The Guthrie Daily Leader

Fifteen Hundred People Perish

Constantinople, Oct. 2.—It is now estimated that 1,500 persons perished in the earthquakes in Asia Minor around Aldin. The first shock occurred at 4 in the morning of September 20 and lasted 40 seconds. The effects were appalling. Whole villages were completely destroyed. The earthquake was felt as far as Scio, Mitylene and Smyrna.

The latest advices from the stricken area show that men, women and children were buried in the ruins of their dwellings before they realized their danger. Numbers of bodies still lie beneath the debris. About 500 persons were killed at Sarakent and some 500 at Denizli, where three-fourths of the buildings fell. There was proportionate loss of life in many of the smaller villages.

The disturbance has not yet subsided, although its strength appears to be spent. Sulphurous springs burst out in the valley of Noander and the country between Aiden and Denizli became full of crevices, out of which rushed black, muddy water with sufficient volume to wash away a flock of 1,000 sheep.

The villagers of the valley of Noander report that for several days previous to the catastrophe domestic animals were greatly disturbed, bellowing, bleating and barking.