Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-02-11
THE RECENT EARTHQUAKE
AT NAPLES
NAPLES, December 90, 1857

NAPLES, December 90, 1857.
Earthquake has been knocking at cur
doors-ringing our very bells. We have
a most seen his vast proportions, and as
mastiff would take smaller animal and
shake his very life out, so Earthquake seems
to have dealt with US this week. Since
Wednesday last, not a day has passed
without one or even more shocks, and the
public min! is in such state Of terror, that
the slightest vibration makes people turr
pale and shout out in the streets "Ierre-
muoto." do not exaggsrate the case in
the least, nor could fear be excessive after
the pain ful tale which | shall have to re-
late. There had been a slight shock of an
earthquake on December 7th. which mad
the effect of throwing down the cone of
| YeS0sius. Another phenomenon to be OBJ
served is the extraordinary fine weather
which has prevailed for two or three
months, resembling rather what We are ac-
customed to have in the summer than at
this season Well, | was writing on
Wednesday night, at l0s P. NJ, when my
table. seemed to be grasped by powerful
hand ard dragged violently backwards and
forwards. Lamps danced, pictures knocked
agains, the walls The timbers of my
rooms creaked like a ship iaboring in a
heavy sea, and the very walls moved per-
cepiibly. at is an earthquake, shouted,
and rushed to the door, when the hell rang
violently, as though one were in hurry
for admission. Outside nv apartment,
which is on the forth story, were grouped
many persons, some of whom had sprung
out of their beds and were in night dresses.
| Terror seemed to have overcome them, and
! whilst some were invoking the Sain.s,
others were leaning in a flaming state
against the walls Two minutes had scarce
| ly elapsed since the shock which sent Us
flying, when the replica came, that is,
/ Inc repetition, which, in volcanic countries,
is always waited for with such intense anx-
iety, and it came with the strength of
giant. The stones where shaken from The
roof, and all the other signs | have des-
cribed were renewed with increased vo-
lence. But there were two facts which
struck me more powerfully than any others:
one was that my bell rang for nearly
minute continuously, and it was awful to
watch this evidence of communication
with The spirit world. The other fact was
that those who were nearly iainting and
were leaning against the wall, rocked
backwards and forwards as in a cradle with
out the power of resistance. In a minute
we were in the street. Vesuvius, which is
always considered to be the safety valve,
was looking very suiky and venomOus-
nothing appeared but lanbent flame on
the top OF the mountain, as though its en-
ergies were directed elsewhere All Ma
pies was, however, lighted up with an un.
usual glare; and set out on my travels
through the streets. Crowds were rushing
into oil the open squares, in every descrip-
] tion of toilette, and some without any at
I all. There were many in their night
dresses-many with sheet ,ver their
shoulders-many in full dress, as they had
escaped from a drawing-room On one
spot. near the Villa, u mattress was laid,
and children were sleeping on it. The
squares were full of carriages, occupied by
persons whose fears would not permit them
to remain at home. Those who could not
afford themselves such luxury were walk
ing up and down; and the lower classes
were grouped around great wood fires,
which were burning everywhere at inter-
walls of fi!iy yards. Under ordinary circum-
stances, painter would have exulted in
the studies presented to him; as II was, ali
were agi,ated ny one sentiment alone--that
of profound anxiety and apprehension -
Su:h were the scenes which | witnessed
on the Riviera di Cniaga, the most fash
ionabie quarter Of the town. La the CEN
tre OF the city there were varieties. There.
all the squares were full al Carriages; but
there were Stronger proofs Of panic, and
of those passions which always follow a
panic. The poor people were rushing down
The narrow lanes into the more open thor
+ oughlares, screaming and calling Cd the
Madonna and the Saints TO protect thrm.
The churches were very Wisely cIosed, but
the entrances were croGdcd with people on
their knees invOk ing prOtection-indeed,
the feeling became So strong, that IL some
quarters the priests were compelled to Weld
To il, and the images of St. Ann al OF S..
Antonio and others were CARRIED in pro-
cession, followed by crowds of ievotees
singing lItanies. 1t vas 6n impressive
scene; and, connected with sense of the
fearful position in which we were, sOltened
every heart. Tnen came the darker side
OF the picture, and Il side which is always
10 be found in those cases. The very bonds
OF suciety began TO ba Weekend crowds oi
persons began to show desire to plunder
| and To break the peace. The houses, hav,
ing been sbandoned by their inhabitants
:he thieves took advantage of it, and utter
iEg republican cries, tried to create a dis,
order which might turn TO their profit. The
authorities had, however, very prudently
sent strong patrols through lhe city, and
on some of the guards threatening to fire,
{ tranquility was restored. And SO we passed
! the night of the 18th inst. At 3 and
, v'clock, however, alter midnight, two other
shocks were repeated, and the panic was
increased. As daylight came it aus evi.
dent that comparatively little damage hat
been done. staircase here and there haC
, fallen; very many houses had assures open
f ed III them. but no house had fallen, anC NJ
life had been lost. The Director Of thu
t Royal Astronomical Observatory reported
that the base of the tower IN which Ia fixeI
the equatorial machinery WIS cracked, an,
a that two pendulum clock in the direc .ioT
:. of the shock, which was from South L
g North, had stopped. A pendulum clock ol
n my table, standing from East to West, an
= which had stopped for ten days, was set il
!. motion. Naples had had g,cat esca, =
The first shock lasted five second, the sec
ond shock lasted twenty live seconds. Ha
h it continued few seconds more, every
If thing must have been thrown 80 far out Z
d the perpendicular that general ruin mus
e have followed.
rl But the provinces, what Of them! A
If the provincials were in Il state of the great