The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-04-29

Copyright, 1897. by the Associated Press)
ATHENS, april 2S.-The 'correspon-
dent OF the Associated Press at Larissa-
who was with the retreatins Greeks af-
the battle OF Matt, has arrived here.
"When overlook the Greek infantry"
the correspondent telegraphs. they
were in struggling order, foot-sore and
grImy from four days In the trenches
and long exposure TO shells, enough 70
unnerve veterans. They went along IN
silence, contrast 10 The ordinary cnat-
terinE In the Greek ranks. Ihe hlBns
was pitch dark and the red glare AZ
Kutnri and Delilir In the distance added
to the wierdness OF the scene.
Later / passed batteries OF artlllery
mulc trains, carts, wagons, crying va
layers, women and children. II was pitt
full, All were hOpelessly mixed Up.
There was no attempt mt order. All
arms were intcrmingled and the con-
fusion was completed by the shouts and
ruEhes OF the Evzones and irregulars
In every style OF outfit. Their previous
sulleness gave place 10 the clAm0r OF
disappointed and dispirited men. They
forgot their weariness In wild imprecA-
tions against their generals and other
officers.
''The retreat became a rout. Our car
riagc was slowly picking way through
desperate men, crying women and chill
dren and horses and dOnkeys, all over
laden. were creeping along at q snalIH
pace or pTRncinB with nervous fright.
suddenly, above the din OF the con-
fuslng masses ON the road and In the
adjoining fields, came a roar, develop
ing into a fierce. sustained yell. rolling
from the distant rear with lightning
speed. Soon in the midst Of this yell
could be distinguished cries OF; The
Turks are upon US
"In a few moments a dozen horsemen
and as many riderless steeds appeared
on the left at full gallop, the men shout
ing with frenzy: Run, run; the TURKS
Into the night air arose this nguniz-
ing roar, fairly paralyzlng the imaglna-
ton. II will remain In my memory for
ever.
The Stampede.
The stampede was immediate The
animals were lashed into Gallop and
men, women and children and soldirs
Joined pell nell in a mad rush. many
who fell 20 the ground benig trnmpled
to death. Vehicles were overturned,
mixing up bedding. furniture, ammunl-
ton. horses. donkeys. oxen and buffalos.
According 10 one story. the horsemen
who so suddenly appeared and caused
this fearful stampede We're really Cir
cnssian cavalry which dsbouched from
BouEhazl; but this report II not gener-
ally believed.
beside our carriage two infantrymen
appeared with faces blanchcd from ter
ror. They jumped upon the steps and
We tried to keep them out. one Of them
thereupon lcvclct his rifle In our direc-
ton. But their combined weight on the
steps on one side OF ths carTinge over
turned IL, smashing II 20 pieces and the
London Times COrresJ ondent and my
self were thrown out. was pinned by
the leg under the brolen tImbers ns the
pandemonlum arouni increased.
I'm perfect Insanity or terror, soldiers.
irregulars and arm ed peasants began
firing the rifles In every direction From
the front and rear from right and left
the bullets whlZzci &: but, the reports OF
the firearms wsri. scarcely heard above
the roof OF hum8 beings and the terror
OF the maddeneI animals.
Even when he shIpkapass, or In the
hottest part OK the fearful fighting at
Plcvna. / never witnessed such wild FIR
ing. The whole plain was lit by the
flashes OF the rifles In the hands OF the
terror-strlc'.en soldiers and peasants.
"EvcntuVlly the Times correspondent
and myself succeeded In getting inside
a ditch b. the roadside.
"The inad firing continued for fully
half an hour At the expiration OF that
time buglers were heard sounding cease
firing but It was n long time before the
continuous rattle slackened down TO sim
gle shots.
Some estimates OF the number OF
deaths which occurred during the STAN
pcdc ard IndlscriminRte firing say that
from i've hundred 10 six hundred per-
sons were killed. but your correspondent
thinks these figures are exaggerated
though people declare that they have
seen many wagons bearing the dead TO
Larissa.
"The five newspaper correspondents
who were In the stampede all had mir
nculous cscapcP from death"