Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-08-03
The Island of Ischia Destroyed
by an Earthquake and 5000
Persons Killed.
Scenes of Intense Terror, Suffering,
and Helplessness Throughout
the Entire District.
Openings in the Earth Engulfing
Whole Families.

cealneuo were Sf6aIelN damaged. 1De
shocks began at $3.50 o'clock. At that
hour a majority of the people of the
upper classes We're at the theater
Nearly all the houses i'll the town col
lapsed. Some of the inhabitants OF
the town escaped to sea ct the first
shock, and made their way to Naples
with the news of the calamity. The
center of the area of the shock was
the same as that two years ago, but
the radius was wider. The shock was
felt at sea, and according to some oc-
counts, even at Naples
SOME PARTICULARS.
RoME-The earthquake destroyed
the productive part of the island OF
ISchia, in the Mediterranean sea, seven
miles distant from the Puzzuoli shore
and twentythree miles from Naples.
summer residences by the hundred
was destroyed. About 5000 lives
were lost. The loss of life is based on
the estimate of the Government otiic-
ials, who consider their figures lower
than the actual facts will probably V war
rant The whole island is in a condition
of intense terror. suffering and hel pless-
ness, although all the steam vessels
within reach have been the entire day
endeavoring to aid the people, and
have removed many thousands of the
injured to the mainland, the Govern
ment having acted promptly and
called into action every department.
THE POPULATION
The thousands of injured cannot be
beyond such am estimate as
can be made by the comparison of the
of deaths, with the total pop
ulation of the island. which while
greatest in the summer season. is less
than sc. 900. Many who have seen the
destruction at Casamicciola and other
points, believe the dead and injured
will number more than two-thirds of
the population. No one places the
disaster below 1 800. Details of the
disaster cannot be got in any intel
ligible shape, and It's beginning and
movement will not be understood
until the completion of the
report of the Government officers,
who are collecting information from
every part of the island The destruc-
ton was most complete at Casamic-
ciola, the famous pleasure resort, with
its hot springs and baths, the Sarato-
GA of Italy, situated at the foot of
Mount San Nicolo. a volcanic noun
tain $500 feet III height, which has for
several centuries been regarded as
quite extinct.
But FEW ESCAPED.
OF its populace of 1000. and summer
visitors to an equal number, few es-
capped death or injury, and the losses
deeply effect every portion of Italy, as
the guests were drawn from the veal
thy and aristocratic districts of the Ell
tire Kingdom. Several members OF
the National Assembly and of the Sen
ate are missing and unaccounted for.
while the earth opened and buried
forever a number of Roman families.
who visited the island on pleasure
excursion, CaSamicciola being only
six hours ride by rail and steamer
from the capital Many hundreds
were killed at Ischia, the capital OF
the island, and the seaport nearest to
the main land, among them being the
prefect Florentine. As soon as the
news reached Rome and Naples assist
ance of every available sort was for
warded.
ACTIVE WORKERS.
Among the first to leave for the
scene We're Admiral Acton, the minis
ter of marine, and Signor Bert. the
minister of trade, who We're not con
tent to issue their commands from
Rome, but chose to take personal su-
pervislon of measures for aid on the
ground. They were accompanied OF
followed by all the physicians availa-
bic throughout large district OF
country and by details of several hun
dred soldiers and marines, whose ser
vices could be utilized as sappers or III
temporary hospital or kindred work
They improvised stretchers and car
ried hundreds of the wounded to the
steamers. which took them. as well as
numbers of the homeless, to Naples.
Strong fears are entertained of sec
ond shock within the next twenty
four hours, and the report is spreading
that Mount EpOmeoi is on fire and that
an eruption is possible. the earthquake
being only preliminary Such dis
aster would wipe out the island S
whole population, since the mountain
occupies, with its eraters. the center of
the island, which contains only 26
square miles, and slopes in every di-
rection to the shore.
SCENES OF TERROR
1t is impossible to give the number
of dead at Casamicciola. In the
latest accounts the number IS eSti-
mated at 1000. The hotel Picc6la
Sentinela sank into the earth and
buried many of its inmates, Some of
the inhabitants of the town escaped
to sea at the first shock and made
their way to Naples with the news of
the calamity The center of the area
of the shock was the same as that of
two years ago, but the radius wider
The shock was felt at sea, and accord
ing to some accounts even at Naples.
A gentleman who was staying at the
hotel Piccola Sentinela. and who es-
capped, relates that he only had time
to secure some candles for use in the
darkness of the ruins before the col
lapse of the building. The terrified
people. amid the falling walls and
balconies shouted ito the seaI''
COMMENTS AND REFLECTIONS.
The human slaughter by earthquake
in the Island of Ischia. is beyond com
prehension- The statement. three
thousand human lives swallowed up.
lost its appalling force in the long
journey ii made to reach Americas
ears. The men and women In safe
homes In America who shudder. utter
little cries of horror. then read the
details of the awful entombment- fail
to realize how great number three
thousand is. Let them remember the
Newhall House calamity. Let them
recall all the appalling loss of life
then suffered. Multiply that by two.
Then multiply that by two aaain.
Then multiply the whole by ten.
That Is the number dead In Ischia.
with hardly an instant of warning.
And if 50 far removed, men and