The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-13
WORST IS OVER.
The Sun Shines Over Naples and
Fall Of Ashes
Has Almost Ceased in the City's
Direction.
EMISSION OF LAVA
Has Ceased, 1t Is Believed, Not
to Be Resumed.
Feeling Of Encouragement Over
Outlook Is General.
EMISSION OF LAVA


Naples. April 18.-An the news re-
ceived here is encouraging. For the
first time since Tuesday the sun is
shining all over Naples. and although
above the city the usual gray cloud is
discernable the fall of ashes has al
most entirely ceased. Ashes however
continued to fall throughout the
night, adding several inches to the ac-
emulation in the streets. Nearly g.
600 people are employed in clearing
the roofs and main thoroughfares.
Gangs of men are engaged in piling
the ashes in the middle of the narrow
streets, which makes the passage Of
vehicles exceedingly difficult and adds
to the discomfort of pedestrians.
The Neapolitans have become to
certain degree sun WOrshippers. One
day they are plunged into the depths
of despair because the sun is obscured
by falling ashes and the next day
their spirits are buoyant for the sun
shines and no ashes are. sprinkHng
over Naples Today the nhabltantS OF
Naples are particularly happy, for not
only is the sun shining bright but the
air is clear of ashes and invigOrating.
with the result that automObi coats
and goggles, the ash storm costume.
colored apparel, people are driving
about in open carriages and so much
color has returned to the surroundings
that the grayness of the palms and
other ash covered trees makes a pleas
ant contrast with the sapphire tinted
4 sea.
Several men apparently have braved
/ the terror of the wild wastes of lava
about the royal observatory on Mount
| Vesuvius. One of them returned here
/ 7fc inc 4 of a
most interesting conversation which he
had with Prof. Mattucci director of
the observatory, who was in a very
hopeful mood when his visitor left
1 him. The professor said:
Very little is known of the volcanic
/ forces, so one can never safely predict
what Is going to happen. But I think
] can with soma confidence express the
/ hope based on my experience here that
the explosive period Of the eruption has
passed. It is impossible to make a
/ positive statement to the effect but the
/ probabilities point to quieting down
/ of the volcano. This, however, does not
: mean that it's activity will entirely
/ cease. Until the crater definitely as
sumo its new shape that is to say
( when the ridges have been snaoothed
/ down there IS a possibility Of further
! disturbances. For the present the light
/ wind blowing viii in all probabili
/ carry the ashes in q direction which
! viii leave Naples free from further an
] uOydQCe OF lQ1S nature ana as II IS the
/ il1wind is blowing good to other places.
! for ashes are the best fertilizer it is
! possible to use. It is merely a, ques-
tion just now of having too much Of
a good thing.
Prof. Mattucci today climbed up
Nesuvius to a point a long way above
/ the observatory at the imminent risk
of his life, and ascertained that unless
/ the conditions change radically there
i viii be no further discharge of lava at
/ present He added that it was impOs
sible to determine the quantity OF sand
/ in the crater, but as the cone had di-
minished considerably in height and
+ the shower of cinders thrown out had
been transformed into ashes, he believ-
ed the end of the disturbance was near.
| Prof. Mattucci is not the only person
who regards the situation as having
/ improved. King Victor Emmanuel and
I Queen Helena expect to return to Rome
today.
Nearly 5000 refugees are already
housed here and the number is rapidly
| increasing. In fact all the buildings
available for the accommodation of the
I fugitives are crowded and if many
more people seek shelter here it will be
I necessary to place them in army tents.
| The municipal and military authorities
have already taken steps to accommo-
date large number of people in this
manner.
The crowding of refugees into Naples
has resulted in the almost complete
/ StOppaSe u lAiS supply u tOOU uSudilS
/ forwarded to the Nesuvian district
and consequently the price Of food has
risen enormously and the lack Of meat
! and bread especially is seriously felt in
those districts.
The reputation of Neapoltans for
Iaziness is in striking contrast with the
/ feverish activity displayed everywhere
I here today. The hours. even the min
utes. seem too short for what must be
done The people rush here and there.
horses gallop about and even the dogs
and cats seem to be infected with the
+ general spirit Of hustle"
A curious phenomenon has been
noticed at Cape Postihpo. a picturesque
spot in the northeast part of the bay of
Naples Owing to the great quantity
of ashes and cinders which have fallen
into the bay the intogsen, a large shell
fish which is common there have come
to the surface while all the other fish
/ have disaDpeared