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

The following graphic account is extracted
from the Naples correspondence of the Daily
.NslOs, dated August 27:---
"In my last communication | gave you a
brief notice of the terrible earthquake which
try ON the 18th Since that date the official
journal has published report of the loss of life
and property in various villages surrounding
the destroyed town of Melf; but | find the of
fetal narrative so incomplete and falling so short
of the actual extent of the calamity, that pre-.
fer sending you information from persons who
have arrived in Naples from the scene of the
disaster, and more particularly the account
have received from a medical gentleman, which
here translate:
Near Mel6, August 20. 1851,
My DEAR FRIEND IL will endeavor to give
you narrative of what have seen in my jour
ney from Naples to the scene of the awful
events Of the 18th. When reached the table
land of the Terra di Lavoro, learnt the earth
quake had been felt there much more distinctly
than in the city of Naples; indeed the vibration
lasted thirty seconds; several persons were
thrown on the ground, and few houses were
split that is, the walls are cracked but, fortu-
natey, no life was lost as far as can learn.-
Continuing my journey, found AveinO had
suffered slightly, without loss of life. AT Mon
teverde, six persons were buried in the ruins of
house, and many others wounded. The in
habitants Of this district are in a most excited
} state, as other slight shocks have been felt
Many have fed from the villages, and saw
groups OF people living in huts outside the
towns. Still more pronounced was the effect of
the earthquake at Bovine and Asceli, where
4 many houses are in dangerous state, and must
be pulled down. Here, also, found the peo-
!, pie greatly excited. | was continually asked.
t " Did earthquakes follow one another? Was
= it safe to remain in the houses" !" The whole
t of the district of Bari had suffered for miles
e round; scarcely house in any of the villages
= in that direction may be said not to be injured.
e The terror and the misery is beyond my p2yers
of description. Basciicata has suffered through
e ont whole district. The town OF Nenosa is
: nearly destroyed; the market place Is one heap
Q of ruins, and you see houses here and there
y threatening to fall. In more than one place
= observed the earth torn up and showing ragged
fisHures. In this district the earthquake assumed
J, its most terrible phenomena, viz: first, perpen-
u JicuIor action md than a N oscillatorv RaDola
l. is in ruins; the cathedral no longer exists. An
1t iDhabitant of this town told me the falling OF
e the buildings produced such CONSERVATION,
sr that for more than half an hour after the event,
r he could find no one who could give coherent
,. answer to question. Day and night, women,
st men, and children were tearing away the ruins
l. find their friends and relatives. AT Rioreno the
inhabitants were employed when arrived in
digging at the ruins. Half this town is in ru-
| ms. saw several of the wounded, not less
e. than 1870; they were wanting surgical and very
X much, but feared to discover my profession
10 as could not remain, being, as you know, sem
?. to Melh. think never could witness more
Ii painful pictuture, and need not remind you
'r have attended the wounded after more thar
IS one battle, and that is bad enough but here
at with the horrors of the very worst of wounds
er the crush--you see mother lamenting hel
al child under mass Of fallen rubbish fatheI
2, wildly asking Where is my family my wife
y children without parents some lamentlng
ne over the dying, some weeping over the dead
y, Gran Dio Gran Dio! The village of Bavlle
n has actually disappeared. found all about thi'
" district large fissures, partly filled up Will
g. houses. man who escaped told me it appear
k cd to him that, for minute, he was being tOs
,e sed abont in the air the earth appeared. OS