The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-02-20


Cd 10000 of Its People and Pillassd
and Burned the IsIand-Twlce Laid
Waste by Earthquakes.
The Aegean island of Chios is the
subject of a striking communication
to the National Geographic society
from Ernest Lloyd Harris, 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
tenth century it was the scene of
some Of the bloodiest tragedies known
to history.
"As early as 700 B. G. 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 2,300 years, it was
united once more to the parent coun-
try, Greece. AS one may well I'M
agine, a little island of 318 square
many times necessarily must have
suffered much from the strife which
swept over 1t.
Twice has this island been visited
by terrible earthquakes. The first was
away back in IL A. D.. and it was
only through the fostering care Of the
Emperor Tiberius that the people were
able to make 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, engulfng 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 vicissitudes
Chios has also seen many happy days
Even In the old days Of the Ionian
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 insular
province and enjoyed several hundred
years Of almost unbroken peace and
prosperity.
"Chi0s' 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 massacre
which appalled, humanity. In 1922 the
captain pasta appeared before Kastro
with powerful feet and landed an
army of Moslems, who slaughtered In
the space of two months no less than
10000 CHAINS, while $4,000 were sold
into slavery. The entire island was
given over to pillage, and scarcely a
village. church or convent was spared
the flames
These acts Of ferocity did not go I'M
avenged, While the Moslems were raw
aging Chios the islanders Of Psara and
Hydra were planning an attempt on
the Turkish feet, which was lying In
the outer harbor of Kastro, just off the
Genoese citadel. The authors of this
bold strike were Constantine Canaris
and George Pepines. They arranged
two briggs as fire ships and manned
them with a chosen band Of desperate
men.
THE lights hanging at the masts of
the Turkish ships were so dim that
the Chians were enabled completely to
surprise the unsuspecting crew at
midnight. The brig commanded by
Canaris Immediately grappled with the
captain pasha's flagship and set it on
fire, Pepine was equally successful,
and another battleship went up In
flames. With shouts of Victory to the
CROSSE the old time war cry of Byzan-
tium, the islanders escaped n launch
which they had In tow without the
loss Of single man. Practically the
whole Of the captain pasha's feet was
destroyed, and 2,S00 lives were lost
There is an old Greek monastery
about an hours ride from Kastro
which is grewsome monument Of this
period. Its walls and alcoves are faced
with the skeletons of the Chians mas
sacred In this neighborhood,
Zone Of the chief products of Chios is
gum mastics an astringent which is
grown In the southern part of the
island. 1t Is used as a gum and also
distilled as liquid, which is used
throughout the Levant as an appetizer
Immediately before meals It is an In
toxicant IL used immoderately.
Zone feature of the scenery of Chios
ID the picturesque old windmills which
crown the ridges and slopes along the
coast, The wheels are of very large d.
mansions and are fitted with sails,
Witch supply the motive power for
grinding corn. Owing to the possible
visitation Of earthquakes, the houses
are rarely more than two stories high
and when scattered along the country
side are usually surrounded by olive or
pepper trees, which add much to the