FALL OF A CONCERT HALL AT SMYRNA.

Evening Star, Issue 3185, 6 May 1873, Page 3

FALL OF A CONCERT HALL AT SMYRNA.

TWO HUNDRED PERSONS REPORTED DROWNED,

The following details are given in the Levant Herald of the terrible accident at Smyrna j Smyrna, Feb. 10.

A fearful disaster has occurred in Smyrna. Last night, during a crowded entertainment, the Caf6 Kivoto, built upon piles over the sea, fell through, and upwards of 200 persons were drowned. The names of the victims are not yet known. The greatest dismay and desolation prevails in Smyrna. On Sunday night, at ten o’clock, the Caf6 Kivoto, built upon piles on the sea, broke down suddenly during a performance given a company of acrobats. The proprietor of the cafe; says he only sold ISO tickets ; but the people saved declare that there were 200 persons present. Most of them were of the poorer class, and there were not many Turks there, or young men of respectable families. At 10 o’clock a loud cracking was heard, and within live minutes the entire cafb had disappeared under water. A few of the persons near the entrance contrived to effect their escape, and some persons saved themselves by jumping through the windows into the sea. The boatmen rowed up in numbers, but their efforts to save life were in vain. The profound silence : which succeeded the piercing cries of despair told too plainly the terrible character | of the disaster. The Catholic and Greek archbishops were on the spot early the following morning. Yesterday forenoon the workmen ofthe Quay Company were actively engaged iefflternoving the roof of the submerged cafe. The search after the dead bodies was a sad spectacle; the acrobats were withdrawn from the Water in their ; showy costumes of tire previous night; the limbs of all the bodies were contracted with pain. Two hearses were engaged the whole of the day in convoying the remains discovered to the hospitals. Of the fifty bodies deposited At the Greek hospital, twenty-eight

were claimed up to 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, and eleven were claimed at the Catholic hospital. Divers were busy at work all dsj’. and every minute a fresh body was »rought up. To-day they re-commenced|their melancholy task at day-break, and twenty more bodies were found. The total number of bodies recovered up to the present is eighty, md it is supposed th a t there are st 11 fifty more in the water. An English captain, two Turkish merchants, a young man of good connexions, an Italian captain, a telegraph clerk, and some commercial clerks are among the victims. The feeling of grief and consternation is general, and the ball advertised to take place m the Casino has been countermanded. The police have closed all the other cates built upon piles on the sea. One man saved has lost the us© of his speech. The company of acrobats consisted of seven persons, of whom three wo r e women, and one of these latter only survives. The Government will institute proceedings against the proprietor of the cate, who did not pay heed to the warning of danger which was given him in time.