The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-04-13
OVER 500 PEOPLE
ARE KILLED
Church COIlapses While People Are at
Worship.
MANY OF THE VILLAGES DESTROYED.
Towns Devastated by the Heavy Fall Of Ashes
as Well as by Floods Of Lava-Some Of the
Fiery Streams Have Stopped. and the
Situation Seems More Assuring Naples
Filled With the Homeless.

Napls, (By Cable)-Monday was day
of terror for the cities, towns and coun-
try about Mount Vesuvius. Unconhrmed
reports place the number of dead at
over 500, and probably many more in
jured. At midnight the situation APP
pears more assuring, the lava streams
having diminished in volume and in some
directions having stopped altogether,
while a copious rainfull is cooling the
lava where it lies stationary.
Almost equally with the devastation
wrought by the lava is the damage done
by cinders and ashes, which in incredi-
Bile quantities have been carried great
distances. This has caused the practical
destruction of San Giuseppe, a place OF
6,ooo inhabitants All but 200 of the
people had fled from San Giuseppe, and
these 200 assembled in church to at
tend mass.
While the priest was performing his
sacred office the roof fell in, and about
60 persons were badly injured. These
unfortunates were for hours without sur
gical 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 accepted
as miracle and promise of deliverance
from their peril.
At Ottajano five churches and 10
houses fell under the weight of ashes
and cinders, which lie four feet deep on
the ground. In the fall of the buildings
about IL persons were killed and many
were injured The village is completely
deserted by its people. After the evacu-
alton of the place the barracks and pris-
ons fell in.
Reports from coast and inland towns
depict terrible devastation. San Giorgio,
Crernona, Portici, Resina and Tore del
Greco have been almost completely aban-
doned.
The inhabitants of Tore Annunziato
are prepared to leave at a moments
warning. Somma Vesuviana is another
village which has suffered severely.
Naples, (By Cable) The hope that
Mount Vesuvius was becoming calm was
dissipated Sunday, when the volcano be-
came more active than ever. The panic
has spread to Naples. Two strong earth
quake shocks which shattered windows
and cracked the walls of buildings were
experienced Sunday The entire popula-
ton rushed to the streets in terror, many
persons crying
"The Madonna has forsaken us; the
end of the world has come"
No trace remains of Boscotrecase, a
commune on the southern decllvlty OF the
mountain, where up to 48 hours ago TO-
600 persons lived; and Terre Annunziata.
on the shores on the Gulf of Naples, one
mile to the southwark, is almost sur
rounded by the invading lava, and has
been evacuated by its 10000 inhabitants.
The people were brought to Naples by
trains, street cars, military carts and
steamships. Similar means of transpor-
tation are being employed to bring away
the people from Tore Del Greco. The
police and cabineers are guarding the
abandoned houses, and several members
of the government also are there.
A telegram received from the mayor OF
San Sebastino, village near the observa-
tory on the northwest declivity of Vesu-
vius, says the lava is approaching rapidly,
and that the people are terror-stricken.
They have been for nights without. sleep,
he says, are destitute and beg that as
sistance be given them.
The work of succor is hampered, owing
to delays on the railway service, which
is interrupted by red-hot stones, thrown
to height of 5000 feet, falling on the
tracks.
AS yet it is impossible to count the
craters that have opened and from which
streams of lava have flooded the beau
tiful, prosperous and happy land lying
on the southeast shores of the Gulf of
Naples. i,
The atmosphere is heavily charged
with electricity and now and then the
flashes of lightning are binding, while
the detonations from the volcano resen-
Bile those of terrible explosions.
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