Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1906-05-02
RECORD OF DISASTERS
Millions of Lives Lost AS The Result
of EARTHQUAKES.

Since 1137, when the first reliable
records apparently were made of
such disasters, 100000 persons have
lost their lives by earthquakes. This
total does not include The destruction
wrought by kindred catastrophes like
the burial Of Pompeii and Hercu-
laneum.
In periods earlier than the twelfth
century the losses were doubtless cor
respondingly great, at least, but ris-
tory is vague OF silent on these events.
1t is supposed by scientists that many
parts of the earth's surface now quite
were in ancient and primeval periods
the scenes Of terrific shocks. :
No earlier earthquake remains re-
corded than that Of 425 B. c., when
the Island of Euboca was formed.
What loss Of life there was then not
even legend relates. An earthquake
accompanied the eruption of Vesu-
vius in 70 A. D. Iu 742 A. D. Syria,
Palestine and other regions we're de-
vastated by series Of shocks which
restroyed more than 500 towns and
hundreds of thousands of persons.
Sicily's earthquake in ll37 took
$4,000 lives, and from that time his
tory is replete with records Of similar
catastrophes. Earthquakes have oc.
cured with greater frequency in vol.
canic districts and particularly along
the boundries between great eleva-
tions and depressions. But such
Shocks are not confined to volcanic
areas, and, indeed, they have often
occurred in regions remote from them:
One large zone particularly liable to
earthquakes encircles the earth. In.
includes the Mediterranean lands, the
Azores, the West Indies, Central Ans,
erica, the Sandwich Islands, Japan,
China, India, Persia and Asia Minor.
The Great Lisbon Quake.
November l, 1755-Great earth
quake at Lisbon. In about s minutes
most Of the houses and $4,000 in
habitants were destroyed and whole
streets. The cities of Coimbra, Opor-
to and Braga suffered much and st.
Ubes was destroyed. In Spain large
part of Malaga became ruins. One
half of Fez, in Morocco, was destroy
ed and more than 1900 Arabs per-
isbed. The upper half Of the Island
of Madeira became waste and 1000
houses in Mitylene, in the Archipela-
go, were overthrewn. The quake was
felt over 5000 miles, even in Scot
land.
October 80, l759-In Syria over
10000 square miles, Baalbec destroy
ed and 10000 persons perished.
June %, 1763-Comorn, Pesth, ETC.,
much damaged.
August, 1767-At Martinique l,6OO
persons persisted.
June Z, 1773.-At Guatemala, San
tiage, with its inhabitants swallowed.
July 3, l77S.-A destructive one
at Smyrna.
17sO-At Tauris $4,000 houses
thrown down and mulititudes buried.
Calabria Overwhelmed.
September, 11S6-At Calabia, a
city with its inhabitants overwhelmed.
126S-In Cilicia, 10000 persons
perished.
1274--one felt again throughout
England; Glastonbury destroyed.
November IA, 15O9-Constantinople
thousands perished.
February 26, 1531-At Lisbon, l.
500 houses destroyed and $4,000 per-
SONS persisted in the ruins; several
neighboring towns engulfed.
July 2, 1596-In japan, several cit
les ruined, thousands perished.
April 6, 15SO-In London, part of
St. Paul's and Temple Churches fell.
July 80, l626.--In Naples, 80 vii
lagos ruined and 10000 lives lost.
August 1915, lS6s.-Cities of Are
uipa, Iquique, Tacna and Chincha and
many small towns in Peru and Equa-
dor destroyed; $4,000 lives lost, 3d.
600 homeless; damage $3OO,OOO,OOO.
6szEE yss:ks.:r rsEr
Destruction of Mt. Pelee.