Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-05-20
FLORENCE SHAKEN.
The Worst Earthquake in That
City Since HAS.
Three Thousand Houses Damaged
Several Deaths Reported.
People Flee from Their Homes and Seek
Unsheltered Plains.

Florence, May 19-Tho population of
this city was thrown into state of panic.
last night, by "a series of earthquakes that
did much damage here and at other places.
The people in the houses when the first
shock came ran terror-stricken into the
streets and their wild cries could be heard
everywhere. The shocks were SO violent
that houses swayed like ships in sea way,
and in number of cases the roofs fell I'm.
injuring many persons, who had not ought
safety in flight.
The widest scenes were at tho theatres.
where tho performances were going on.
The first shock caused those in the audi
cnces to look wondcringly- at each other
The earth swaysd again, amid shouts Of
earthquake" The crowds made wild
PUSHES for the exits. Mad with terror,
no respect was shown for the women.
weak or aged, and in tho crush many
t-sTere badly hurt. UponvrcmrhfYfT-- the
streets tho crowds from tho theatres met
those who fled from the dwellings. and the
excitement that ensued made the confu-
sion worse than COMPOUNDED.
AT Grassini, suburb of Florence, tho
shocks were very violent Tho extent of
the earth movement may be judged from
the fact that loaded omnibuses were over
turned. Twelve residents of Grassini
were hurt A number Of persons refused
to re-enter the houses during the night,
and remained on the streets until after
daylight, this morning Many took shelter
in vehicles. After the first severe shocks
were repeated there were many lighter
ones.
The seismic disturbance was felt ut
Lucia, Pontcdera and generally through
out Tuscany. The centre of tho move.
mcnt was at Florence, where for very
many years nothing similar has occurred.
Around Florence a number of houses
were destroyed and four persons killed.
At the time of sending this dispatch full
details are wanting, but it Is believed that
later reports from the country affected
will show that a comfortable number of
lives were lost.
The Prince Of Naples, crown prince.
residing In the royal palace here, visited
several points during tho night, inspect
ing the damage done At 4, this morning,
he started for Grassna.
further report of the earthquake come
to hand, the extent Of tho disaster widens.
At Lappaggi village near Grassina, 40
houses We're thrown from their founda
tions and completely wrecked
sad feature of the disaster at this
place was the finding of the body of n
young mother with her infant clasped to
her heart. She had evidently attempted
to flee, but with her child was crushed to
death beneath the falling walls of Their
home.
Great damage was done In Florence.
Today, an Investigation was made by the
mi ini oI,th .,r
that 5000 houses were damaged. The
Cathedral Qia Cattedrale di Santa Maria
del Flore),a imposing example of Italian
Gothic architecture, and probably the most
remarkable building Of its kind In Europe,
was somewhat damaged
The director of the conservatory, of
whom many anxious inquiries were
made, today, does not venture to prophesy
as to u recurrence of the disturbances, but
further shocks are feared.
The seismic manifestation. last night,
was the most violent that Florence has
known since has. the earthquake OF 1880,
which is historical In the annals Of tho
city, having been lighter.
The population OF the city Is awcd by
the disaster. Crowds wander about the
streets the only topic of conversation be-
ing the shocks. Everybody Is anxiously
awaiting the coming OF the night, the
fear being general that quakes will again
occur. Many persons have entirely aban-
doned their homes and intend to pass the
night in places where there will be no
danger of buildings falling upon them.
A dispatch received, this evening, from
CONTINUED on page 2.