The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1917-02-09
WAR SWEPT CHIOS
The Historic Aegean Island and
Its Stormy Career.
BATHED IN BLOOD BY TURKS.
In 1922 an Army of MosIems Slaughter.
ed 10000 of Its People and PilIaeed
and Burned the lsland-Twce Laid
Waste by Earthquakes.


Waste by Earthquakes.
The Aegean island of Chios is the
subject of a striking communication
to the National Geographic society
from Ernest Lloyd Harris a part of
which is issued as the following bulle-
tin:
"Chios, which is separated from the
mainland of Asia Minor by the strait
of Chios, only four and half miles
wide, has long been bone OF con-
tention between Turk and Greek, and
during the earlier part of the nine
teenth century it was the scene of
some of the bloodiest tragedies known
to history.
"As early as 700 &. c. it was one of
the richest and most important mem
bers of the Ionian union. 1t has dis
puted with Smyrna the honor of being
the birthplace of Homer When the
Ionian cities rebelled against the Per
sian yoke Chios manned and equipped
100 ships and sent them to the bat
tie of Lade. This stands for some
thing when We take into considera-
ton the fact that at that time name
", 494 B. C.-the population Of the
island numbered only 10000 freemen
and 100000 slaves.
"Chios has been, in turn, Ionian, Per
sian, Athenian, Roman Italian, Tur-
kish, and finally in 1913, after a sep
aration of nearly 1900 years, it was
a.,
try, Greece As one may we'll i'm
agine, little island Of 31S square
miles which has changed masters so
many times necessarily must have
suffered much from the strife which
swept over it.
"Twice has this island been visited
by terrible earthquakes The first was
away back in II A. D.. and 1t was
only through the fostering care Of the
Emperor Tiberius that the people were
able to make a fresh start The sec
ond was in 1881, when the town OF
Kastro was practically laid waste
Mosques, churches and dwelling houses
disappeared into the bowels Of the
earth, enguling no less than 5000 peo-
pie. This earthquake visited the whole
island, and many beautiful and his
toric monasteries, some OF which con
tanned priceless objects of art, valuable
libraries and monuments of antiquity,
were completely lost,
"But In spite Of all these yicissitudes
Chios has also seen many happy days
Even in the old days of the Ioniau
union it was celebrated on account OF
its commerce and industries. especially
for its native wine and the manufac
ture of beds and sofas Under Rome
the island was ruled as an insulal
province and enjoyed several hundred
years Of almost unbroken peace anC
prosperity
"Chios' real troubles virtually began
with the Greek war Of independence
Somewhat against the will Of the peo
pie, the island became involved in this
struggle and was visited by a massacre
which appalled, humanity In 1922 the
captain pasha appeared before KastrC
with a powerful fleet and landed al
army of MoslemS. who slaughtered IL
10000 Chians. while $4,000 were solo
| into slavery. The entire island wa.
given over to pillage, and scarcely {
village. church or convent was spared
| the flames
These acts Of ferocity did not so un
avenged While the Moslems were raw
aging ChioS the islanders Of Psara anC
Hydra were planning an attempt OF
| the Turkish feet which was lying u
the outer harbor of Kastro, just off tn,
Genoese citadel The authors OF thi
bold strike were Constantine Canari
and George Pepines. They arrange
two briggs as fire ships and manned
them with a chosen band of desperat
| men.
"The lights hanging at the masts 0
the Turkish ships were so dim tina
the Chians We're enabled completely &
surprise the unsuspectins crew a
midnight. The brig commanded b.
Canaris Immediately grappled with til
captain pasha's flagship and set it o.
fire. Pepine was equally successful
and another battleship went up II
flames With shouts of Victory to tn
Cross. the old time war cry of Byzar
tium, the islanders escaped in launc
which they had in tow without tn
loss of a single man Practically tn
whole of the captain pasha' fleet wa
destroyed, and 2,300 lives were lost
''There is an old Greek monaster
about an hours ride from Kastr
which is q grewsome monument OF thi
period. Its walls and alcoves are face
with the skeletons Of the Chans mas
sacred in this neighborhood.
Zone of the chief products of Chios
gum mastic, an astringent which j
grown in the southern part Of th
island. 1t is used as a gum and ais
distilled as liquid, which is use
throughout the Levant as an appetite
Immediately before meals. 1t is an il
toxicant If used immoderately.
"One feature Of the scenery of Chic
Is the picturesque old windmills whic
crown the ridges and slopes along th
coast The wheels are of very large
mcnsions and are fitted with sails
which supply the motive power fc
grinding corn. Owing to the possibl
visitation of earthquakes, the house
are rarely more than two stories hig
and when scattered along the country
side are usually surrounded by olive G
pepper trees, which add much to tn
beauty and charm of the island