Milford chronicle., 1906-04-13
MOUNTAIN OF FIRE
KILLS HUNDREDS
Reports Of Fatalities About Vesuvius
Are Coming In.
MANY TOWNS ARE ABANDONED


we're lost 1t is said that mo
than 200 perished in the district
San Giuseppe, while from the ruins
q church, which collapsed owing
the weight of ashes on the roof,
corpses were extricated, and it is a
serted that at Sorrento 81 persons we
killed by falling houses.
When morning broke the outloo
was promising for an amelioration
the conditions consequent upon tn
activity Of Mount Vesuvius. The hop
fulness of the populace. however, wa
snort lived, and the NeapoliiaDs wer
plunged into a condition bordering ol
frenzy by the collapse of the Noun
Oliyeto market which covered plo
Of ground 500 fee, square, the struc
ture falling upon 200 or more persons
Of whom II were killed, two mortally
injured, "A dangerously, and 100 less
seriously injured. Several of the dead
were crushed ana mangled beyond
recognition. The scenes were agOniz-
ing, relatives OF he victims clamoring
to be allowed to so to their dead or
dying
A railway train from San Giuseppe
for Naples was derailed owing to
showers of stones from the crater.
ers of stones from the crater.
Almost equally with the devasta-
ton wrought by the lava is the dam
age done by cinders and ashes, which
in incredible quantities have been car
ried great distances. This has caused
the practical destruction of San Gui-
seppe. a place Of 5000 inhabitants. All
but 200 Of the people had fled from San
Giuseppe. and these 200 assembled in
church to attend mass. While the
priest was performing his sacred Of
fee the roof fell in, many were killed
and about 60 persons were badly in
jured The only thing left standing
in the church was a statue Of st. Anne,
the preservation Of which the poor
homeless people accepted as a miracle
and promise of deliverance from their
peril.
At Ottaiano five churches and 10
houses fell under the weight of ashes
and cinders, which lie four feet deep
on the ground In the fall Of the
buildings about 70 persons were killed
end many were injured. The village
is completely deserted by its people.
After the evacuation Of the place the
barracks and prisons fell in.
Reports from coast and inland towns
depict terrible devastation. San Gior-
gio, Cremona, Portici, Resina and Tor
re del Greco have been almost com
pletely abandoned
No trace remains Of Boscorecase, a
commune on the southern declivity of
the mountain. where up to As hours ago
10000 persons lived, and Tore Annun-
ziata, on the shores of the gulf Of Ma
pies, one mile to the southwark, is al
most surrounded by the invading lava
and has been evacuated by its 10000
inhabitants. The people We're brought
to Naples by trains. street cars, mill
tary carts and steamships Similar
means of transportation are being EN-
ployed to bring away the people from
Tore del Greco. The police and car
bineers are guarding the abandoned
houses, and several members Of the
government are also there.
The statement is made here that in
the vicinity Of Ottajano cinders and
ashes from the volcano lie to depth
Of $50 feet.
Somma Vesuviana is another viii
Iage which has suffered most severely.
The most OF the buildings in the viii
lagos are OF fimsy construction and
have fiat roofs, and so are but poorly
calculated to bear the weight Of ashes
and cinders that have fallen upon
hem Inevitably It will be found that |
! considerable number Of persons have |
lerished by the falling of their homes. /
Although the eruption of the volcano |
s less violent than it was "a hours |
igo, the lava is still falling in great |
Quantities.
Refugees from the threatened or de-
Toyed villages are pouring into Ma
lies by the thousands, arriving in ev-
ry description of conveyance and on
oot. The roads are crowded with pro-
essions Of men and women carrying
rosses and crying piteosuly.
King Victor Emmanuel and Queen
Ielena have further endeared them
elves to the people by their activity
4 behalf of sufferers by the eruption,
nd the government is exerting itself
,r the relief of the destitute. This
.ork. however, is obstructed by the
lngestion of all means of transporta-
on, which are monopolized in the
lrrying Of people out OF the zone of
anger.
Touching scenes greeted them along
ie way BY the kings order there
as no attempt to keep the people
yay from him. The sovereigns visit
Santa Anastasia, Cercola and Som
a Vesuvius, where they were greeted
tn great enthusiasm.
smuggled Goods Seized.