The Dickinson press., 1883-08-04
A HORRIBLE "EARTaoUAKE.

Casamicciola, Ischia, Lacco, Forio,
on h Island of Ischia, DESTROYED
by an Earthquake-The Former
City Entirely Destr oyed-3, 600
People Knownto Have Perished.
Naples, Special Cable, July 29.-The town
of Casamicciola, on the island of Ischia,
near Naples, was almost entirely destroyed
by an earthquake last night. The neigh
boring towns of Forio and Lacciameno were
greatly damaged. The shocks began at $50
o'clock last night. Atthat hour q majority
of the people OF the upper classes were at
the thsater. Nearly all of the houses in the
town collapsed. It is estimated that 800 per.
sons were injured. It is impossible, as YET,
to give the exact number Of the dead
accounts the number is estimated at 5000:
The Hotel Piccola Sentinella sank in the
earth and many of its inmates were buried.
Some of the inhabitants of the town es-
capped to the sea at the first shock. They
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 was wider. The shock
was felt at sea, and according to some &C.
counts even at Naples.
The ground opened in many places, while
RAsSSo SASAS Voo LII AuVyCIACuls
water gnshed out OF springs, aud several
boilers IN the bathing houses burst. The
theater. which was a wooden structure, was
literally torn open, allowing the audience
to escape. Steamers loaded with injured
people are constantly arriving here from
the scene of the calamity. Eight ships are
already filled with sufferers. The minister
of public works has gone to Casamiccola to
organize measures OF relief.
Tho storioo told bv Tho ,,,,:ro-. 49,. L.
rible. Many Romans having villas at Is
CHA are known to have been lost. The
dead are fearfully mutilated. In some
cases the corpses are plainly discernible
through the ruins, bat they cannot be ex.
tricated. 1t is surniised that some persons
are still alive in the cellars.
A correspondent telegraphs the Goth
that, judging from reports already at hand,
the calamity will infinitely exceed the
Chose earthquake in 1881.
of Rome, and the project Of Caglalia. are
reported, to be among the dead. There
were very few English visitors on the island
at the time of the disaster. None of the
special dispatches mention American names
among the killed o. wounded.
The Naples correspondent of the Cersal.
iere telegraphs as follows: 81 have just re-
turned from Ischia. Casanlicciola, Saocco
and Forio have been destroyed. They
were three of the NEST 1ourishing commu-
thrown. The road between the towns
of Ischia and Casamicciola is impossible.
The perfect of Naples telegraphs that the
town of Casamicciola has ceased to exist,
The train from this city to Naples TO-DAY
was crowded with passengers going to in
quire as to the fate of their friends. None
ofthe special dispatches mentioned Amer.
can names among the killed or injured.
Ischla is a volcanic island situated at the
north entrance OF the Bay of Naples. The
circumference is about nineteen miles, and
miles. Monte Epomeo, or San Niclo, the
ancient Epolneus, or Epopeus, is the high
est point, rising 1900 feet above the sea
level. The principal summit is surround.
ed by twelve inferior volcanic cones, from
n OF which the last eruption took place
in 1902.
Casamicci0la is located at the foot of
Mount Eponilo, near Naples, and had a
population of about 5000. IL was famed
throughout Italy for its thermal springs
and baths. Forio is a seaport town on the
western coast of Ischia, with a population
of about 5000 and has mineral baths which
are much resorted 10.
The earthquake at CasaMiccola in 1881
was upon Friday, March 4, of that year.
There were TWO shocks, the first occurring at
1870 p. III. aud the second an hour later,
The whole upper part of.the town was de.
stroyed, and Two thermal establishments
destroyed. The second, which was the IA
tai shock, and was accompanied by a noise
like subterranean thunder. Then came the
crash of tallin; houses, accompanied by the
shrieks of the victims. The soldiers from
Naples city rescued many from the ruins.
The Population fed to the surrounding
country and along the sea coast. The loss
of life was about 200.