The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-04-29
FLIGHT FROM LARISSA.
PANIC CAUSED by CRIES THAT
| TURKS WE'RE IN SIGHT.
Retreat Described ms Bcinu a Per-
feet Rout, Greek soldiers BcinE
In the Widest Conrusfon.

Athens, April 2S.--tCopyrlghtel, lSg1,' by
the Associated Press, The correspondent
of the Associated Press at Larissa, who
was with the retreatinr Greeks after the
battle or Matt. SUs arrived here.
when I overlook the Greek infantry"
the correspondent tolcgraphs. they were
In struggling order. foot-sore and grimy
from. four days IN the trenches aud long
exposure to shells. They went along in
silence, contrast to the ordinarily chat
tering III the Greek ranks. The night was
pitch dark and the red glare at Kutari and
DELHI in the distance added 60 the weird
ness of the scene
Later passed batteries OF artillery.
nulotcers, carts. wagons, crying villagers
women and children. 1t was pi,ablc All
We're hopelessly linked up. There was no
attempt at oder
The retreat became rout. Our car
riagc was slowly picking Its way through
dependent men, crying women and chill
drtn. and horses and donkeys all over
laden, which were creeping along at
snaii's pace, or prancing with nervous
fright.
Suddenly above the din OF the confused
masses on the road and In the adjoining
fields came rear developing into fierce
''N''tAAA' w N'lit ik.l4llb TWIN tut iisAuuNt
with lightning speed, Soon in the midst
Of this yell could be distinguished cries Of
The Turks are upon us
The stampede was immediate. The au-
imnls were lHshed into n gallop and mon,
women. children and soldiers Joined pel
nell in mad rush. many who fell to the
ground being trampled TO death. Vehicles
were overturned mixing up bedding. fur
niture, ammunition horses, donkeys. oxen
and bufiaoos.
The firing continued for fully half an
hour AZ the expiration of that time bug
lois were heard sounding cease firing" but
IL was a long time before the continuous
rattle slnckened down to single shots. The
pandemonium had spread several miles.
The way was strewn with ammunition
boxes, broken carts and furniture bedding,
tin pannkins. The latter ratified under the
horses feet, blankets became entaglcd in
them. and the horses, frantic with alarm,
Galloped about. many OF them riderlees
and deserted"
In this manner the affrightod crowds
struggled for several miles. presenting
most vivid picture OF disaster and fear
Some of the Greek officers. it Us true. did
their duty They ordered the buglcrs and
trumpeters TO sound cease firing" and
rode about calling upon the fleeing soldiers
to halt. But others of the Greek officers
lost their heads and pushed forward as ter
tried TO bring his mon to their senses 10y
presenting a revolver at them and shout
ing stop stop" But he nigh, as well
have called upon n whirlwind TO stay It's
course
There WINS a block at the bridge across
Saiambra river at the entrance OF Larissa.
Another terrific scene was there presented,
guns, men and horses. struggling In a
fearful mass.
al Larissa there was an ndescribable
confusion Troops of all arms were mixed
together and threw themselves down In
utter exhaustion, needless OF calls of the
trumpe,s and huelee. summonins them to
fall in. TIC inhabitants rushing about Tie
streets intensified the confusion, The.I
mere mention NJ the Turks was sufficient
to create n frensied rush.
Some estimates Of the number of deaths
which occurred during the stampede and
iadiScriminato firing say from 500 to 600
person We're Killed, but your correspondent
thinks these figures are exaggerated
though people declare they have seen many
wagons bearing the dead 10 Larissa. Tho
five newspaper correspondents who were
in the stampede all had miraculous escapes |
from death
THE first lcurs OF daylight wore spent
by the Greek officers IN assembling their |
scattered troops and sendn them 10
Phersala. The troops continued the march |
WlinNul bUy I'ilNfliHehlt hHu ~ ~ Nil'kSh
many OF them had not tasted food since |
Friday morning.
when 1t became known that Lnrissa
was to be abandoned there was panic.
The women and even tho children went
about drawing their hands across their
threats. showing what they expected of the
Turks. and in an incredibly short time
the roads leading to Pharsala and Volo
were crowded with vehicles and animals,
tho latter bearing all kinds OF household
effects
by 80 p. m. Larissa was emptied, At
volo there was a panic almost equalling
The one witnessed AT Larissa. Fugitiyes
were arriving at Yolo every few minutes,
and they spread rumors that the Turks
would euter the place in n few hours"