Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-20
By the Terror-Stricken Tbeatregoers in Fair
 Florence.
PATHETIC PICTURE OF MOTHER AND BABE
Crushed in the Effort to Escape-The Worst Damage Was at Grassina, Suburb. The List of Casualties
 May Grow.


 this city was thrown into a state of panic last night by series of earth auakes that did much damage here and in other places. People who were in their houses when the first shock came ran terror-stricken into the streets. The shocks were so violent that houses swayed likes ships in sea, and in a number of cases roofs fell in. injuring many persons who had not sought safety in flight. The widest scenes were at thu theaters, where performances were go- ing on as usual. The first shock caused those in the audiences to look wonder ingly at each other Then the earth swayed again, and loud cries of earth quake" made the crowd make wild rushes for the streets. In the terror stricken mob no respect was shown for women, children or the aged, and in the crush many were hurt. Upon reaching the streets the crowds from the theaters met those who had fled from their dwell ings, and the excitement that ensued made confusion worse confounded.
 At GraSsina, suburb of Florence, the shocks were very violent. The extent of the earth movement may be judged from the fact that loaded omnibus was overturned Twelve residents of Grassi-
 
 fused to enter their houses during tbe night. They remained on the streets iln- til after daylight this morning. Many of them took shelter in vehicles. After the first severe shocks, there were re- peated lighter ones. The seismic dis turbances were felt at Lucca, Pontedera and generally throughout Tuscany. The center of the movement was at Florence. where for very many years nothing sim liar has occurred.
 Around Florence number oT fkJuJe3 were destroyed and four persons were killed
 The Prince of Naples, the crown prince. who is residing in the royal pal. ace here, visited several points during the night, inspecting the damage that had been done. At o'clock this morning he started for Grassina
 As further reports of the earthquake come to hand the extent of the disaster widens. At Lapagni, the village near Grassna, forty houses were completely wrecked. sad feature of the disaster at this place was the finding of the body of a young mother with her in fant clasped to her heart. crushed to death beneath the falling walls of her home Great damage was done in Flor ence. Today an investigation was made by the municipal authorities, who esti- mated that 5000 houses were damaged The cathedral, am imposing example
 
 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 prophecy as to recurrence of the disturbance, but further shocks are feared
 The seismic manifestation of last night was the most violent that Florence has known since 1445. the earthquake of l73O. which is historical in the annals of the city. having been slighter.
 The population of the city are awed by the disaster. Crowds wander about the streets, their only topic of conversation being the shocks. Every body Is anx, iously awaiting the coming of the night the fear being general that the shocks will then again occur. Many persons have entirely abandoned their homes and intend to pass the night in places where there will be no danger of build ings falling upon them.
 A dispatch received this evening from Naples, the scene of so many disastrous earthquakes, says there has been no dis, turbance in that district.
 So far as known now the disaster was the worst at GraSsina.