Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-29

Copyright 1891 Associated Press)
Athens, April 2S.-The correspondent
of The Associated Press at Larissa, who
was with the retreating Greeks after
the battle of Matt, has arrived here.
when l overlook the Greek infan-
try" the correspondent relegraphs,
they were in struggling order, foot
sore and grimy from four days in the
trenches and long exposure to shells,
enough to unnerye veterans. They
went along in silence, . contrast to the
ordiary chattering in the Greek ranks.
The night was pitch dark and the red
glare at Kutari and Delilir in the dis
tance, added to the weirdness Of the
scene.
Later l passed batteries Of artillery,
mule trains, carts wagons, crying vii
layers, women and cAiIdcen. 1t was
pitiable. All were hopel essiy mixed up.
There was no attempt Mt order. All
arms were intermingle1 and the con-
fusion was completed by the shouts and
rushes of the Evzones anI :rragulars n
every style of outfit. Their previous
sullenness gave place 70 the clamor 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
riage was slowly picking a way through
desperate men, crying women and chill
dren and horses and donkeys. all over
laden, were creeping along at a snail's
pace, or prancing with nervous fright.
Suddenly, above the din of the con-
fusing masses on the road and in the
adjoining fields, came a roar. develop
ing into fierce. sustained yell, rolling
from the distant rear with lightning
cries of: The Turks are upon u.s.
In a few moments dozen horsemen
and as many riderless steeds appeared
on the left at full gallop, the men shout
ing with frenzy: Run, run; the Turks
are here,
Into the night air arose this agon-
izing roar, fairly paralyzing the imagi-
nation. 1t will remain in my memory
forever.
THE stampede was immediate. The
animals were lashed into gallop and
men. women and children and soldiers
ioined pell nell in a mad rush, many
who fell to the ground being trampled
to death. Vehicles were overturned,
mixing up bedding, furniture, ammuni-
tion. horses, donkeys, oxen and buffalos.
According to one story, the horse
men who so suddenly appeared and
caused this fearful stampede were
really Circassian cavalry which de-
bouched from Boughazi; but, this re-
port is not generally believed.
Beside our carriage two infantrymen
appeared with faces blanched from ter
ror. They jumped upon the steps and
we tried to keep them out. One OF
them thereupon leveled his rifle in our
direction. But their combined weight
on the steps on one side Of the car
riage overturned it, smashed it to pieces
and tbo London Times correspondent
and myself were thrown out. l was
pinned by the leg under the broken tim
hers as the pandemonium around in
creased.
In a perfect insanity of terror, sol
diers. irregulars and armed peasants be-
gan firing their rifles in every direction.
From the front and rear. from right and
left the bullets whizzed; but, the re-
ports of the firearms were scarcely
heard above the roar of human beings
and the terror of the maddened animals.
Even in the Shipka Pass, or in the
hottest part of the fearful fighting at
Plevena. / never witnessed such wild
firing. The whole plain was lit up by
the flashes of the rifles in the hands OF
the terror-stricken soldiery and peas
ants.
Eventually the Times correspondent
and myself succeeded in getting inside
a ditch by the roadside.
The mad firing continued for fully
half an hour. At the expiration Of that
time buglers were heard sounding
cease firing" but it was long time
before the continuous rattle slackened
down to a single shot.
Some estimates Of the number Of
deaths which occurred during the STAN
nede and indiscriminate firing say that
from five hundred to six hundred per-
sons were killed, but your correspon-
dent thinks these figures are exagger-
ated though people declare that they