Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-04-12

safety. 1t was found necessary to
continue the journey on foot.
Conditions at Tore Annunziata and
Pompeii improved yesterday, owing
to a change in the direction taken by
the flowing lava.
Early in the day apprehension was
felt for the inhabitants of the couR-
try in the vicinity of Caserta, a place
of about $4,000 inhabitants, in whose !
direction the lava was then flowing.
The town of Nola, place of 49,,
600 inhabitants, % miles from Naples,
has suffered severely by the fall Of
ashes coming from the crater, carried
by wind as far as the Adriatic sea-
About 10000 refugees from the
district of Somma Vesuviana having
sought shelter here and elsewhere,
1000 persons are lodged in Granile
barracks of this city. The stream of
lava which has been threatening Tor
re Annunziata has remained station
airy since Sunday evening, so that
the danger that the place will be
overwhelmed appears to have passed.
When the last train was leaving
Boscotrecase Sunday a fresh crater
opened near the observatory station.
Professor Di Lorenzo, scientist and
specialist in the study of volcanoes,
estimated that the smoke from We
suvius has reached height of $4,000
feet. The statement is made here
that in the vicinity Of Ottajano, Gin
ders and ashes from the volcano lie
to depth of $50 feet.
Scenes of DesoIation.
An Associated Press correspondent
last evening visited the menaced vii
lagos Railway and tram tracks
were inches deep below volcanic
ashes, and the same material made
the roads impracticabe for horses, so
that the automobile was the only
means left by which inspection OF
the devastated country could be
made. The scene was one of such
misery and terror that it can never
be obliterated from memory. Slight
tremblings of the eartn were felt, and
frequent flashes of lightning cut
through the smoke. Darkness came
at intervals long before nightfall. IL
the streets of the deserted towns the
only sound heard was the thud OF
Jumps of ashes falling on the roofs,
and the putting of the automobile. In
towns where people yet remain the
houses are closed the inhabitants
roaming disconsolately about the
streets.
Top of Mountain Gone.
In the course of the tour a point
was reached from which Vesuvius
could be seen under its cloud OF
smoke The high cone of the vol
cano has gone almost entirely, having
been swallowed up, so that the height
of the mountain is nearly 600 feet
less than formerly. On the north
side Of the mountain new craters z
have been formed.
Destruction Of City.
Rome, April 1.-THE Giornale
dltalia yesterday afternoon pub
lshed a dispatch from Naples giving (
an interview from Lieutenant Ciarroc-
chi, commanding detachment or .
troops, who witnessed the destruction
of Boscotrecase as the result OF the
eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
All was quiet in the town just
before its destruction" he said, the
people believing they were safe from
the stream of lava, but after midnight
fierce rumblings were heard, followed
by violent shocks which shattered
windows and cracked walls. Lava
then began flowing from Mount Cira,
mella near where fresh fissuro
opened a few days ago. A wild pan
ic ensued, people rushing about in the
streets, shrieling with terror. Cira
mella's crater was by that time hurl
ing forth masses Of incandescent
rock and a current of fire was sweep /
ing down the mountain with terrific
speed, flowing in two streams. One
| Of them 200 yards broad. was NOV
! ing towards the center of the town
The population fled in terror to TORI 4
| Annunziatt while soldiers visites
the houses in order to see that al
the inhabitants escaped. In so do
ing they rescued several bedrdderi
! old people who had been left heninf
by their terrified relatives.
"Indescribable scenes of panic were
witnessed. The people seemed To
have lost all control over themselves
The town was hardly evacuated wheT
the river Of fire invaded the house
| and soon after Boscotrecase seemes4l
enyeloped III flames. After passini
Boscotrecase the two streams Of Law
| Joined and flowed towards TORI
Annunziata-"