The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-20
EARTHQUAKES IN italy
The City Of Florence Thrown Into a
Panic by Shocks.
HOUSES SNAYED LIKE SHIPS
Mnddcncd Crowds Rush from the The.
atres and Many Are KiiIcd-M Lap.
paggi Forty Houses Are Blown
Down-Thc Populati ON Awcd.

Florence, May 19.-The population of
this city was thrown into a state of
panic last night by series of earth
quakes that did much damage here and
in other places. The shocks were so
violent that houses swayed like ships
in a seaway, and, in number Of cases,
roofs fell in, injuring many persons
who had sought safety in flight. The
widest scenes We're at the theaters,
where performances were going on as
usual. The first shock caused those in
the audiences to look wonderingly at
each other. Then the earth swayed
again, and amid shouts of earth
quake" the crowds made wild rushes
for the exits. Mad with terror, no re-
spect was shown for the women, weak
or aged, and i'm the crush many We're
badly hurt. Upon reaching the streets
the crowds from the theaters met those
who had fled from their dwellings, and
the excitement that ensued made con-
fusion worse confounded.
At Grassina, suburb of Florence,
the shocks were very violent. The eX-
tent of the earth movement may be
judged from the fact that a loaded
omnibus was overturned. Twelve resi-
dents of Grassina were hurt. A num-
ber of persons refused to re-enter their
houses during the night.
After the first severe shocks there
were repeated lighter ones. The seis-
mic disturbances were felt at Lucca,
Pontedera and generally throughout
Tuscany. The center of the movement
was at Florence, where for many years.
nothing similar has occurred.
Around Florence a number of houses
were destroyed, and four persons We're
killed. At the time of sending this dis
patch full details are wanting, but it
is believed that later reports from the
country affected will show that there
has been a considerable number of
lives lost.
The Prince of Naples. the Crown
Prince, who is residing in the royal
palace here, visited several points dur
ing the night, inspecting the damage
that had been done. At o'clock this
morning he started for Grassna.
Forty Houses Wrecked.
AS further reports of the earthquake
come to hand, the extent of the dis
aster widens. At Lappaggi, a village
near Grassina, no less than forty houses
We're thrown from their foundations
and completely wrecked. A sad feature
of the disaster at this place was che
finding of the body of young mother
with her infant clasped to her heart
crushed to death beneath the falling
walls Of her home.
Great damage was done in Florence.
Today an investigation was made by
the municipal authorities, who esti-
mated that 5000 houses were damaged
The cathedral, an imposing example of
Italian gothic architecture, and prob
ably the most remarkable building of
it's kind in Europe, was somewhat dam
aged.
The director of the observatory, of
whom many anxious inquiries were
made today, does not venture to proph-
ecy a recurrence of the Insurance
but further shocks are feared.
The seismic manifestation of last
night was the most violent that Flor
ence has known since 1.445, the earth
quake of 1880, which was historical in
the annals of the city, having been
slighter.
The population of the city was awed
by the disaster. Crowds wander about
the streets, their only topic of conver.
sation being of shocks. Everybody Is
anXiously awaiting the coming of the
night. the fear being general that the
quakes will then again occur. Many
persons have entirely abandoned their
homes and intend to pbass the night H.
places where there will be no danger
of buildings falling upon them.
A despatch received this evening from
Naples, the scene of so many disastrous
earthquakes, says there has been nc
disturbance in that district.
So far as known now the disaster was
worst at Grassina.