Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-04-12
|NEAPOLITANS HOPEFUL
THAT WORST IS OVER
Impossible to Make an Estimate on The
Number OF Persons WHO Have Lost
Their Lives During lie Eruption.
STARVATION THREATENS THE HOMELESS
More Than SO, 600 Refugees in Naples and Surrond
ing towns scoriae nany Feet Deep Cover
Country for Miles Arou nd the Volcano
Americans in Danger Zone.
STARVATION THREATENS THE HOMELESS
(By Associated Press.)

NAPLES. April 1.-THE whole of
the Vesuvins distric, rs far as Nap
les. Casena and Castclammara is
one vast Saharian desert.
Reports tonight from all sides state
that the fall Of ashes Is nor so heavy
rs II has been for rho last few days
an aullat the ashes are much finer.
and from This il is argued that the
prospects are much brighter.
Railroad Traffic Delayed.
The blockade OF local trafi con.
Times but service on the main lines
Of railway has been rccslahiished al
though greatly disarranged by the
indescrihahlc confusion in the sta
lions, where foreigners. moi. fully uu-
dcrslanding the situation. inveigh
against the delays and disconforts
To which they have been subjected +;
This has been disauieting day i'm
Naples. The people. alarmed by what
Las happened. have deserted their
shops, and The manufactures are
nearly all closed
Reign of Rioting Feared.
The crowds are in temper for
any excess. II would only require
a spark 10 start contiagration.
The arrival OF King Victor EN-
manuel and Queen Helena has done
much To restore calm. They have
been received with great. joy. espe-
! cially when the sOvereigns LETT Il
hospital after u wish 10 the wounded
here. One poor woman exclaimed,
Il would consent 10 be wounded for
the sake of being kissed by HE
Queen"
Both the royal palaces of Cappo,
dimont and San Fernando have
been given up 10 refugees
Sarno Not Destroyed
The reports of the destruction OF
Two towns, Sarnn and San Gemarro
the former having population OF
more than 5000, have proved To he
without foundation AT Sarno soon
persons from nearby villages and
| farms have found refuge. Ottaian0.
where many lives were lost on Mon.
day, is now practically buried.
There is great difficulty In asccr-
tanning the actual condition OF affairs
in hal part OF the stricken district
| nearest the volcano
Fishermen Afraid of Volcano.
The tram and railway tracks are
deep under sand and ashes. the roads
are nbliterated and even the fisher
men who ply their calling on the
Bay of Naples are afraid 10 venture
out on the water anywhere in The
vicinity of Vesnvius.
All these conditions make 1t diff
cult to give an Intelligent estimate
OF the loss OF property. One estimate
is that s2O,OoO,0OO damage has been
done and that $4,000 persons have
heen rendered homeless.
Towns Filled With Refugees.
Everywhere in Naples and Castel-
lammare and in the lesser towns near
by ont of the danger zone, are thons-
ands of refugees who only few days
ago were\ prosperous and happy,
though living almost underneath the
shadow of that perpetual menace The
volcano OF Mount Yesuvius. For
these people. whose homes ana crops
have been destroyed. there is little
consolation I'm the statement of scien-
lists that ultimately the valleys and
hillsides will become as fertile as'cver
they were.
Until communication can he re-
stored search made of the houses in
the afflicted district, 1t will be i'm
. f