DESOLATION OF AMERICA CITIES AND GREECE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 241, 13 October 1886, Page 6

DESOLATION OF AMERICA CITIES AND GREECE.

Lon-djn, Septembers, '■ An earthquake in the western provinces of Greece, on the night of the 27th of August caused a widespread destruction to pro! perty and loss of ovor 300 lives, the greatest number of victims being at the town of Philiatra. Strong shocks were also felt at the same time in the neighbouring island of Zante and in Egypt. This commotion was lollowed by a still more severe one in the United States, which was visited on the evening of the 31st by an earthquake among the most extensive in area and Bwiftest in its motion on record, much surpassing in these respects the earthquakes of 1884 It extended from the Atlantic Oce-an west to Omaha, South to Mobile and i, .ttli to Detroit It was most severest Übavle.ton, South Carolina. In other parts it was destructive, but caused great alarm at Washington, Richmond, Atlanta, Augusta Louisville, Indianopolis.Pittsburg, Cleveland Chicago, and Memphis. Moet of the New England States escaped. The earthquake consi-itod of several shocks exceeding a miriuta induration, and except at Charleston seems to have been noiseless. Charleston was laid in ruins, and three-fourths of Iho city will havo to be rebuilt. A hundred people were killed aud many more injured. When the first shock came people rushed terrified into the streets from the houses theatres, public meetings, and camped all night in tho open air. Loud subterranean tumblings, successive shocks, and the crash of fulling houses on all fides produced a fearful scene. Fires broke out in many places among the debris of ruined houses, Almost the entire population are houseless^ and two thirds of the dwellings are rendered uninhabitable The damage is estimated at eight million dollars. The gasworks are destroyed, and tho city is thus left in darkness at nijht.

On the evening of the 31st, earthquake shocks woio also felt at Smyrna, while volcauic eruptions burst forth from a peak at the eastern ond of tho island of Galitra, off the Tunisian coast. Finally, shocks have occurred throughout Southern Italy, and at Malaga, slightly damaged several buildings, but not causing loss of life.