Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-04-10

many areas around the mountain were
in darkness.
Extent Of Damage Unknown.
Towns and villages have been aban-
doned. Hence the extent Of the dam
age is unknown fully.
Similar means of transportation are
being employed to bring away the peo-
pie from Tore del Greco. The police
and c%arbineers are guarding the abon-
doned houses and several members of
the government also are there.
Lava Approaches Village.
A telegram received from the mayor
Of San Sebastiano, a village nea the
observatory on the northwest declivity
of Vesuvius, says the lava is approach
ing rapidly and that the people are
terror stricken. They have been for
nights without sleep, he says, are des-
.titute, and beg that assistance be CIV
en- them.
The work of succor Is hampefed ow.
ing to. delays to the railway service,
which is interrupted by redhot stones
thrown to a height Of 5000 feet fall
ing on the tracks.
AS yet it is impossible to count the
craters that have opened and from
which streams of lava have flooded
the beautiful and prosperous land ly-
ing on the southeast shores of the gulf
Of Naples.
The atmosphere Is heavily charged
with electricity, and now and then the
flashes of lightning are binding, while
the detonations from the volcano re-
semble those Of terrible explosions.
Hundreds in Mad Flight.
A correspondent who went to the
Boscotrecase and Tore del Annun-
ziata districts on Saturday says:
"Along the road I met hundreds Of
families in flight, carrying a few mis-
J cradle possessions. The spectacle Of
COLLAPSED carts and fainting women
was frequent. When n reached the
lava streams a Supplying spectacle
presented itself. From a point on the
mountain between two towns I
watched four rivers of molten fire, one
of which was 200 feet wide and over
forty feet deep, moving slowly and
majesticaIly onward, devouring vine.
yards and olive groves. l witnessed
the destruction of a farm house,
which was enveloped on three sides
by lava.
Immediately overhead the great
crater was belching incandescent
rocks and scoriae for an incredible
distance. The whole summit was
wreathed in flames and a perpetual
roar was heard. Ever and anon the
cone of the volcano was encircled with
vivid electric phenomena, amid which
the downpour of liquid fire on all sides
of the crater was revealed.
Gin the evening there was a fright
full shock of earthquake, which was
repeated at 2 o'clock Sunday morning.
(, simultaneously lava streams were re-
doubled and there was a rush of men.
women and children as they fed pre-
cipitately towards the sea. The lava
had invaded the road behind them.
Seek to Calm PopuIace.
"The churches of the city were
open all Saturday night and were
crowded with panic-stricken people.
Members of the clergy are doing their
utmost to calm their fears, but the eff.
fects of their arguments go almost fol
naught when renewed earthquake
shocks are experienced.
prisoners in jails on the mountain
side went mad with terror and mutt
MED and were only partly quieted b!
being brought here. But the fears
have been communicated to the pris
oners here, who may rebel at any mo
ment.
Contrary to expectations, the sea
has not yet shown signs of being at
fected by the phenomena, but fear'
y are entertained that tidal waves ma.
Eyet come and many craft have put t.
!, sea. Visitors to Naples are avoiding
the hotels on the sea front, and thu
; people living there are beginning t.
leave for higher attitudes.
Duchess Angel of Mercy.
The Duchess of Aosta, who Away
is to be found where misery exists, i
not sparing herself in her efforts t.
alleviate distress. The people call he
; an angel of mercy. Sunday sh'
took several children from their wear,
mothers and in her carriage conveye'
them to the royal palace, where the,
will remain until conditions are bright
er.
The royal observatory, which wa
destroyed, was situated nearly 200
feet above the level of the sea on Co
lie Canteroni. a ridge which in mas