Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-10-09

were, with breathing power; and then came
rocking movement, shaking to and frO.-
Here some military had arrived to excavate.
There was a strong stencil of lemomposing
bodies This place was really deserted by the
inhabitants, at least saw very few. How shall
give you an idea of what was once the town
of Melf? The cathedral is down, as are the
college, the military depot, the churches, and
l63 houses; SO are in falling state, and l80
are pronounced as dangerous. The military
have arrived, and are working away. Our med
cal staff is by no means strong enough. More
than thousand bodies have already been dug
up, need not add, all dead. The wounded are
over six hundred in number, and present every
variety Of flesh wounds and fracture. The
town offers strange and awful appearance
Many gersds strstfers nnger about Y ruins,
as fond friends about all they love best in the
world have no time to give notice of the va
rous phenomena indeed have learnt little,
yet. 1t appears, however, certain, that the con
vulsing current was strongest in Melf, and took
direction in the centre of the peninsula toward
Sicily. The water is still warm, and repeat
ed slight shocks have been felt in several places
Some suppose that volcano will break out. as
there is evidently some subterranean action 90
ing on. The whole district observe, presents
many traces of volcanic action in past times
Etna and Vesuvlus have been quiet for some
time past, fact worth remembering when spec
ulating on causes. The earthquake was follow.
ed by hurricanes, which have also done much
injury. 10 tell you the truth, am by no means
quiet in my mind whilst living here. The ele-
ments of destruction are below US. will let
you know more as soon as possible"
"P s. should have told you the village Of
Ascot has also suffered immensely; 80 houses
have fallen in. / do not know how many lives
are lost: | should imagine altogether the loss oil
lite cannot be less than three thousand. lnclu
ding all the sufferers in all the towns"
Such is the account given by the writer Of
this letter of calamity which has produced Q
profound sensation throughout the kingdom.
have seen letters which we're still more alarm
ing, and contain more horrible details but az
they are written in moment of excitement
hope they are exaggerated On inquiry at the
police office at Naples, | am told. mp to this day
the returns of dead bodies dug out of the ru
ms from all towns and villages is S57, but thu
work of excavation has only commenced.'
am lold the town of Mei and other have suf
Tered much from pluuder. Even in this awfu
moment, some wretched examples of humanity
were found who occupied themselves in sackin!
the deserted houses: ope init geRi9l"Raa i6st n
plastres, aud many valuable articles of furn
ture, after the earthquake, when all the famll
in town had left the house. Sixy-fve boys
the college of Melfi are supposed to have pei
ished
The calamity took place when most of tn
population were sleeping, as is the custom atte
dinner. have heard that in one place lax
has appeared. 1t may be observed that Mel
is the site Of an old volcano. In 1888 an equa
ly terrible earthquake occurred in Calabria, an
from that period up to The present Indeed a
most annually slight shocks have been felt, br
happily without much damage or loss of life.-
Sicily has ever suffered more than the continen
The city Of Catania alone has more than ono
been entirely destroyed. The government ha
sent soldiers and medical men to assist the su
fering districts. Yesterday (24th) Vesuvu
threw out boiling wafer This morning at da!
break, observed a little smoke was issuing fro
the crater"