BITLIS EARTQUAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 1 June 1907, Page 3

BITLIS EARTQUAKE.

Constantinople, April 4. The following telegram has been received from the missionary. Mr Cole, dated ISitlis, yesterday: "At 10 a.m. on Friday there burst upon us unannounced the worst earthquake 1 have witnessed in the.-*- aud the Erzeroum volcanic regions for forty years. Of such force was the shock that our city ■seemed to lie in the jews of some monster who would shake us to pieces, as a mastiff shakes his game. Down came the plastering, things were overturned, and liquids spilt. Cracks- opened in strong walls, roofs were shattered, and slush and rain poured in. '•On the first day there were fourteen shocks, and the total number registered up to the present is twenty-eight. Of 4000 houses over 300 have fallen and half the remainder are seriously damaged. The oiTUals report that eight persons were killed by falling stones, but all of these are unknown in Bitlis. There aiv many injured. Many chuulio- ami mosques and 'he Government building* were damaged.

')n the vili.--.ups in the neighb >i hood there was no great loss of life. The foreigners at Bitlis are the Russian Consul, the Eleys. and the Coles. There are no particulars as to the damage done. I'hi! famine j rices. the extreme povertc. and the partial repudiation of silver are causing extreme suffering.'' THE HOLY LAND.

-in Kiiglish lady who is niakinj. a tour tlii-oiijrli Kj;ypt and Palestine. writinn; to a friend says: '-|.>„ m ,>,.,,,. m , drove overland lo .lenisalein. and hot we are ridinj: to Danm-riis .\l uijrhl we camp mil. and it is almost luxurious. We have lenis. and most „r 11,,.,,, are JWeoiHly lined and carpeted, ea.-h coinI'lctcly furnished ill every delail. We liave thirty horses and mules („ carry tlie impedimenta, and iwcnly-hvo men '" look alter our ,i,.,.,|5. u llr dinner each llijjhi eollsisls ill live courses! Palestine i., ;i wonderfully inlci-eslinj-r-""",1V-' 1.-i-u-alem. on (he whole, was di-app,,inline So many of I lie sacred site, are di-pule.l. There are three tomU of our 1.,„-,| M nd five

lielhsacd.-.s. The |',.„i „r silo, ind •ho-01.-s Well and lh- i:.„-l; ou which III■l,'«"' Nl.-rilieed a,- I i-, :h ,,,.,; : ~,„„_ (lf

.-"Ut-se Mount. „f iiiiv,-- and IVthauv. There are two IVI hlelieres. and some .onleud Ihaf .),-,,, v. as !„„•„ at Xaza- ''''"'• V '" ''■ "II oar \v.,y (o (he hitler !de.-e How. (1,,,- „.,,,,,, is nifehcd n „ (]„, -ile ~;• Uem.l', Palace, and al.out twentv " f ihf ' <■>"'- "i-'- -li" -laiidiii!.'. The : ! ""-"l»" i" 'he villa-,, is where tlt.- "'"■- 'T».. w.M..,oe' l ,"hlve"(o'\e n !m ! "" ,|,,i "11 meJd. -ilher (he ..|,ei| ;U .„„, /■l'i'-' iiihal.itaiil of (he villajrc. „ r t„,, soldier-. '•'