THE EARTHQUAKES IN EUROPE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1559, 1 March 1887, Page 4

THE EARTHQUAKES IN EUROPE.

Rome, Feb. 24. The earthquake experienced yesterday in Northern Italy proves to bavpbeon one of immense disaster. The town of Diano Marino and several villages were almost completely destroyed, and it is estimated that fully 1600 lives have been lost. Paris, Feb. 25. Several slight shocks of earthquake were again experienced this morniog at Nice and Cannes. TnrrroN, Feb. 24. It is stated that in his table of eclipses predicted that there would be an earthquake on the occasion of the eclipse of the sun. The earthquake extended all over the South of France and Ceutral Italy, and was epecfally severe in Genoa and Porto Maurizio. Many residents of Nice are camping in the streets. The visitors to the Italian watering places fled by rail or took refuge on shipboard. News of the earthquake in the South of Europe has caused a great sensation in Englaud and on the Continent. The records of the fatalities are incomplete, and it is more than probable that the full extent of the catastrophe will never be known. Every hour brings to light a fresh and terrible phase of nature's convulsion. The returns at the present time give a list of more than 300 killed, and it is expected that the death roll will be largely increased when the whole of the obtainable statistics have been collected. In regard to the persons injured no re<iable information can be obtained, but it is believed they must number several thousands.

From Cervo, where there is a large penal establishment, a scene of unusual rbutulity and lawlessness is reported. The effect of the shock rendered the prison officers almost stupid, maddened the prisoners into beastlike ferocity, and a few of the more daring spirits seeing in the confusion an opportunity for revenge and possible escipe, made an attack upon the officers, The example of thoee ruffians was speedily followed by the rest of the prisoners, and before the officials had time to concentrate themselves for defensive purposes, 1 they were overpowered by the convicts, and treated with the greatest brutality, At Finale Borgo extensive landslips occurred, and % portion of the displaced mirth fell across the railway line, completely blocking it.

The last news received from Nice was sent by Sir Gavan 'Duffy, who was uninjured. He describes the panic which reigned in that city' as something appalling. MaDy of the fugitives who flad from the place by rail were blocked owing to the landslip?. The railway station at Nice wub thronged with people waiting for the train to start to carry them away from what they considered a doomed city, and although the railway officials again and again explained that it would be useless to attempt to run the train until the lines had been cleared, the excited throngs demanded to bo taken as far as circumstances would permit. The town presented a remarkable sight at night, through the people, who would not stop in their houses, camping in the streets. Family groups, huddled together, prepared themselves to pass the night, others hurried through the thoroughfares screaming and raving in a semi-demented state, while not a few passed the time bemoaning the loss of their friends, and making the air resound with the names of their lost ones. Those of the belter class of the inhabitants laid siege to the vessels in the harbor, and vied with each other in frantic bids for accommodation, fabulous prices being given for cabin accom* modation. In many cases invalids had their Bufferings intensified by the cruel inattention meted out to them. The place is still in a state of bewildering panic, hardly justified by facts. So far there is no indication of a repetition of the devastating shocks. By later news f'orn the district of the R«vi*ra comes word of a dreadful panic, se>eral persons being killed and many injured. The building where the pauic occurred whs a favorite resort of tourists, and on this occasion the last carnival ball was being held, and the place was crammed with American and English visitor.- 1 . The dancers were just about to leave ihe acouw of festivity when the strange and ominous rumbling: was heard, which proved to be the forerunner of death to many. The shocks were felt with great violence at Leghorn, Marseilles, Milan, Toulon, Avignon, and Geneva. As booh as the Queen had been made aware of (he calamity she wan greatly distreHsed, and although informed that the Prince was safe could not be paoifiedShe at once telegraphed to the Prince t) ascertain tho extent of the calamity, aud begged to b« reassured of his safety. The Government requested the Prince of Wales to return to England, and allay the anxiety felt on his behalf. At Savona, a town twenty-four miles S. W. of Genoa, a number of houses were wrecked and 11 persons were killed. News has just been received of n renew il of the shocks and augmentation of the pnnic which prevails in all parts of Southern Europe, The renewed shocks have been f«it with greit severity at Mentone, but no fresh disasters or fatalities have been reported. Northern Italy seems to have been the centre of the terrible visitation, and 1500 people aro reported to have been killed. Any estimate must necessarily be incomplete, as it is impossible to say how many bodies may he lying beneath the fallen buildings which strew the district. The worst news is that of a terrible calamity calamity which had occurred at Bagaro, where was a large church. As soon as the shoc'ia were felt the people crowded into the building, and the excited mass wedged themselves in and crammed it to its very portals. A perfect babe* ensued. Some offered up prayer, while some chanted, and others wept, It was not until some time afler the supreme violence of the shocks had passed that the dreadful catastrophe happened. Almost without warnin? the building collapsed, and three hundred persons were reported to have been instaqtly killed or severely wounded. Relief trains with provisions have been despatched to the outlying places, and medical men have been instructed to make their way to remote villages, with a view of relieving the sufferings of the wounded, It is sw'ted that tho face of the country is completely transformed, mountains being iieform«d or considerably reduced, and valleys have given place to high g'ound and mountainous districts.

Fob. 25. The number of victims of the earthquake is now swelled to t.vo thousand in Italy alone. At Busara a third of the population whs buried under the ruins. At lenst 10,0G0 people fled from Nice. The Prince of Wales leavea Cannes for England to-day. Feb. 26. Mount Etna is in eruption. Feb. 27. The Prince of Wales has returned to London from Cannes.