The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-11
THE ElRTHQUAKE AT NAPLES.

00HOYe0-Ve1eRI0Pn
Lost-scenes and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Phenomena.
The following particulars relative to the late
earthquake in the kingdom OF Naples have beenre-
eeived:-
Two smart shocks were experienced at Naples on
The night of the 10th instant The first at ten minutes
past ten which lasted five seconds, the second two
minutes afterwards, which lasted twenty-five Sc
eonds The latter shock caused the two clocks OF
the Royal Observatory to stop. There were two
more shocks between three and five o'clock in the
&brping of the 18th, which were scarcely percepti-
BILE. despatch received at Naples on the 18th
announced that the Geographic communications be-
tween Eboli and Sala mad been interrupted. At
Atena the prison, the barracks, and other public
buildings had been damaged, and half the houses
destroyed. At Padula one hundred houses had been
overthrown but the number Of deaths is not known.
At Pola the disaster is immense, and the victims
numerous, particularly among the Gendarmerie. At
Auletta Petresa and Caggiano several persons were
killed and many houses destroyed At Salerno seve-
nal buildings were damaged, and particularly two
churches the house Of the Governor, the barracks,
and church steeple, which fell IN the suburbs The
King, on hearing of the disaster, ordered his minis
tiers to spare no expense in afording relief to the
sufferers.
Naples Dec. 1917 correspondence of London Times
We are Just recovering from a fright OccasiOned
BY several awful shocks of an earthquake on the
night of the 18th. They were undulating and lasted
several seconds but were 80 violent as to cause the
bells to ring and the walls Of every house to swing
backwards and forwards visibly. Many thousands
Of persons passed the night in the streets and many
in their carriages the horses of which were taken
out. From ii o'clock till near o'clock in the morn
ing, 1 walked through the crowded streets, where
every indication of fear existed Fires lighted
ut almost every hundred yards and hundreds OF peo
pie were grouped around them. As a spectacle it
most remarkable, but the fear of the inhabitants
very great, and II is not easy to forget the vo
lent causes which gave rise to it. No one remem-
beers such severe shocks, and the disasters
which have ensued have been of a most serious
character, | may be permitted to enter into
lataia he rppOrt Of the ROYAL Astronomical
Observatory of Capo di Monte is that the first shock
took place at 1920 P. NJ, and lasted from four to
five seconds that this was followed by another after
the lapse of two minutes OF much greater intensity
aad longer duration-that is for about rs seconds
that both undulatory and passed from south to
north. Two pendulum clocks in the observatory
The base of the tower in which the equatorial ma
ehinery il placed was opened in several drec-
tons. Two other shocks of lighter character
took place at and o'clock on the morning
of the l7th Such having been the severity OF
the shocks it is not surprising that the whole
population of Naples were in most agitated
state and that great proportion of them BIZ
vouacked in the streets during the whole of the
night. Superstition drove many to the churches,
which were closed, and great numbers were to be
PROSTATE before them in an agony Of fear. La
ter in the night in some parts of the city the images
Of the saints carried in solemn procession while
the people followed singing htanies The worst
we'll the weakest passions Of the multitude were
brought forth into action and while some were pray
ing others were attempting to rob the houses which
had been deserted by the inhabitants II is due,
therefore, TO the patrols of the police gendarmerie
and military to say that all disorder promptly
suppressed and the safety of property secured. Many
houses in Napes-in fact, almost every one, says an
informant-have received some slight injury, and it
n scarcely TO be wondered at that the population
proposed 10 spend another night in the streets.
In short, great number OF carriages were let
for that purpose; but happily no further disaster
took place, and the people are now recovering
from their fears. The scenes, however, Of that
night are never to be forgotten-wOmcn rushing in
70 the streets with their children, whom they had
smatched hastily from their beds; some with only
their night dresses-others had thrown sheet over
1bem. One man had dragged out with him mat
trcss which he wa trying hard 10 close around him.
In fact all the conyentiOaalites and decencies Of
kfe were forgotten in the universal panic. The telc
graph Office was besieged ON the following morning
by provincals anxious TO know something OF the
consequences Of the earthquake in their own hou>es
but, in spite OF many demands no electric despatch
had been received at Salerno from Saa lag1negro,
On the Calabrias Yesterday morning Intelligence
arrived of he loss Of three lives in Saa and great
damage 10 many houses. among Others 10 the
prison and the barracks. In Attessa half
Of the houses had given way; IN Padula
about 100, and great number OF persons had
fallen victims in Pola the Disasters were i'm
mense, and brigade Of gcndnrmcs, among mum
bers of others, had been destroyed: in Auleta, Pc
trosa and Caggiano many Others were killed, and
great destruction Of property took place; in Salerno
great number Of houses, intending the palace OF
were severely affected while the belfry and the
church Of Sadina gave way, occasioning the death
of two women Similar accidents occurred In Cam
pagna, and near home, all round Naples. giving rise
70 the greatest anxiety and apprehension. The
latest news from the Baslicata last night was that
from Potenza a great number Of houses had fallen,
and an unknown number OF persons had persisted.
The Geographic despatch from Bari announces
sthat the greater part Of the inhabitants of's
Here il becomes ndistinct. The intelligence which
I have communicated is official, but the whole
amount Of the misfortune IL not by any means
known, and we have yet to look for many heartrend
ing details The weather continues to be Of the
same brilliant summerke character finer, indeed,
than has ever been remembered.
Nothing will give distinct an idea Of the danger
10 which We were exposed the fact that while the
walls Of our houses rocked visibly backwards and
forwards tie timber- creaked audibly, a. those v
ship laborng heavily at sea Lamps suspended from
ceilings swung from one side to another as violently
~ though moved 10y the hand OF acolyte, and the
bells In my house rang continuously for half minute.
NAPLES Dec 10 anothc correspondence Of the london
On Wednesday evening, was sitting in a salon in
our residence here the Chiatamone situate the
immediate shore of the bay when of our servants
rushed into the room to ask what the matter sup
posing that we had knocked violently at the door Of
the room. Immediately the windows and doors began
70 rattle in the strangest manner Imagining that it
might proceed from Of those sudden coups de rent
30 frequent in this climate opened the windows and
walked out on the balcony. The atmosphere
still, the most profound calm prevailed, not cloud
could be seem II splendid starlight night. I
returned into the salon. and in few seconds felt the
floor alternately sinking and rising, and affected like
that of the cabin Of vessel which rolls and pitches
In the next room, where two young ladies had just
gone to bed, heard that they found II difficult 10
keep in the bed The maid who attended them said
The walls were falling. / looked at large bronze
chandelier suspended from the centre of the ceiling
Of the salon. and, to my astonishment IL swing
ing exactly like a lamp suspended in the cabin Of
vessel in storm. The character of the phenomenon
Ion dnuhf 1 Nod NJ he
hour was quarterpast 10 exactly. As the most ex
act means of estimating the undulation, ] observed
the movement of the large chandelier. This isa
large bronze lustre, weighing 400 OF 500 lbs. The
distance from its point Of SUSPENSION c the lowest
point of it, axis Is about ten feet. Ito motion nj
first seemed TO he that Of pendulum. the arc Of
vibration Of the lowest point being about two feet,
,<.ioeI lo.uost ~ ZIG nris IL.