The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-20
ROME VIOLENTLY SUAKEN.
BiRTHQU4KESC CAUSE PANIC ~ THE
CITY AND SUBURBS.

Many Houses and Churches Damaged
People Spend tho Night in the streets,
Afraid to Return to Their Housewife
Pope Awakened by First Shock-Mount
ftnn AGitated - Blocks shaken from
the Coliseum Forum Columns Rocked.
Special Cabre D,,paich to THE Sun.
ROME. July 10-Shocks OF earthquake were
felt here about . o'clock this afternoon. The
shocks were severcst in the central part Of the
city where considerable damage was done.
Twenty houses were seriously damaged. The
people were greatly alarmed and feared re-
! ncwal Of the shocks. but their fears were
groundess
In the suburbs the churches suffered serious
damage. Several OF the columns Of the edi-
fees were thrown down and n number of per-
Sous were injured. but there was no loss OF
| life.
The Pope was asleep ir the villa in the Vati-
| can gardens. He was awakened by the first
shock and hurried into the garden. greatly
alarmed
The actual shock lasted for twelve seconds.
but the instruments mark ed telluric trem blings
from 2:1n to 2:45 in the afternoon. Fortu-
natcly tho shock was only undulatory. and the
damage was small considering its violence.
The personal injuries were few and slight.
The panic. however. was extreme. especially
III the poor quarters. where the inhabitants
rushed in terror to the streets screaming and
pravinE The prisoners in the principal Jail.
partly from fear and partly with til" idGa OF
avaing themselves OF the opportunity.
threatened to mutiny, and the guards had
to be hastily reinforced. Tho nuns in
some OF the converts fled to the streets
in terror. There was distressing panic in the
hoSptalS
rumhliugs accompanying the shock added to
the terror. while ringing bells. cracking win
dOws. moving doors and furniture and sway
ing telegraph wires heightened the panic.
Animals were greatly frightened.
A heavy rain followed tho shock. hut later
tn" weather became delightful. Thousands OF
persons are preparing to pass the night in the
streets. being afraid to recnter their houses.
Reports from the surrounding districts show
that the damage was more serious than In the
city. especially in the villages among the Al
hanian hills The paual summer sidcnre at
| Castel Gandofo was seriously damaged. Else
where the walls OF several churches and houses
were riven. A few buildings fell The Princes
palace at Villa Torlonia was so damaged that
| tn" family wcr" Obliged to quit 1t.
The Eravcst damage. however. vas done at
| Fra,cati. The details are few. but it seems
! that nearly all the houses and public buildings
were damaged Prime Minister PcouX started
this evening TO ascertain the extent Of the dis
aster. Troops have been ordered from here TO
| assist III" people. who are all living outdoors.
kilograms from Porto DanZio. fumicino
| and CiNita Neccha describe the sea as rolling
| back upon itself.
The shock. il is assumed. was attributable III
| the same causes which disturbed Mount Etna
| which con inues to be Violently agtated. Lava
streams are threatening the village OF Trccas-
tagni
| A despatch from CASTILLO, Sicily. says that a,
4 O'Clock this morning. after loud subter-
! ranean rumhiing an enormous column OF
| smok" shot M from tho crater OF Mount Etna.
| which was followed by 4 pillar of sand.
Several blocks of stone fell from the Coli
scum The columns Of the Forum rocked. but
! remained intact. A small iisSurc appeared in
the recently discovered InpiS niger. but it
! quickly recessed
| beyond the foregoing the antiquities were
not damaged. despite sensational reports to
the contrary