New-York tribune., 1906-04-10
FIVE HUNDRED DEAD.
VICTIMS OF VESUVIUS.
Ashes Destroy Hoases-Eruptiom
Ceaang-VoIcano Loses Cone.

,sba5 sn the district Of san Giuseppe. while from
..,,,e of 4 church which collapsed. owing to
ne weight of ashes the roof. forty-nine
bodies were extricated. It is asserted that at
can c,useppe thirty-seven persons were killed
by falling houses.
A railway train bound for Naples was thrown
rom the track by showers of stones from the
crater.
cavalry going 10 the succor of the inhabitants
.. the devastated section have been unable to
make progress. the rain falling on ashes foot
deem having made it impossible for the horses to
travel.
The sea is greatly agftated- The sky has
cleared. but heavy clouds hang over the east.
threatening further downpour.
The streams Of lava are almost stationary.
Troors are erecting barriers in the direction Of
Pon,peii TO prevent further danger in that quar-
ter
Professor Matteucci, director Of the Royal OBJ
seryatory. sent q message from the observatory
al ESQ o'clock this evening, as follows:
The explosive activity Of vesuvius, which was
very great yesterday and accompanies by very
powerful electric discharges, has diminished.
Yesterday evening and during the night the eX-
pulsion Of rock ceased. but the emission OF SAND
Increased completely enVeoping me and form
ing a bed over ten centTnetres Deep which car
ried desolatiOn into this elevated region Masses
OF sand gliding along the earth created COM
pIete darkness until I O'clock Several blocks
Of stone broke windows IN the observatory.
Last night earthquake shocks were stronger
and more frequent than yesterday ana displaced
the seismic apparatus. Yesterday afternoon and
this morning torrents Of sand fell. While l am
telegraphing several balls OF nre rise without
nj
crevasses.
Almost equal 10 the devastation wrought by
the lava 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, village
Of six thousand inhabitants All except two
hundred Of the people had fed from the village
and these assembled in a church to attend mass.
While the priest was performing his sacred
Office the roof fell in and hundreds were killed
or injured The wounded were for hours with
out surgical aid The only thing left standing
in the church was a statue OF St Anna, the
preservation of which the poor, homeless people
accepted as miracle and promise of deliver
ance from their peril
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
buildings about twelve persons were killed and
many were more or less severely injured. The
village is deserted. After the evacuation of the
place the barracks and prisons fell in.
Reports from the coast and inland towns tell
Of terrible devastation San Gforgio Cremona,
Portici. Resina and Tore del Greco have been
almost entirely abandoned.
The Inhabitants Of Tore Annunziato are pre-
pared to leave the town on moments warning.
sornrna Vesuyiana is another village which has
suffered severely.
Most Of the buildings IN the villages are Of
fInsy construction and have fiat roofs. They
are thus unfit to bear the weight of ashes and
ciaders that have fallen upon them. It will
doubtless be found that considerable number
Of people have perished by the falling Of their
homes Although the eruption of the volcano
IS less violent than it was twenty-four hours
ago the ashes are stn falling in great quantities
TIE Associated Press's correspondent this
evening made the round Of the menaced villages.
The railway and tram tracks were inches deep
below volcanic ashes, and the material
made the roads innpracticable for horses. so
that an automobile was the only means by
which the inspection Of the devastated country
could be made. The scene was one Of misery
and terror Smoke and ashes made breathing
difficult Slight tremblings OF the earth were
felt, and frequent flashes Of lightning cut
through the smoke. Darkness came at intervals
long before nightfall In the streets of the de-
serted towns the only sounds TO be heard were
the thud Of Jumps OF ashs falling on the roofs
and the putting Of the automobile. In the towns
where people yet remain the houses are all
closed. the inhabitants roaming disconsolately
about the streets and gaining what comfort is
possible from the carbineers and soldiers. These
are the heroes Of the day. They seem never to
sleep or be tired. and where there is dangr they
are cool. strong and alert
II the course Of the trip point was reacheo
from which vesuvius could be seen under its
cloud Of smoke. The high cone of the volcano
has gone almost entirely, having been swallowed
up so that the height of the mountain is nearly
six hundred feet less lndh IoIiiel'S' N'' ~
north side OF the mountain new craters nave
formed
pee,.ees from the threatened or destroyed
villages are pouring into Naples by the thou
sani, arriving in every description of convey
ance and on foot The roads are crowded with
PROFESSIONS of men and women carrying crosses
and CRYING piteously. Special railway trains.
warships and steamers are employed in convey
ing the homeless people from their localities TO