THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1371, 15 October 1886, Page 2

THE GREAT EARTH QUAKE.

The following details i f the great earthquakes la Ireece and America, of which brief accounts have received by coble, are compiled from English papers received at the Bluff, and are telegraphed by the Press Association ; A earthquake in the Western Province* of Greece, on the night of the 27th August, caused widespread destruction of property and the loss of over 390 lives, the greatest number of victims beiog at the town of Phlllatra. Strong shocks were also felt at the same time in the neighboring island of Zante and in Egypt This commotion has been followed bv a still more severe one In the United States which was visited on the evr-n’ng of the 31st by an earthquake among the most extensive in area and the swiftest in motion on record, ranch surpassing In t Is respect the earthquake of 1884. It extended from the Atlantic, west to n maha, sonth of Mobile, and north to Detroit, and was most seve-e at Charleston, South Carolina, In other parts It was not so . distract!ve, but can ted great alarm at Washington, Richmond, and Atlanta, Augusta, Louisville, Indianapolis, Pittsburg, Cleveland, Chicago and Memphis. Most of the Now England States escaped. The earthquake consisted of several shocks exceeding a minute In dura'lon, and except at Charlestons seem ta have been noiseless. Charleston was laid in rnins, and threefourths of tho city will have to be rebuilt. A hundred people were killed and many more Injured. When the fi*st shock came people rushed terrified Into the streets from the houses, theatres, and public meetings, and camped out all night in the open air. Loud subterranean rumblings and successive shocks took pLce, and the crash >f falling houses on all sides produced a fearful scene. Firps broke out in many places among the debris of ruined houses. Almost the entire population are homeless, and two-thirds of the dwellings have bo n rendered uninhabitab’e The damage is estimated at 8,000,000 dollars. The gasworks are destroyed, >-nd the city la thus left in darkness at night. On the evening »f the 31st, earthquake shocks were also fait In Smyrna, while a volcanic eruption burst forth from a reak »t the eastern end of the island of Galita, off tho Tunisian c -a-t. Finally shocks h ve occurred throughout Southern Italy and Malaga, slightly da oaging several buildings, bu‘ cm-onw no loos of life.