The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-04-26

NAPLES, April IVA aFiSutiui
disaster has occurred in the center OF
this city. following the eruptions OF
Mount Vesuvius. Two hundred people
| it is estimated We're buried this morn
ing in the ruins of the market Monte
/ Oliveto when the roof collapsed under
the weight of cinders from the volcano.
| Almost equal to the devastation
| wrought by the lava from Vesuvius
| is the damage done by cinders and
ashes, which in incredible quantities
have been carried great distances. This
| has caused the practical destruction of
| San Giuseppe, a place of 5000 inhabit-
| ants.
| Hundreds of residents of San Gui-
seppe assembled in a church to attend
| mass While the priest was perform
| ing his sacred offices the roof fell in
and scores were killed or injured. The
| injured were for hours without surgical
or medical assistance. The only thing
| left standing in the church was a
statue of ST. Anne, the preservation of
which the poor, homeless people ac-
| copied as a miracle and a promise of
| deliverance from their peril.
FIVE CHURCHES FALL.
| At Ottajano five churches and ten
| houses fell under the weight of ashes
| and cinders, which lie four feet deep
| on the ground. In the fall of the build
| ings about twelve persons We're killed
and many were injured. The village
| is completely deserted by it's people.
After the evacuation of the place the
| barracks and prisons fell in.
Reports from coast and inland towns
depict terrible devastation. San Giro
gio, Cremona, Portici, Resina and
Tore del Greco have been almost COM
pletely abandoned.
The inhabitants of Tore Anunziata
are prepared to leave at a moments
notice.
Somma Vesuviana is another village
which has suffered most severely.
The most of the buildings in the
villages are of fiimsy construction and
have fat roofs, and SO are but poorly
calculated to bear the weight of ashes
and cinders that have fallen upon them.
Inevitably it will be found that great
number Of persons have persisted by
1 the TalllnS OF their homes.
| Although the eruption of the volcano
| is less violent than it was twenty-four
| hours ago. the ashes are still falling
| in great Quantities.
| The sea is greatly agitated The
| sky has cleared, but heavy clouds
| hang over the east, threatening fur
| Their downpour
The streams of lava are almost sta
4
in the direction of Ponpeii to prevent
further danger in that quarter.
| SCENES OF AFFECT MISERY.
| A press correspondent this evening
made the round of the menaced VIII
lagos. The railway and tram tracks
| were inches deep below volcanic ashes
] and the same material made the roads
| impracticable for horses, SO that an
| automobile was the only means left by
i which the inspection of the devastated
country could be made.
| The scene was one of such misery
1 and terror that it can never be OBJ
| liberated from memory. AS the way
| was traversed the travelling became
more and more difficult, the smoke and
ashes in the air making breathing
| difficult. Slight tremblings of the
earth We're felt and frequent flashes of
! lightning cut through the smoke. Dark
| ness came at intervals long before
nightfall.
In the streets of the deserted towns
| the only sound to be heard was the
thump of humps of ashes falling on
the roofs and the putting of the auto
mobiles. In the towns where people
yet remain the houses are closed, the
inhabitants remaining disconsolately
about the streets and gaining what
cnfort is possible from the carbineers
and soldiers. These are the heroes of
the day. They never seem to sleep or
be tired and where there is danger
they are cool, strong and alert.
VOLCANOES CONE BLOWN OFF.
reached from which Vesuvius could be
seen under it's cloud of smoke. The
high cone of the volcano has gone al
most entirely, having been swallowed
up so that the height of the mountain
is nearly 900 feet less than formerly.
On the north side of the mountain new
craters have been formed.
Refugees from the threatened villages
are coming into Naples by every de-
scription of conveyance and on foot.
The roads are crowded with process
sions of men and women carrying
crosses and crying piteously
Special railway trains, warships and
steamers are conveying the thousands
of homeless people to Naples, Rome
and Castellamare, while large numbers
of people are fleeing overland in the
direction of Caserta. Not less than 15,-
600 refugees have reached Castella-
mare, where the steamer Princess Ma
falda is anchored. This vessel left the
island of Capri with 1000 passengers,
including many foreigners, on board,
but she was unable to reach her desti-
nation owing to the sitting clouds of
ashes and the fumes of gases from the
volcano which enveloped her a mile
from the coast.
King Victor Emmanuel and Queen
Helena have further endeared them
selves to the people by their activity
in behalf of sufferers by the eruption
and the Government is exerting itself
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