The Kanzas news., 1858-02-06
The Earthquake at Naples.

Tne London Times Naples correspond
ent writes:
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
eleven O'Clock until nearly two o'clock in
the morning, / walked through the crowded
streets, where every indication of fear ex-
listed. Fires were lighted at almost every
hundred yards, and hundreds of people
were grouped around them. AS spectacle
it was most remarkable, but the fear of the
inhabitants was very great, and it is not
easy to forget the violent causes which gave
rise to it. No one remembers such severe
shocks, and as the disasters which have en-
sued have been of most serious character,
may be permitted to enter into some de-
tails. The report of the royal astronomical
observatory of Cape 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 tie lapse of
two minutes, of much greater intensity and
longer duration-that is, for about twenty
Eve seconds; that both were undulatory,
and passed from south to north. Two pen
dulum clocks in the observatory were stopped
and three others remained in motion. The
base of the tower, in which the equatorial
machinery is placed, was opened in several
directions. Two other shocks of lighter
character took place at three and FIVE o'clock
on the morning of the 18th. 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 portion of them biyouacked In
the streets during the whole of the night
Superstition drove many to the churches,
which were closed, and great numbers were
to be seen prcstrate before them in an agony
of fear. Later in the night, in some parts
of the city, the images of the saints were
carried in solemn procession, while the peo
pie followed, singing Gtanies- The worst
as well as the weakest passions of the null
titude were brought forth into action, and
while some we're praying others were at
tempting to rob the houses which had been
deserted by the inhabitants. 1t is due,
therefore, to the patrols of police-gendar-
merle aad military to say that all disorder
was promptly suppressed and the safety of
property secured Many houses in Naples
-in fact almost every one, says an inform
ant-haEe received some slight injury, and
it is scarcely to be wondered at that the
popu lation proposed to 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-women rushing
into the streets with their children, whom
they had snatehed hastily from their beds, ,
some with only their night dresses, others
had thrown a sheet over them. One man
had dragged eat with him mattress, which
he was tryiEg hard to close round him. In
fact, all the cenventionalities and decencies
of life were forgotten in the universal panic.
The telegraph Office was besieged on the
following morning by provineials anxious
to know something of the consequences of
the earthquake In their own houses but in
spite of many demands, no electric despatch
had been received at Salerno from Sala La
gonegro on the Calabrias.
Yesterday morning intelligence arrived of
the loss ,ef three lives in Sala, and great
damage to many houses, among others to
the prison and barracks. In Atessa half the
houses had given way; in Padula about a
100, and great number of persons had fall
len victims; in Polla the disasters were i'm
mehse, and brigade of gendarmes, among
numbers of others, had been destroyed; in
Auletta, Petrosa, and Caggiano many 9TH
ers were killed, and great destruction of
property took place; in Salerno great num-
Der of houses, including the palace of the
intendenza and the quarters of the gendar-
mie were severely affected, while the belfry
and the church of Saldina gave way, occa-
sioning the death of two women. Similar
accidents occurred in Campagna, and near
home, all round Naples, giving rise to the
greatest anxiety and apprehension. The la
test news from the Basilicata last night was
from Petenza. A great number of houses
had fallen, and an unknown number of per-
sons had perished. The telegraphic dispatch
from Bari, announces 'tthat the greater part
of the inhabitants are''
Here it becomes indistinct. The intelli-
genee which have communicated Is Off
cial, but the whole amount of the misfor-
tune is not by any means known and we
have yet to look for many heartrending de-
tails. The weather continues to be of the
same brilliant summerlike character-fner,
indeed, than has ever been remembered.
Nothing will give SO distinct an idea of
the danger to which we are exposed as the
fact that while the walls of our houses rock
ed visibly backwards and forwards the tim
bers cracked audibly. as those of ship Ia
boring heavily at sea. Lamps suspended
from ceilings swung from one side to anoth-
er IS violently as though moved by the
hand of an acolyte, and the bells in my
house rang continuously for half minute.
To ASCERTAIN THE STATE OF THE LUNGS
Persons dssirous of ascertaining the true