Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-07-03
c. D. WARMERS EXPERIENCE.
The Well Known Authors Account of
the Florence Earthquake,

the Florence Earthquake.
A letter from Charles Dudley War.
ner, at Florence, is published in the
hartford Courant. 1t is dated Nav %.
MIR. Warner says:
we were in the southeast drawing
room in the evening over very ipno.
cent game of double dummy whist.
when, at 8 clock, there was a lar and
rumble, and in second more yio-
lent shaking, nota wave or undulatorv
motion, but shaking, as a dog might
shake rabbit in his teeth. There was
cracking and grinding of walls, and
while we were saying, 1t is an earth
quake, sit still, we heard plaster fall.
Ing, and it did seem as the house wonld
come down about our heads if the
shaking continued. Ii lasted five Sec
conds, and all was still. We then saw
cracks in the wall, and plaster on the
floor, Going to other parts of the
house we found the servants in some-
thing of panic. Taking candles, we
explored the villa. You know it was
very old, built somewhere about the
beginning of l4O0. And the walls are
very thick, even tae interior partition
walls. Well, we found cracks and
fallen plaster in every room on every
story up to the third, and the old tower
above Some very long and big cracks
gong though the wall, others only of
the plaster. Not many things was
thrown down, but few vases and
plaques were smashed. The reason
that the plates were not thrown off
shelves and ledges was that the motion
was sharp shake and not an undula.
ton. There was very little swaying
to move the pictures on the walls or
hanging lamps. There was Just VIC.
lent shake for few seconds, and then
the matter was dropped. Perhaps it is
because | am not used to earthquakes
that did not have even a quickened
heart beat. | looked about to see if
anything was about to fall on our
heads, and be ready to dodge, and all
was ended. Of course, there was
great fear that the shock would recur.
The servants would not go to bed. The
men made shake downs in the big
lower hall and the maids in another
room on the ground floor, so that they
could run out of the house in an alarm.
There was a reminder at II oclock and
they all bolted out of doors.
There was great excitement in the
city, and great deal of cracking of
walls, and in many cases breaking of
brio a brac, but no great damage
done as | hear, so far. A great many
people spent the night in the streets
and squares, and those who could hire
them slept in cabs. As much as so
francs was paid for cab to sleep in.
This Villa Landor was in peril. If the
shake had continued for few seconds
more it would seem that some of the
walls must have come. down. Repairs
will have to be made, but, unless we
get another earthquake, doubt not
the villa will stand as it is for another
four or five centuries.
The greatest damage l found at
Poggio Gherardo, the Ross villa. This
is square castle with low tower,
both castle and tower with machiolated
battlements. 1t is on high promontory
and commands in its charming gardens
and from its terraces wonderful
view. 1t is said to be the villa where
Decameron stories were told. 1t is Ger.
tainly very old. 1t was much shaken.
The tower, was wrecked, and tons of
material came crashing through the
several floors to the ground. Men were
at work when l got there taking the
whole tower down, as it was liable to
fall. Mr.. Ross has the finest collection
of orchids in Italy. The house was
wrecked, and thousands of valuable
plants destroyed. Thank heaven, no
one of our friends was hurt