Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-10-20
The E.arlhQa aake In Italy.

the Daily Ners, dated Augus, s7:--
'4a my last communication. gave out
a br al notice Of the terrible earthquake
which took place at Mel6, a,gd tho auI soua<-
ing country, on the l4th. Since tha, datr,
the cfficiai journal has Published report
Of the loss OF life and proporty, in various
villages surrounding tie destroyed town Of
Melhi but 6nd the official narrative 20
incomplete and falling so short Of the actu.
oil extent Of the calamity, that prefer send.
ing you in formation from persons who have
arrived 10 Naples from ,hs scene Of the die.
aster, md mora particularly the account
have received from . medical gentleman.
which here translate. -
| "Near Melf, Angus, 20.
My dear friend, win endeayor to give
you narrative Of what ! have seen in my
journey from Naples TO she scspe Of the
awful events Of The 18th. When reached
the Iabls.land Of the Terradi Lavore, 1
learn. that The earthquakes had been fell
there much more distinctly than in ihs city
oi Naples; INDEED the yibyalinns lasted
thirty seconds; several persons were
thrown on the ground, and kw heusss
are split, that is the walls are cracked, but
fortunately no life was lost a. far aa cap
learn. Continuing my journey, { found
Ayellino bad suffered slightly, without loss
OF iiIe. At Monieverde six persona wesa
buried in the ruins Of a house, ond many
others wounded. The inhabi,an,s OF tbia
district are in most excited state, % o,hsr
slight shocks have been felt. Manv hare
fled from the villages, and saw groups or
people living in hu.s outside Of the town.
Still more dlsaslerous was The effect OF the
earthquake at Bovine and Asceli, whsrs
many houses are in q dangerous State, and
mus. be pulled down. Here. also, found
the people greatly excited. was con.inu.
ally asked, "Did earthquakes follow ons
anolherl Was it safe to remain in the
houses1' The whole Of the district Of Ba.
ri har suffered for miles around; scarcely
house in any Of Tho villages in tha, direc.
lion may be said not TO be injured. Tho
terror and misery is beyond my powers Of
description. Bascilicala has su uffsred
throughout the who.e district The town
Of Nenosa is nearly destroyed; the market.
place is one heap Of ruins, and you see
houses here and there threatening to fall.
In more than one plros | observed the
earth torn up and showing rugged assurss.
ln this district, The earthquake assumed ito
most terrible phenomena, viz: first per.
pendicuar motion, and then an oscilaiory,
Rapola is in ruins; the cathedral no longer
exists. An inhab.ant Of this Town iold ma
tha, the falling Of the buildings produced
such CONSERVATION, that for more than
half an hour alter the event, no could fnd
no ono who could give coherent answer
TO a question. Day and night, men, women
and children, were tearing away the runs
TO find their friends and relatives. Al
Rioreno the inhabitants were employed
when arrived, in digging nt tho ruins.
Half This town is destroyed. suw several
Of The wounded, notSless than 100; they
were wanting surgical aid very much, boz
feared u discover my professions. as I
could not remain, being as you know, sent
to Me:a. | think never could witness
more painful picture, and need not rr-
mind you that have attended ,he wouuded
liter Inore than one battle, IT'D that IL bad
enough; bu, here. with Tho horrors tf the
very worst of wouuds--lhe cfush--yo1 see
mother lamen.ing a child under mass
Of fallea rubbish; father wildly asking,
"Where is my familyl my wifsi '--chiid.
, rem without parents; some lamebtIng over
The dying. some weeping over the dead -
Gran Dio! Gran Dio! The viIlngs Of
BaviIe has actually disappeared found
all abuus this district, large fssurss, partly
Tiled up with houses. man who escaped,
told me it appeared TO him tint, for min.
ue, he was being tossed abou, in The airs
the earIh appeared. a. il were. with .
breathing, power; and then came sack~
ing movement, shaking TO aud fro
Here some military had arrived 10 s1ca-
vate. There was q strong stencil OF Dc.
composed bodies.
This place was really deserted By To
Inhabitants; at least saw very few.--
How shall | give you an idea Of what vss
once the town Of melal The ca,hedrnl il
down, as are the college. the churches, tha
military depot, and l6., hoise,; SO arc In
falling state, and lao are pronounced as
dangerous. Our medical staff is by ne
means strong enough More than thou
sand bodies have already been dug up, all
dead. The wounded are over 600, and
present every variety Of flesh wounds end
fractures. The Town offers strange and
awful appearances. Many have aed. oihsrs
/ libger about the ruins, as fond friends,
about all they loved best in the world. |
have no lime 10 give any notice ofths ysrs.
GUS phenomena; indeed, have learnt .itsls
ns yet. 1t appears, however, that the cofss
vulsing current was strongest id Msths and
took direction in the centre oflhs PENN.
towards Sicily. The water 10 sill warm.
and repeated slight shocks have bssn fslt ~
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