The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1895-05-24
EARTHQUAKE.
Three Thousand Houses Damaged in
Florence Alone.
A. 0rassina the Earth Movement Wac 20
Great That Loaded Omnibus Was Over
tarned-None Killed, But Number
Injured By Falling Walls.

FLORENCE, May 20.-The population
Of this city was thrown into a state OF
panic Saturday night by series OF
earthquakes 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, and their
wild cries could be heard everywhere.
The shocks were so violent that houses
swayed like ships. and in number OF
cases roofs fell In, injuring many per-
sons who had not sought safety in
flight
The widest scenes were at the thea
ters, where performances were going
on as usual. The first shock caused
those In the audiences 10 look wonder
inRly at each other. Then the earth
swayed again and amid shouts OF
earthquakes the crowds made wild
rushes Tor the exits Mad with terror,
no respect was shown for women, weak
or aged, and In the crush many were
badly hurt Upon reaching the streets
the crowds from the theaters met those
who had fed from their dwellings and
| the excitement that ensued made con-
fusion worse oonfounded
| At Grassina, a suburb OF Florence,
the shocks were very violent The ex-
tent OF the earth movement may be
gained from the fact that loaded ON
nibus was overturned. Twelve resi-
I n awt
| A number Of persons refused TO re
enter their houses during the night
They remained on the streets until af
ter daylight Sunday morning. Many
of them took shelter In vehicles
Severe shocks were felt at Lucca
Pontadera and generally throughou
Tuscany. The center of the movemen
was at Florence, where, for man.
years, nothing similar has occurred
Around Florence number OF house
were destroyed and four persons wer
. killed. The prince of Naples, the crow
prince, started for Grassina at o'clocl
Sunday morning.
Later-As further reports OF tn
earthquake come TO hand the extent
!. the disaster widenA At Lappaggi,
/. village near Grassina, no less tina
forty houses wore thrown from thei
/. foundation and completely wrecked
A sad feature Of the disaster at tn
place was the finding Of the body OF
young mother with her infant claspe
10 her heart. She had evidently a
: tempted TO fee, but together:with he
y child, was crushed TO death beneai
! the falling walls Of her home.
" Great damage was done in Florenc
= Sunday an investigation was made
. by the municipal authorities, who es
= mated that 5000 houses were damage
y The cathedral Tia catterdale di San
y Mamie Del Floree), an imposing exa
y pie of Italian gothic architecture, a
probably the most remarkable bui
" ing OF its kind in Europe, was son
4. what damaged.
y The seismic manifestation Saturd
= night was the most violent u
Florence has known since 1445,
rs earthquake Of 1880, which is histori
Is In the annals of the city, having be
nd slighter. The population of the c
on Is awed by the disaster. Grow
re wander about the streets, their ol
ib- topic of conversation being
ms shocks. Everybody is anxiou
'th awaiting the coming Of night,
nd fear being general that the quakes
lsh then occur. Many persons have