The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1906-04-13
VESDV|US QU|ETS down
FURIOUS ERUPTION STAlD AND
MAY HAVE SPENT ITSELF.
FIFTY THOUSAND ARE HOMELESS

Less OF Property by the Volcanic Out.
break is Estmateu at $2oooo,ooo,
Whole District One Vast Saharian
Desert.-More Towns Devastated.
Naples, April l2.-CoLditions In Jne
section affected by the eruption OF
Mount Vesuvius are greatly ameliorat'
ed. T1e fall of volcanic ashes has
diminished and scientists express the
opinion that the volcano has spent
itself. All the papers advise the pub.
lie to be calm, pointing out the i'm
proved condition of affairs. The pa.
pers also eulogize Director Maateucci
for his courage in returning to the
ruined observatory on Mount Vesu.
vius and sending from that place mes.
sages of encouragement and expires.
sions of confidence that Vesuvius will
soon quiet down.
The whole of the Vesuvius district,
as far as Naples, Caserta and Castel.
lammare, is one vast Saharian desert.
Reports from all sides states that the
fall of ashes is not so heavy as 1t has
been for the last few days and that
the ashes are much finer, and from
this it is argued that the prospects
are much brighter.
The blockade of local traffic con.
tinues, but service on the main lines
of railway has been re-established, al
though greatly disarranged by the in
describable confusion in the stations.
Naples Feels Horror of Disaster.
This has been a disquieting day in
Naples. The people, alarmed by what
has happened, have deserted their
shops, and the manufactures are
nearly all closed. The crowds are in
temper for any excess. 1t would
only require a spark to start con.
fagration. The arrival of King Vic
tor Emmanuel and Queen Helena has
done much to restore calm. They
have been received with great Joy, es,
pecially when the sovereigns left a
hospital after visit to the wounded
there.
Troops are engaged in clearing the
roofs of buildings Of the accumulation
Of sand and ashes, which endangers
the structures. The large GLASGOW.
cred galleries throughout the city
have been ordered closed, lest the
weight upon the roofs cause them to
collapse.
Ottajano, where many lives were
lost on Monday, is now practically
buried.
The village of San Gennaro has
hAa ial hrr ri in
ashes, and several houses have fallen
At that place three persons were
killed and more than twenty injured.
In the road at Tore del Greco three
persons were found dead, from suffo-
cation.
The people who remain at Tore
Annunziata are in danger of perishing
from starvation, all the shops having
bssR closed. Rations for 200 persons
have been sent there.
Estina ates Of the Damage.
There is great difficulty in ascer-
tanning the actual conditions of af-
fairs In that part of the stricken dis
t-ict nearest the volcano The tram
and railway tracks are deep under
sand and ashes. the roads are oblit.
Grated and even the fishermen who
ply their calling on the Bay of Naples
are afraid to venture out on the water
anywhere in the vicinity Of Vesuvius,
AL these conditions make IL difficult
to give an intelligent estimate of the
loss Of property. One estimate is that
$2O,000,0 900 damage has been done ana
that $4,000 persons have been rendered
homeless. Everywhere in Naples and
Castellammare and in the lesser
towns nearby out of the danger zone,
are beggared refugees, who only
few days ago were prosperous and
happy, though living almost under.
meath the shadow OF the perpetual
menace, the volcano of Mount Vesu.
vius. For these people, whose homes
and crops have been destroyed, there
is little consolation in the statement
of scientists that ultimately the val.
leys and hilsides will become as fer.
tile as ever they were.
Until communication can be re-
stored and search of the houses
In the afflicted districts can be made,
1t will be impossible to determine
how many people have perished by
this eruption.