Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-08-11
DEATHS CARNIVAL.

DEATHS CARNIVAL.
| A Number of Towns in Sunny Italy De-
molished by an Earthquakc-Thrce Thou
sand Persons Reported Killed-The In
jured Almost Beyond Calculation.
NAPLES, Italy. July 30.
Three thousand inhabitants of the island
| of Ischea were killed by all earthquake Sat
urtay night. The productive part of the
island was ruined, and vineyards, farms,
mines, baths and summer residences by
the hundred were destroyed. About $3.50
O'Clock Saturday night, soon after the ma
jOrity of the inhabitants OF the town of Cas-
amicciolo. Italy, a watering place of about
three thousand five hundred inhabitants, had
retired to rest, shocks of earthquake began to
be felt. Many of the citizens of the upper
classes We're at the theater at the time. The
first trembling of the buildings awoke those
who were sleeping, and caused the %tlleater-
goers to be filled with alarm. In an instant
a more violent shock came. The people in
the theater rushed wildly out of doors.
The fourth shock leveled most of the
were resting in their beds. These were
buried under the toppling walls.
The Hotel Piccola Sentinella sank into
the earth and burned with many of its i'll
mates. Some of the inhabitants escaped to
the sea at the first shock and made their
way to Naples with the news of the calam-
ity. The ground opened in many places,
while in other places there was no movelnent.
Water gnshed out Of the springs. Sew
eral boilers in the bathing-houses burst.
The theater, a wooden structure, was liter
ally torn open, allowing the audience to es-
cape.
A gentleman who was staying ut the
Hotel Piccola Sentinella, and who escaped
with his life, relates that he only had time
to secure some candles for use in the dark
ness and ruins before the collapse OF the
building occurred. A person who lived
near the now ruined bathing establishment
says he escaped from the place amid falling
walls and balconies, terrified people Shout
ing: ''to the sea!''
The shock came with irresistible violence,
and was accompanied by a d%eafening noise.
The confusion in the theater was fearful.
Lights We're OverthrOWn and set fire to the
building, and a dense cloud of dust filled
the air. Cries of pain and terror were
heard on all sides. On hearing shouts of
''tO the sea- a general rush was made
toward the shore. Every boat and floating
thing was taken by assault.
Among the dead are: Prof. Palma: Bar
oness Diriseis; Commander Zapputi; Sig
nora Cecere and children. 1t is probable
that the Marchioness Pacca Laurati is also
among the dead.
The whole island is in a condition of in
tense terror, suffering and helplcssness. AL
though all the steam vessels within reach
have been endeavoring to aid tine people,
and have removed many thousands of the
injured to the main land, the thousands Of
injured can not be estimated.
The destruction was most complete at
Casamicciola, the famous pleasure resort,
with its hot springs and baths, the Saratoga
OF Italy. OF its populace of 1000, and its
smmer visitors to an equal number, few
escaped death or injury, and the loss deeply
affects every portion of Italy, as the guests
were drawn from the wealthy and aristo-
cratic districts of the entire kingdom.
Several members of the National Assem-
bly, and the Senate are missing and unac-
counted for, while the earth opened and
buried forever a number of Roman families
who had visited the island OH a pleasure ex-
| c%ursion.
Many hundreds were killed at Ischia, the
capital of the island and the seaport near
est to the mainland, among them being
the Project, F%lorentineli. AS soon as
the news reached Rome and Naples. as
sistance of every available sort was for
warded. Among the first to leave for
the scene were Admiral Acton, the Minister
of Marine. and Signor BERT, the Minister of
Trade, who were not content to issue their
commands from Rome. Details of several
hundred soldiers and marines, whose servi-
ces could be utilized as sappers, or in the
temporary hospital. Or kindred work, were
also taken to the island. They improvised
stretchers and carried hundreds of the
wounded to the steamers which took them
as well as numbers OF the homeless to Ma
pies.
Strong fears are entertained of a second
shock, and the report is spreading that
Mount Epomeo is on fire, and that an errup-
ton is possible, the earthquake being only
preliminary. Such a disaster would wipe
out the islands whole population, since the
mountain occupies the center of the island,
which contains only %twenty-six square miles,
and slopes in every direction to the shore.