Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-08-16
THE FATED ISLAND.
History and DESCRIPTION OF Isebta. the
Famous spot where the Eartbq quake
Happened.

Il
ductive portion Of which, including
the principal villages, has been des-
troved, was known to the ancients as
Pithecusa, 4Enaria, and marine. It'll
the largest island in the vicinity of
Naples, from which it is distant
twenty miles It's circumference is
about twenty miles, exclusive of the
sinuasities of the coast. Its length is
five and one half miles; its breadth in
the widest part is about four. The
total population of the island was
about 26, 900.
Before Vesuvius resumed its activity
in the first century of the present
era, Ischia was the principal site of
volcanic action in Southern Italy
The Mont Epomeo, the Epopos of the
Greeks, and the Epopeus of the Latin
poets, which rises grandly near the
centre of the island, appears to have
acted chiefly by lateral eruption, for
there is not trace of lava near the
summit. while several volcanic vents
may be distinctly traced on its TANKS
and in various parts of its declivities
On the north and west the island
slopes gradually down to the sea, and
terminates in a beach, while on the
south and east plungeS into 1t, form
ing abrupt and often lofty precipices.
The delightful situation of this island
and its charming climate have attract
ed numerous visitors IN all ages. The
/ inhabitants of Ischia are very indus
trious and peaceable people. About
! two-thirds are agriculturists, and the
greater part of the remainder are em-
/ ployed as fishermen.
Casamicciola, one of the towns de-
stroyed, was a famous summer resort.
It was here that the most important
springs in the island were found. 1t
was a struggling village of about 4, 600
inhabitants, but its baths, salubriOus
climate, and excellent habits made it
a favorite resort with foreigners. 1t
was on the high road between the bay
of that name and the Bay of Lacco,
and from it was had charming view
of the island, the sea, and the opposite
coast. The most important springs
rise about ene-h half mile from the Will
age at the foot of Mont EpOmeo in a
ravine called the Nallone Ombrasco.
The most celebrated is the Acqua di
GurgitellO the temperature of which
was 1862 degrees Fahrenheit. Opposite
the springs was the hospital founded
in 1901 by the Monte della MisericOr-
did of Naples for poor patients. Near
the Gurgitello is the Acqut Ill Cop
pORe, so called from its possessing the
smell of chicken broth. The Acqud
dt BdgR0 Franco, rising near the Cop
pone, was much esteemed by the Isch-
ian ladies for its property of whitening
the hands. Opening into the Vale
OyUbrdscO are the picturesque ravines
called the Udi diIdnlbTO, which de
rives its name from the noise produc
ed by the Acqud Ill 1'dmburO, which
contains such large quantities of car
bonic acid gas that its escape is accom-
panied by a sound resembling that of
a drum. Near by is spring which
has the property of softening the skin
of fowls, and so rendering easy the
operation of plucking. Casamicciola
was celebrated for its manufactures
of bricks, tiles, and pottery in general,
which were exported to Naples.
Laco, another village partly destroy
ed, was beautifully situated in a cove
ON the seashore near Casamicciola 1t
had about 1900 population, which
was chiefly employed in fishing and
making straw hats and baskets. Just
outside the village were the church
and convent st, Restituta, the patron
saint of the island, whose festival a
great event in the year, takes place on
May II. The body of the saint, who
suffered martyrdom IN Africa by being
inclosed alive in a case and thrown
into the sea. was cast ashore in the
little Bay of St Montana, beyond the
present church, where grows in the
sandy soil afowercalled by the island
ers the CYCLIC iii Santa Restituta from
the spot where the body of the saint
was cast; they also say that it will
grow nowhere else. There were sew
eral baths at Lacco, the principal of
which was the 0qRd dl S, ReStitutd,
The spring rises near the convent.
On the seashore at L2cco the sand,
which is black and shining, is at all
times so hot that hole made in it be
comes instantly filled with water at a
temperature of l12 degrees, Near the
small inlet called Capitello off the
Bay of Lacco, it is so hot as to raise
the Thermometer to III degrees. Not
far from Lacco was once a large block
of lava bearing a Greek inscription re
cording the construction of a fortified
wall by the Syracusen calamists before
they We're driven out by eruphons.
This interesting relic has been lost,
the fishermen having removed it to
sink their nets during the fishing sea
SON off the adjoining herdland.
Another one of the island villages
which has suffered its Forio 1t con
tanned nearly 1000 inhabitants. 1t
occupied a picturesque position on the
Northwest coast 1t was the resi-
dence Of the larger Ischian proprie-
tors. and was a thriving little port.
1t was three miles from Casamicciola
and two from Lacco. Near it were
hot wells and ancient vapor baths,
dating probably from the time of
the Greek colonists, but they had
long been out of use. Mont Epomeo
was conveniently assembled from
Foric There were several medieval