Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-16
FATAL WORK
SEARCHING RUINS FOR DEAD
AND WOUNDED.

The somewhat threatening condition of
Mt Vesuyius Saturday night having sub
sided with the Injection of enormous clouds
of sand and ashes. the elements have be-
gun to settle slowly again enveloping the
mountain in a thick haze and cutting off
the view from Naples, only the outline of
the base being visible.
Prof. Matteucci. director of the royal
observatory on the mountain, last night is
sued the following bulletin:
My instruments are now most calm
The emission of sand continues in less
abundant quantities, and l wait sereneIy
a satisfactory termination of the erup-
ton
The sudden renewal of alarm Saturday
night gave way yesterday to the celebrate
Of Easter with unusual fervor The fes-
tival is always picturesque in Naples, but
yesterday 1t was doubly SO. Cardinal Frisco.
archbishop of Naples, celebrated an eIab-
crate Thanksgiving mass in the cathedral,
while along the streets crowds Frustrated
themselves before sacred images.
Buried Alive Six Days.
The gravity of the situation has now
shifted to Ottaiano and San Giuseppe.
where the recovery of the dead from
the debris goes on amid the misery of
thousands of homeless refugees SEN
sational development occurred during the
work OF salvage at Ottajano Yesterday
when the searchers unearthed two aged wo-
men, still alive but speechless after sig
Gays entonbment They were among the
hundreds who were crushed beneath the
falling walls during the rain of stones and
ashes last Sunday and Monday Hope had
been abandoned of finding any of these per
sons alive The women were protected
by the rafters of the house which they
were in, and managed to exist on n few
morsels of food which they had in their
pockets.
Nine Bodies Found
Nine dead bodies were taken out yester-
day. and 1t is estimated that a hundred
more remain under the ruins The work
of salvage goes on amid the twisted masses
Of fallen houses, churches and stables and
in deep drifts of cinders and ashes. AT
some points the ashes are ten feet deem
reaching to the windows of the second
stories of the few houses still standing
The work of salvage at San Giuseppe has
brought to light a remarkable condition
Bodies have been found of women in whose
hands were coins and jewels and one
woman held rosary, indicating the in
stinct TO preserve earthly belongings in the
moment of fleeing from death The exea-
vations at Herculaneum, over which the
town OF Resina stands have recorded sim
liar instances Of death overtaking its vic
Tins carrying their jewels while fleeing
from the invading lava
Desolation in Stricken Districts.
The Vesuyius climb of q correspondent
Saturday gave an opportunity to see the
desolation In the stricken districts
The route was through Potici and
Resina.- passing over Herculaneum, to
Pompeii Here ashes had fallen to
the depth of three feet and hun
dreds OF military wagons and O SQUAD of
soldiers were piling them In four parallel
drifts ten feet high, through which filed
motley throng of fugitiyes and lines of
military wagons The fugitfves were a
miserable lot. covered with rags Many of
them were young children who carried
babies In their arms. some of the latter
having bright new toys, the result of mis-
applied charity from the fashionable villas.
Portfci was sorry sight. The houses
were strealxed with mud and ashes I'D TO
the window sills. Five hundred refugees
were gathered before the city hall demand
ing help. Pompeii and Hercuianelm were
closed up, huge ash piles damming the en-
trance.
Ashes Two Feet Deep.
The lower slope of the mountain is dotted
with villas and parks. In which the orange.
apricot. almond and olive trees were all
blasted under the rain Of ashes. The donkey
on which the correspondent rode labored
through ashes two feet deep A weird
silence prevailed. for even the birds have
disappeared. The route was over the lava