The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-04-10
pay of Terror for inhabitants.

Naples, April 9.-rhis has been day
Of terror for the cities towns and eoun-
try about Mount yesuyius Uneonfrmed
reports place the number of dead and
injured at several hundred. but not many
facts can be obtained upon which 10 base
an estimate
At midnight the situation appears mere
assuring the lava streams having di-
minished in volume and in some direc-
tions having stopped altogether while
a copious rainfall Is cooling the lava
where fl lies stationary.
Almost equally with the devastation
wrought bv the lava. is the damage done
by cinders and ashes. which is incredible
Quantities have been carried great dis
tances. This has caused the practical
destruction of San Giuseppe. place OF
5000 inha bitants All but 200 of the people
had fled from San Giuseppe and these
200 assembled in a church to attend mass
While the priest performing his sa-
cred office the roof fell In and about
sixty persons were badly injured. Inese
unfortunates were for hours without SUR
gicaI or medical assistance. The only
thing left standing in the church was a
statue of st. Anne the preservation or
which the poor homeless people accepted
as a miracle and promise of deliyerancs
from their peril.
Crushed BY Weight Of Cinders.
At ottaiano five churches and ten
houses fell under the weight of ashes
and cinders which lies four feet deep on
the ground In the fall of the buildings
about twelve persons were killed ana
many were injured. The village Is COM
pletely 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 Girogo.
Cremona Portici, Resna aad Tore del
Greco have almost been completely aban-
doned,
The inhabitants of Tore Annunziata
are prepared to leave at moments
warning
Somma Vesuyia. another village has
suffered most severly.
Most of the buildings in the villages
are of himsy construction, and nat roofs.
and are but poorly calculated to bear the
weight of ashes and cinders that have
fallen upon them Inevitably 1t will be
foiind that considerable number of per-
sons have pershed by the falling of their
homes Although the eruption OF the vol
cano is less violent than II was twenty
four hours ago. the ashes are stlli taillng
in great quantities.
Four OF Menaced villages.
The Associated Press correspondent
this evening made the rounds OF the mem
aced villages The railway and tram
tracks were inches deep below volcanic
ashes and the same material made the
roads impracticable for Tnorses, so that
an automobile was the only means left
by which the inspection of the devasted
country could be made
The scene was one of such misery and
terror that IL can never be obliterated-
from memory. AS the way was trayersed
the travelling became more and more diff
ncult the smoke and ashes in the air
making breathing difficult. Slight tremb-
lings of the earth were felt and fire.
auent flashes OF lightning cut through
the smoke. Darkness came at intervals
long before nightfall. On the streets OF
the deserted towns the only sound to
he heard was the thud OF the Jumps OF
ashes falling on the roofs and tine putting
Of the automobile.
Houses All Closed
In the towns where the people yet re-
main the houses are all closed, the inhab-
ltants roaming disconsolatey about the
streets and gaining what comfort Is pos
sihla from The carbineers and soldiers
1,hesa are the heroes of the day. They
seem never to sleep or be tired. and where
there is any dangr they are cool, strong
and alert.
In the course of the tour point was
raachad from which Vesuvius could be
! seen under it's cloud of smoke. The high
cone of the volcano has gone almost en-
,irelv. having been swallowed up so that
| tho height of the mountain is nearly 40
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