The Great Earthquake

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 117, 9 April 1887, Page 2

The Great Earthquake

FULLER DETAILS. HARKOWING SCENES AND IN- | CIDENTS. ! London*, March 12. Nice in Italy, and Cannes, in Franco as well as several other points in both countries, were visited by severe earth- , quakes on February 23rd. In the . former city sixty houses were left in a condition to fall at any moment, and many others are much damaged. Some wells dried up, while others increased in volume. Another shock was felt on the 25th, when 20,000 people left the place. A chasm opened in the ground near the city, from which a. stream of hot muddy water bubbled up. Notwithstanding the fright, and the large desertion of Nice by the inhabitants, the Theatre opened on the night of the 26th, and the College also resumed. Concerts were given in ttio public gardens. The effects of the earthquake at Mentone were more terrible. Everything was reduced to ruins, and the staircases of the few houses that remained standing were pronounced unsafe. Large crevices were disclosed in the cemetery, and the cupola of the cathedral, as well as the vault of White Penitents, was destroyed. The Building Inspectors condemned two thirds of the picture* ague old town as unsafe. A stiff wind prevailed on the 27th, making it further unsafe to walk about the streets. Several fires occurred, but were speedily extinguished, and the military guards on duty prevented the pillaging of the wrecked houses. Monte Carlo suffered less than any other place. Scientists say this is due to the fact that it is built on rocks. The weather at Mentone was beautiful, and refugees from the shattered towu who had recoveied from their flight, were making the most of it. There was a terrible state of affairs at a place called Diano Marino, visited on the 26th by Signor Genala, Minister of Public Works, and a number of Deputies from the districts ravaged by the earthquake. The bodies of twenty-four persons were taken from the ruins on that day, and sixty-four more are reported to be under fallen buildings. A child of, twelve and her father were taken from the debris, when the latter expired on the spot. A woman and child were taKen oak alive after being entombed three days. The survivors say that the majority of the victims were killed l>y th& second shock, many people having reentered their houses to procure clothing. Bodies wrapped in shrouds lay in the middle of the streets, and groans were heard in the ruins, especially in Bia Garibaldi. In a house near the city a ball was in progress, and when the shocks camo the building was entirely wrecked, terrible loss of life resulting therefrom. The dancers lay dead in heaps upon the ground. M?iny of the houses destroyed had large tanks underneath filled with olive oil intended for exportation to France and Germany. This all disappeared. The loss is placed at 500,000 dollars. Almost the entire population encamped on the sea shore. A party of soldiers exploring the ruius in the place found Professor Kossi lying beneath a mass of debris, still alive. While the men were trying to extricate him a beam fell, killing the Captain and wounding the soldiers. At Geneva the population slept out of doors on the 24th. Many went aboard the ships in tb.6 harbor, and 300 fled from the city by rail. . The earthquake was strongly felt off Gerosse, awakening sailors from their sleep. Supplies were sent from Genoa to more 3erious.y visited districts and a transport left port for Oneglia to take on board 500 convicts confined there, the prisons being expected tc collapse. The activity of . the Genoese doctors is placed beyond all praise. It was reported at Borne on the 24th that Brussana, a village of 6000 inhabitants,,liad been levelled and the people buried under the ruins without hope of rescue. Villages built on terraces on the sides of the hills are almost all destroyed. The exodus, from the Riviera was enormous, and Marseilles was invaded by an army of fugitives utterly panic-stricken and demoralised. The Prime minister of ' France sent the Prefect of Nice 10,000 francs to aid the sufferers. The Pope sent 2000 dollars and assistance was, [ coming in from other quarters.