The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-10
DISASTERS IN PERSIA
SEVERAL TOWNS AND VILLAGES DE-
sTROYED BY EARTHQUAKES.
Eight Hundred People Killed I'm Col
Alone and Three Hundred Mangled
I'm the Ruins OF Janjabad.

TEHERAN. Persia, Jan. s.-Two earth
quakes have occurred in the district OF
Khalkhal, the first on the night of Jan. .
Upon that occasion the large village of
were partially destroyed and three hum
dred persons were killed. The second
earthquake occurred during the morning of
Jan. and was very severe. 1t was felt
over an area of one hundred miles. The
town of Col was destroyed and a thousand
houses were demolished. In addition, great
damage was done to many villages. The
loss OF life was very great. There were
eight hundred persons killed in Col alone
and large numbers of cattle and sheep also
perished.
The town of Goi. or Khci, which has thus
been wiped out by an earthquake was one
of the best laid cut towns OF Persia In its
modern quarter. The district OF Khalkhal,
in which the arthquake waves seem TO have
done the most damage. is in the province of
Azerbijan, in the extreme northwestern por-
ton of Persia, Immediately adjoining the
province of Van in Armenia. Kboi lies in
80 degrees, 81 min, north latitude, and 45
degrees Is east longitude. seventy-sevAp
miles northwest of Tabriz and about as far
south OF Mount Ararat, and is, or was be-
fore its destruction, on the great trade
route between the Euxine and Persia and on
the Kotura, tributary of the Aras, which
was crossed here by a seven-arch bridge.
1t had quite an elaborate system Of fort:fi-
cations, which were, however in a ruinous
state, and an inner high wall fianked with
towers, the intervening space being occu-
pied with gardens and mud hoveis. 1t was
in the central portion OF the city that its
beauty lay, cool streams and lines Of will
lows running along it's broad, regular
streets There were few good buildings,
including the Governors palace, several
mosques large brick bazaar and a fine
caravaEserai. The chief manufactures were
copper wares and worsted socks. In Sep
tember, 1881, Khoi was visited by series of
vio-ent earthquakes. the seismic waves run
ming northwest and southeast, in the direc-
ton OF the main mountain ranges. The pop-
ulation Numbered about 5000. including
many Armenians. who occupied a separate
quarter of the city. The district about the
city consists OF an elevated plateau, sixty
by ten or fifteen miles, highly cultivated by
a skillful system OF drainage and irrigation.
producing a series OF fertile oases. laid out
in meadows. gardens and tillage and yield
ing rich crops Of wheat and barley. besides
app.es. pears, cherries. walnuts, chestnuts
and Lnrivaled mulberries.
The province OF Azerbijan is one OF the
mos. fertile IN Persia. and travellers give
enthusiastic descriptions or its orchards and
gardens and the delicious fruits which they
yield. The population IS OF very varied
character, comprising kurds. Armenians.
Assyrians. Tartars. persians proper and
other tribes, and Is roughly estimated at
100000. The Persian army is largely COM
posed OF natives OF Azerbijan. and the prov
ince is under the government OF the heir
apparent to the Persian throne