FEARFUL EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1493, 26 February 1887, Page 2

FEARFUL EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY.

London, February 23; Intelligence of a terrible nature has just been received here from the south of Europe, which has been the scene of a most destructive earthquake, spreading death and destruction m all directions. The news at present to hand is of a very vague description. The first description of the disaster came from Nice, where two severe shocks "of earthquake were experienced about six m the morning. The Bhocks were preceded by a sound as of distant rumbling, which seemed to grow m intensity, until the earth trembled with terrible violence, the agitation increasing and culminating m a shock of calamitous force. Half-naked people rushed from their houses into the streets ; women, attended by terrified children, hurried along, screaming m chorus, imploring the Deity to protect them. Amid a scene of the wildest and most indescribable disorder, & sudden and terrible termination was put to the earth's agitation. The ground, which had apparently been receding from under the feet of those who were attempting to fly from the impending doom, was, as by a magic spell, forced into tranquillity, and the next instant the houses rocked, and were torn as if by a mighty unseen force, and then fell to the ground, killing some and injuring a great number of the tenor-stricken, people. A large crowd of visitors who were staying m the town, of whom many wore from England, have fled, but whether many of them were injured cannot yet be ascertained.

The next news came from Cannes, where the Prince of Wales has been staying for some days past. Information from that city states that the shocks were experienced there with astounding severity, and much damage has been done. The Prince of Wales escaped without injury. The shocks were felt with full violence at Monaco, where the rocks were split into atoms, while huge pieces were hurled a considerable distance with death-dealing force. Home splinters were shot forth with meteoric force, rapidly wrecking the houses or falling into the sea with a deafening hiss.

A great sensation was caused at Monte Carlo, where, although not felt with like force as at other p laceß, the shocks had the effect of driving the whole populace almost frantic.

At Genoa the people assembled m the streets, and prayed with heart-rending fervor. The town of Dianonarena is reported to bo almost totally destroyed, and Oneglia, a town 55 miles south-west of Genoa, and tho towns of Noli and Albe6soli, have suffered to a great extent.

Tho latest news tbat has been received states that hundreds of people have been killed and wounded.