnean, from an Earthquake.
ATHENS, April 1.-The island OF
Zante, one Of the principal 1onian
Islands, was visited by most destruct-
i've earthquake this morning. resulting
in great loss Of life and property. The
shock appears to have been most Vio-
lent in the city of Zante, the greater
part of which was destroyed. The peo
pie are panic-stricken and the author
tiles helpless. The streets are impass-
able, being filled with masses of stone
and timber, the wreckage of the houses
which We're thrown down by the earth
quake.
Thus far the bodies of twenty persons
killed by fallen walls have been taken
from the debris and it is feared that
many more dead are still in the ruins.
The number of persons injured runs up
into the hundreds. Everything is in
confusion and the work of searching for
bodies and for the injured cannot be pur
sued Systematically. The greater portion
of the inhabitants have fed to the
plains back of the city, where they
wander about in distracted manner
bcwailing the loss of their homes and
property. A large number of tents that
were taken to Zante to shelter the peo-
pie who were rendered homeless by the
former earthquakes have been again set
up and under them some of the women
and children have taken refuge
The Greek government has acted
promptly in rendering aid to the suffer
ers by the earthquake. The two Greek
ironclads, Hydra and Spezzia, have al
a detachment of engineers as well as
provisions and medicines for the survi-
vors of the calamity.
The shock occurred at half-past A.
NJ. Most of the buildings that stood
erect after the shocks of February and
March We're either thrown down or
shattered so as to be unsafe for
occupancy. The church ofSt. Dionysius
and the government offices were thrown
down.
Advices from the interior show that
the whole island has been devastated.
Many villages have been destroyed and
it is thought that the loss of
life has been very great. News
of the disaster comes in very
slowly, as communication with the
Interior Oh tIlt lSltllli HIS DCcu greatly
interrupted by the destruction of many
of the calamity cannot be estimated at
present. Warships will be dispatched
from the Pirpus with clothing, provi
siOns and medicines for the sufferers.
1T is pointed out here that the Zante
disaster is Il confirmation of the predic-
ton made Il few days ago by Prof. Falb,
who predicted the former earthquakes,
that disturbances more serious than the
recent ones would occur on April Is or
II. His prediction has proved true for
this mornings shock is the worst shock
that has ever visited Iante, which is
noted for it's earthquakes,
The island of Zante is about ten miles
south of Cephalonia. Its about twenty
our miles long and twelve miles wide.
The east coast has a harbor, and on this
greater part of the interior con-
sists of an extensive plain. The
area of the island is 277 square miles
and the population is about $4,000. The
city of Zante is built chiefly in the Ital-
ian style, the houses being seldom more
than one story high. The principal
street is broad and handsome; the mar
ket place is spacious; churches are
numerous and decorated in q costly
manner. The population is $4,000. In
1S4l the city was nearly destroyed by
an earthquake, and three months ago it
again suffered, many people being
killed.
The city presents a scene of desola-
ton and it is doubtful if it ever RECEIVERS
from the series of misfortunes that have
befallen it within the past three months.
There is bound to be an enormous
amount of suffering and outsiders will
be urgently asked for aid to prevent
sickness and starvation.