The Springfield herald., 1906-04-13

street cars, military carts and steam
ships. Similar means of transportation
are being employed to bring away the
people from Terre Del Greco. The po-
lice and carbineers are guarding the
abandoned houses. and several mem
bers of the government also are there.
A telegram received from the mayor
OF San Sebastiano, village near the
observatory on the northwest decliv-
ity of Vesuvius, says that lava is ap
preaching rapidly and that the people
are terrorstricken. They have been
for nights without sleep, he says. are
destitute and beg assistance be given
them.
The work of succor is hampered, ow-
ing to delays to the railway service.
which is interrupted by red hot stones
thrown to height of 5000 feet and
falling on the tracks.
AS yet it is impossible to count the
craters that have opened up and from
which streams of lava have flooded the
beautiful, prosperous and happy land
lying on the southeast shores OF the
gulf of Naples.
The atmosphere is heavily charged
with electricity, and now and then the
flashes of lightning are binding, while
the detonations from the volcano re-
semble those of terrible explosions.
The churches of the city were open
all Saturday night and were crowded
with panie-s,ricken people. Members
of the clergy are doing their utmost to
calm their fears, but the arguments go
almost for naught when renewed earth
quake shocks are experienced.
With the danger and the horror of
the situation aside, Vesuvius presents
one of the most splendid sights imag
Unable. The mountain of fire, whose
speech is by detonation and whose acts
are destruction, seems like an enraSed
giant determined to make the pigmies
of the earth feel the might of his
wrath. Here and there on the noun
tain side stand the blasted trunks OF
pine trees, their bare branches out
stretched rs though in protest against
the devastation the volcano has
wrought.
The Duchess of Aosta. who always is
to be found where misery exists, is not
sparing herself in her efforts to allie
viate distress. The people call her an
angel of mercy To-day she took sew
aral children from their weary moth
crs and in her carriage conveyed them
to the royal palace, where they will
remain until conditions are brighter
The observatory has been destroyed
and Sigor Matteucci, the director, and
the employees had narrow escapes.
They passed last night in darkness.
save for the frequent flashes of light
ming, as the gas works and electric
lighting plant also were destroyed. The
restaurant of the Funicular road, too,
has been obliterated.
Prisoners in jails on the mountain
side went mad with terror and mutt
MED. and were only partially quieted
by being brought here. But their fears
have been communicated TO the prison
ers here, who may rebel at any mo-
ment The situation is critical.
Breathing is momentarily becoming
difficult because of the poisonous
fumes and smoke, while the hot ashes
which are still falling tend to make
life burden.
Contrary to expectations. the sea has
not yet shown signs of being affected
by the phenomena, but fears are en-
tertained that tidal waves may yet
come, and many craft have put to sea.
Visitors 20 Naples are avoiding the ho
tells on the sea front. and the people
living there are beginning to leave for
higher attitudes.
Though there is much misery, up to
the present time there have been no
fatalities, except at Portici. where an
old man died. presumably from fright.
The city of Naples bears an aspect Of
desolation, everything being covered
with ashes from the volcano.
The lava destroyed few houses in
the suburb of Tore Annunziata and
also the cemetery there. Then fortu
nately, the flaw ceased, as ii did also
at Tore Del Greece. At Pompeii the
rivers of lava are less rapid.
Incandescent material has set fire to
the village of San Giuseppe.