Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-04-11
Estimate of the Havoc
Wrought by Eruption
of vesuvius.
END Is BELIEVED NEAR
Force Seems Almost SPENT
Another Town Reported
Destroyed.

Naples. April 1.-THE loss to prop
erty by the volcanic outbreak is esti-
mated at $4,000. 900 and it is announc-
ed So 900 persons are rendered home
less.
OmcinI Observer Encouraged.
Rome. April 11-Professor Mattucci,
in charge of the observatory at Mount
Vesuyius, telegraphed from there this
morning as follows:
.'The situation OF myself and the
carbineers in the observatory was very
grave throughout the night. Up to
this morning the observatory was en-
yeloped in dense showers of sand. but
the volcano is now calmer. Seismic
instruments show quieter records than
yesterday. i am most confident Vesu-
vius will soon return to its normal
conditions"
Town Reported Destroyed.
Naples, April 1.-THE Mattino today
asserts Sarno, a town with 10000 peo-
pie. 10 miles east of Mount Vesuvius,
has been destroyed. 1t is impossible
TO verify the report Erupdons from
Vesuvius increased during the night, .
coating of ashes and cinders to a depth
of four inches covering the ground and
roofs of buildings today. All railroad
service out of the city is interrupted.
So widespread is the catastrophe it
is estimated il will require an organ
lied body of 100000 men and the ex-
penditure of many millions of dollars
to raze the houses made unsafe by the
accumulation of ashes and cinders on
the roofs, erect temporary huts for the
thousands of refugees and extricate
from the ruins and bury the dead.
Panic mt Naples Greater.
Naples, April 1.-THE panic here is
increasing. Prisoners in the city jail
mutinied owing to fright and succeed
ed in breaking open some doors inside
the building, but were subdued by the
guards.
Atmosphere Yellow With Ashes
Naples. April IL The morning
opened with the atmosphere oppressive
and yellow with ashes from Mount
Vesuvius, causing a feeling of appre-
fension regarding what the future may
hold in store for this city and its vi
cinity. The volcano is completely hid
den in a dense mass of cinder-laden
smoke. the only other signs of activity
being frequent and very severe deto-
nations and deep rumblings.
III Reports Continue.
From all quarters come reports of
the accumulation of ashes, flight of
terror-stricken inhabitants of towns
and villages, collapse of buildings. in
sufficiency of relief measures, and hun
cry encouragement. 1t is no longer
possible to reach the points which
have suffered most severely. Even sol
diers detailed to guard the ruins at
Ottajano have been recalled and the
town been left to its fate. Military
forces have earned the gratitude and
admiration of the people for their de-
votion to duty and bravery.
Improved Over Night.
The situation generally is considered
less alarming than yesterday evening.
The quantity of ashes being emitted is
not so great and the rumblings less
frequent. though the ashes and cinders
are still falling over the city. There
are about four inches of ashes in the
streets. According to the Mattino, so
houses, tnTee cHuTcueS anu the IuuHi-
cipal buildings at Sommarfa have col
lapsed. The sand and cinders are six
feet deep there and all the inhabitants
have sought safety in flight
Houses still Falling.
Houses at Ottajano are still col
lapsing and most of the buildings in
the towns and villages In that neigh
borhood are tottering or in ruins. EN-
ployes of a tobacco factory at Naples.
thinking the roof about to fall in, this
morning fed i'm panic from the build
ing and communicated their fears to
so many people outside that the police
were compelled to interfere to restore
order Many persons were injured
during the panic.
Wherever ii has been possible to dc
so street car service has been reestab
lished. The wheels in their friction
with the tracks create flames, showing
the great amount of sulphur in the
ashes.
President Extends Sympathy.
Washington, April 1.-THE presl
dent sent a cable message of condol
ence to the king of Italy upon the
havoc and loss of life resulting from
the eruption of Vesuvius-