The Earthquake at Ischia.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4587, 17 September 1883, Page 2

The Earthquake at Ischia.

Caganiicciola, in the island of Ischia h^s been destroyed by an earthquake or the recession of the land on the night oi July 28th. It is estimated that 5000 persons perished. The shocks began at half-past nine.. The majority of the upper classes were at the theatre, and' the scene there was 1 one of horror. The curtain had just risen when a tremendous shock was felt, folio wed by a fearful roar, and the ground rocked like a ship in a atorm ; a great cry of terror arose from the audience, who were thrown in a heap, and a great Dumber buried beneath the timbers of the building, which fell on them. Those who could, escaped from the theatre, some clambering into trees for safety, but a large number fled to the sea shore, where alarm fires were kindled. In the meantime every building in the town had collapsed. The hotel Piccola Seotinelta sank into the earth, and was buried with many of its inmates. Many Romans having villas at G-odirra are known to have been lost. Corpses were plainly discernible through the ruins, but could not be extricated; in nearly every case they were horribly mangled. The Minister for Public Works arrived at Casamicciola on July 29th, to arrange measures for relief; hundreds of victims were buried in the usual way, immediately on their being recovered. In order to prevent miasma, but as it was impossible to recover and bury all the bodies, it was ordered —considering the terrible exhalations from the decomposing remains—that the uncovered corpses be left where they laid, and fifteen hundred tons of chloride of lime were poured over the ruins; thus converting Oasamicciolo into a vast cemetery. The neighboring towns of Paris and Lucco were also greatly damaged, and the loss of life reached 2,000, dirided between both places. The centre of the area of the shock was the same as that two years ago, but the radius was wider. It was felt at sea and according to some account even at Naples, the Hospitals in which city were crowded with wounded and dying brought there by steamers from the island. The calamity infinitely exceeded the Chios earthquake in 1881. Among the missing are an English gentleman named Sommers, who. resided at the Hotel Manzi, and also many English and American visitors—lschia being a great resort for travellers in the pursuit of health or pleasure. Of a Swiss family named Pascal, numbering eight persons, only one daughter survived. Many English and" Americans arrived on the 31st in search, of friends and relatives. On the night of the disaster the scene was weirdly horrible, when hundreds of half-naked men and women, wild with terror and grief, ran to and fro among the ruins with torches, searching for missing friends. For days the stench of decaying flesh', notwithstanding the deodorising material used, was almost unbearable. Additional shocks, attended with damage, occurred on August 14 h. King Humbert visited the hospitals on the 3rd, and condoled with the sufferers, and also repaired to the scene of the earthquake, where he distributed money and provisions to those in need. ; .v ; :■