THE EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY

Evening Star, Issue 4108, 27 April 1876, Page 3

THE EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY

(Weekly Scotsman, Dec. 18.)

An “ Occasional Correspondent of the c Scotsman,’ ” writing from Naples on December <j, gives the following account of the recent earthquake in Italy:-

For the last fifteen days we have had incessant rain, and with such unusual violence that many could not help feeling that something very strange would follow. In fact, during this period the sismographer of our University and that of the observatory on Vesuvius have been very agitated and Professor Palmieri, who stayed day and night in the observatory on Vesuvius during the last eruption of April, 1872, gave notice that probably an eruption might, take place. Last night the agitation of the sismographer on Mount Vesuvius was greater than ever so much so. that the Professor thought well to send word to

big family, who were staying at a country house of his at San Georgio di Cremano, a village at the foot of the mountain, to withdraw to Naples, as during the night some unexpected earthquake might take place, and to warn the people of the surrounding villages to be on the qui vive. General alarm followed, as may be imagined, and few retired to rest that night. The churches were opened, and the priests preached to large crowds therein, in order to allay the general apprehension. In Naples all was as quiet as usual because no alarm had been given, when at 3.25 a.m. the whole town was awoke by a very strong earthquake, which lasted about eighteen seconds. At first the shock was undulatory from north-east to south-west, then vortical, and finally vertical. Such are the official reports. But whatever may have been the nature of the shocks, the effects were sufficiently terrifying. Fancy people comfortably sleeping in bed, when they are awoke all of a sudden by the ringing of the bells, the slamming of the doors, the shaking of the shutters, windows, and blinds, and what is more, the swinging of the bed and the inclination of the walls of the room. Many persons donned their clothes as rapidly as possible, and ran out into the streets to see what else was going to take place, and those who remained indoors ran to seek for shelter towards the windows. A very comical spectacle was to be seen in the streets. During a pouring rain people half-dressed were running in all directions in search of shelter. The greatest number went to the highest parts of the town, such as the St. of Victor Emanuel, Piazza Dante, Station, etc. The carriages that were still about were seized upon by those who arrived first; other persons went raving about like madmen. The appearance of the sky was fearful; the clouds were as dark as jet, and notwithstanding there being here and there a few stars, their light was so dim that their appearance rendered the scene more gloomy. In many towns of the province the shock was experienced with the same violence as at Naples, but where the terror was greatest was in those villages that lie at the foot of the mountain; and notwithstanding that Professor Falmieri declared that the earthquake had nothing to do with Vesuvius, still many think and fear that we shall very soon have another eruption; and what makes people believe it still more is, that a few days ago a part of the inside of the crater gave way and the earthquake was preceded by the thundering of the mountain. In fact, at the moment of writing I hear now and then a grunt coming from that direction, similar to thoi£ that were heard during the eruption of is??' but one course with much less ^ s was less intense than xil? one °f 1850, and has caused little damage. Hospital of Sa. Crinita a wall down, but the poor sick people were withdrawn uninjured. Bents were caused in the walls of various edifies, but nobody was killed. The last news is that at Amalfi, Caserta, Eeano Avellino, Potenzo, and Fuggia the shock was very strong, and at Caserta the troops, turned out of their barracks, w r ere obliged to encamp themselves on the squares. The earthquake was also felt in the valley of Liri, at Nola, <kc. The central point of the shock was, however, according to Pro-

fessor Palmieri’s last report, the Puglia, and at a place called San Marco, in Larais. In the Capitanata three shocks were felt; each one lasted thirteen seconds, and much damage was done. At Barile, in Basilicata, the shock lasted 1 minute and 35 seconds. The last despatch from Chieti (Abruzzi) says that at four o’clock a.m. a very sensible shock was felt there for several seconds. So - that from all these reports one easily sees the extent of the earthquake, although at first it was thought much more limited. At present the mountain’s summit is quite white with snow.