The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-09

ard There Is Some Anxiety Over the
G1ty's safety-Kng is Expected There
-WarshIps Ordere ed TO the Coast to Take
OF Refugees From the Danger Zone
Cloud OF Ashes Hides the Crater.
Special Gable Dispatches 10 THE SUN
NAPLES, April s.-The eruption of Mount
vesuvius, which yesterday reached a mag
nitude placing it among the historic dis
plays of Vesuvian fury, increased in vio-
lence to-day, and this evening threatened
to become even more terrible.
The earth for miles around quaked re-
peatedly, the shocks being felt in Naples
and greatly alarming the citizens, although
they caused no harm, lncessant rumblings,
groanings and thuriaTings accompany the
repeated explosions at the crater, whence
there is an immense discharge of lava,
cinders and hot rocks.
Ashes are falling over a large part OF
southern Italy, even to the east coast.
These and the dense smoke this evening
blotted out all sight Of the mountain, the
Island of Capri and the o of Sorrento
from Naples. During the day many areas
around the mountain were in darkness.
The towns and villages have been gener-
ally abandoned. Hence the extent Of the
damage is not known fully. Refugees
brought from Tore Annunziata in artillery
wagons this evening reported that the
lava stream, striking a villa on the out
skirts of that town, divided, one current
flowing in the direction of Pompeii, while
the other threatened to destroy Tore An
nunziata.
AVA REACHES HI TOWN.
1t has since been reported that the lava
reached the town, sweeping over the bar
riers that had been erected with the utmost
energy by the military engineers. The
latter, together with all the officials and
the whole population, were compelled to
abandon the town. The prisoners in the
city jails were placed on boats and brought
to Naples.
No loss of life ia reported at Tore An
nunziata, but at San Giuseppe a church
and several houses have been wrecked,
apparently by an earthquake. Several
persons were killed and injured. The re-
mainder of the ~populaoe fed in a panic.
O~ttajano, Poggiomarino, Somma and
other towns and villages have been aban-
doned. Lava is flowing several feet deep
through the streets at Ottajano, and many
houses have fallen.
Lava CURRENT 500 FEE WIDE.
The latest reports from Pompeii state
that a lava current. 500 feet wide and Fl
feet deep. is rapidly nearing that place.
The cemetery and some houses northwest
of the town have been destroyed.
Boscoreale is also threatened, The
railway around the mountain has been
wrecked in one or two places. The de-
strlction Of the crops and the ruination
of the cultivated soil will involve terrible
losses.
OBSERVATORY ABANDONED.
The observatory, on the northwestern
slope of the volcano, was held by DIR. Mat
tucci. the director, and his staff long after
a general observer would lave thought
it possible. Eventually the place had to
DO abandoned, and it is now reported that
it has been destroyed. The funicular
railway and Cooks Hotel have been
wrecked.
DIR. Mattucci made the following report
before he left the observatory, but owing
to the stoppage of the telegraph it has only
now arrived:
THE eruption Of Vesuvius has assumed
extraordinary proportions. Yesterday and
last night the activity of the crater was
terrific and ever increasing. The neighbor-
hood Of the observatory is completely
covered with lava. Incandescent rocks
are thrown by the thousand to a height OF
2.4o0 and even 8, 200 feet. and fall back, form
ing a large cone.
Another stream of lava has appeared
from a assure, the position Of which is not
well defined. The noise of the explosions
and the rocks striking together are deafen-
ing. The ground is shaken by strong and
continuous seismic movements. The in
struments threaten to break. 1t will proba-
bly, be necessary to abandon the observa-
tory, which is very much exposed to cleo
trio shocks. The telegraph is interrupted,
and it is believed the funicular railway has
been destroyed"
After the earthquakes hundreds Of for
eigners hurriedly took tickets Sunday and
left the city. but quite as many arrived
to watch the eruption, They, however,
we're disappointed, the mountain being
hidden by smoke and ashes. Heavy rain
has fallen, caused solely by the immense
volumes Of steam escaping from the crater