The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-06-07
THE EARTHQUAKE IN FLORENCE.
An American Tourist Supplies Some In
teresting Details of the Eruption.

The following letter from an American
tourist to friends in Boston gives some
interesting details of the recent earth
quake at Florence. 1t was written on
May 10, the day after the shock:
81 suppose you will read about the
earthquake which shook us up here last
night between 9 and 10 O'Clock, and I
hasten to inform you that we are all safe
and suffered in no way but from fright.
We had gone to our rooms after dinner.
Mrs s. was standing, when suddenly
there was rumbling and everything
commenced to shake. The house rocked
on its foundations. The wardrobe and
dresser seemed about to fall over. The
glasses and crockery in the waShStand
ratified. Mrs S. exclaimed as she tot
tered to chair: "What is it? The house
is falling down The thought entered
my head at once that it was an earth
quake, and | said SO. Mrs. S. said,
"What shall we do?'' I was calm, and
yet 1 thought "this may be the last, and
bow will the folks at home ever know
the particulars. l heard the rattling of
falling glass, loud talking and hurrying
through the halls. l suggested that we
go down on the first floor (our room is on
ollO S6COuQ 81 We pun OIl Jul W1dPo
blew out our candle, locked our door and
started 1 was expecting another shock,
as | knew there was generally more than
one The lower hall was crowded with
guests, all excited, some crying. We took
our stand under an archedss3 way, where
there was no danger from things falling
on u.s. and then l commenced to tremble.
My legs shook so 1 could hardly stand.
'3Our host, venerable looking old
gentleman, tried to quiet and assure us
said he had lived here for 20 years and it
was the first time such thing had hap
pened. As we stood here the ludicrous
side presented itself to me, and really
wanted to laugh at some Of the people as
they appeared on the stairs, loaded down
with wraps and luggage, going 1 knew
not where though heard this morning
there was not "a cab not carriage of any
description to be had few minutes after
the shock, as people had tumbled into
them and been driven away from the
houses into the country. We waited an
hour, and as everything quieted down
we returned to our rooms and went to
bed. put all my effects together and
locked them up. I undressed, putting
my clothing at a convenient distance
from the bed AS lay down 1 repeated
reverently Now lay me down to sleep,
pray the Lord my soul to keep etc.
went to sleep at once and knew nothing
don't know what exaggerated reports you
may hear, I would like to cable you all
safe, and 1 would if thought you would
worry, but as there was no one killed
will inform you by letter. Many guests
whose rooms were on the second and third
floor did not leave the first floor at all
and sat up uncomfortable all night. We
heard that several houses here in Florence
caved in and considerable damage was
DONE but as we can't read the morning
papers our information is somewhat
meagre. The horses in the street refused
to go, the clocks stopped and a small
town not far from here was almost zen
tirely wrecked. AS rule the picture
galleries are open and free on Sunday
We started out to see the Uffige gallery
(open at 100 and found it is closed on &C
count of the earthquake. Everything il
closed. People are staying in in expecta
ton of a terrible catastrophe. I don't
feel that my time is come, and hope te
return to tell you all about it. I"