The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-09-21
TURK PUT SMYRNA
TO THE TORCH
100000 Starving Refugees In
City Are Thrown Into a
Panic by Massacre.

Athens smyrna Is d RAINING sham.
bles The number of known dead Il
estimated AZ 100 The American and
other cuHsuiates were destroyed the
European quarter n the city wiped OUT
and damage running into the millions
has been caused b. The fire which was
started by the victorious Turks and
E0i beyond control
The city was filled wlta at least 8OO,.
90 refugees Who were fleeing before
the 0nrushlng Kemallst troops Many
OF these were trapped by ne flames
and perlshed All of the American
consulate stan escaped
II Is believed al native Americans In
the city have escaped Fourteen nat
urhlized Americans. however, we're un.
accounted for.
Residents of the city fed In panic
as the fast spreading flames drove
them from street 10 street 70 the hills
on one side or to the waters edge on
the other
All ~ the Americans In the city save
Vice Consul Barnes and three business
men whose interests demanded they
remain with the American relief work.
ers were placed on board the U. \.
destroyer simpson and brought to this
city
All Of the American. British and
French warshlps in the hsrbor were
loaded with refugees Six hundred
refugees picked up by the q. S. de-
stroyer Edsall were taken 10 SalonIka.
Consul General Borton and his fam
lily were ordered 10 leave the city by
Captain Hepburn. commanding the
American naval forces.
Vice Consul Barnes was later re-
ported 20 have saved the consular
archives which were placed on board
the o. s. destroyer Litchheld.
Throughout the night thousands OF
refugees jammed the quays seeking
some way 10 escape the burning city.
Seyers' stories were told concerning
the origin Of the FIRE
The most reliable Is that OF Minnie
Is Mills head of the American Cole
giate Institute who declared she saw
Turkish regular army sergeant or offi.
Ger enter a building where the flames
were FIRST seen.
He was carrying small tins which |
evidently contained Kerosene. Imme-
dlately after he left the house II burst |
into flames Other small nres were
discovered shortly after.
so quickly did the Are spread that |
a. was impossible TO estimate accurate
Iy the number Of persons who perished |
In the burning houses. Practically all |
OF the known victims were Amenlans
or Greeks Or. Post and other Amerl- |
can workers who had made a thorough
before the flames drsve
them 10 safety estimated the dead al
900. How many were Killed In the
night and how many others perished
In their flight is not known.
The Turkish quarter was untouched.
II was the first day since the occupa-
tion that there was a southeast wind.
which would blow the flames westward
Of toward the Moslem area Of
the city which is situated on the north
west slopes Of Mount Pagus,
Admiral Mark /. Bristol. American
high commissioner az Constantinople.
the United States destroy
ers Hall and Lawrence to Smyrna
under full steam 10 aid In the work
OF rescue American marines from the
United States warshlps In the vicinity
were landed and Joined allied soldiers
10 an lneffectual attempt 70 halt the
progress of the fire. which gradually I
forced them out ~ the city. Ii
The Aston Company. with a $4,000
600 stock. probably escaped any heavy
loss These warehouses we're ,hiehy
outside the nre area. The total Ameri-
can financial losses will not exceed
100000
The American Y W G. A. the !
French -. Joseph's College and sew
,ral other FreacA schools we're de-
stroyed. as were the premises Of the
French firm OF Orosdi Bach and sew
.rsl British commercial houses
The total nnancial loss will probably !
reach Seoooo.eOo