New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-28
HOW THE STAMPEDE BEGAN.

A SIGNAL TO RETIRE TO LAR1ssA RELIEVED TO
HAVE BEEN misunderstood.
London April 27.-The correspondent OF The
Times" at Volo WIFI say tomorrow: The drect
cause Of the panic Of Tyrnavo was rumor tha'
the authorities had ordered the inhabitants TO
syacuate the town and the report that the Turks
were approaching The population Immediately
decanaped IN the direction of Larissa ir carriages.
carts on horseback and afoot They were soon
4oined by other crowds, coming along the cross
road from the fighting line. Then the CONFUSION
became indescribable. Some of the fusitives
hred at their own countrymen in the darkness.
believing them 10 be Turks.
"Afser comparing many conflicting accounts,
believe the following TO be substantially cor
rect, About sunset II was observed at the point
ssiected for the headquarters OF the Greek STAN
that the hight wing was being turned by the
Turkish cavalry. Accordingly. orders were
Issued that as soon as IT became dark the force
should retire on Larissa. AT the same time
this intelligence transmitted by flash Sig
mails to the Greek troops on the heights beyond
IN order that they might take tho necessary
steps for their own safety These orders
reached the first line about $50, and the move
unent to retire began Immediately. The men
x-sre tired out, hungry and sullen. having been
element Of real fighting. Those who have ex-
perienced real warfare know how raw troops.
under such circumstances are apt to lose
cohesion and discipline and how, as the result
Of some little accident orderly retreat may
degenerate into a disorderiy stampede.
I'm this case the accident seems to have been
the fash signals on the heights. which were
Interpreted to mean that those positions were
being taken by the Turks. simultaneously the
CRY was raised nobody knows how. that the
Turkish cavalry advancing. In the dark
ness II was impossible TO distinguish friend
from q foe. The first fugttives from the front
arrived at Larissa about l o'clock In the morn
ms when everybody was in bed. The news
spread like w1ldfire. and soon the whole town
was in movement, everybody packing his goods
and chattels and preparing TO flee from the
doomed city, which. delivered into their
hands. would speedily be sacked by the Dlood-
thirsty Bashi BaZOuks
stantn and his staff left for Pharsalos. But this
incident made much less impression than might
have been expected. BY this time large crowd
had assembled at the railway station In the nope
Of getting away by the early train. but most or
them gradually convinced themselves that this
way of exit was hopeless and went 10 seek other
mean Of transport.
when I reached Volo found the panic al
ready beginning, though It momentarlly
stopped by the arrival OF dozen Turkish pris-
oners tied together with cords and headed by
their commanding officer. grave, fine-looklns
Turk Of the old school, who looked with I'M
perturbable calm and dignity at the excited
crowd around him. This was about o'clock
in the afternoon. Since then the excitement
has steadily increased II IS generally believed
that the Bashi BazOuks may arrive at any mo-
ment. The regular steamer service having
been interrupted, fabulous sums are being given
for passages by irregular and tramp boats.
while out for walk this morning noticed
4 worthy pats familas carrying for the protec-
tion Of hts wife and child a loaded rife, though
tn &c mr. mn
Turks cannot arrive here for several days, and
will be IN no hurry to come within the reach of
the guns of the Greek fleet while there Is posi-
bic a concentration Of the Greek Army in the
rear at PharsaloS.'