The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-29
least locally Of the Virgin Of ottajano would
have been materially enhanced.

Least locally, Of the Virgin Of ottajano would
have been materially enhanced.
In a similar way many persisted In their
houses, whereas had they taken the trouble
to shovel the ashes and stones from their
dwellings no harm would have come. to
them. The same curious carelessness or
lack Of sense led to the fall to-day Of the
roof OF the public market in the heart OF
Naples. Unable to support the weight OF
ashes deposited during Sunday night, 1t
collapsed, and many people, men, women
and children, were crushed to death.
Sunday in Naples wae the eliminating
day, The SUN was obscured, a cold wind
blew from the northeast, the air was full
of ashes. and the activity Of the volcano
was terrific. Every now and then a SHIFT
in the direction Of the wind disclosed the
gigantic turmoil Of the vapor above the
crater and the sinister turbulence OF the
upper air. The churches we're filed with
frightened people, and practically the last
of the strangers left the city. II they did
not all 60 it was only because they could
not get on the o~vercrowded trains.
At nightfal the ash shower came directly
over the city, and the condition OF the air
and Of the streets was unspeakable. All
the drivers Of the host Of little public car
riages covered their heads with newspapers.
in which holes served TO sec through.
thus acooutred and covered with ashes
man. horse and carriage the same color,
a dirty yellow gray-they presented a most
astonishing sight.
On Monday morning the disbursement
Of Naples was complete. Every building,
tower and edihce OF whatever description,
every statue and every public decoration
and ornament was wholly disguised in
mud. There arose in the morning from the
sea Of roofs below my windows the sound
that one hears at home after q night OF
snow, the sound Of many shovels. And
shovels they were, and they we're doing
to the thick layer Of brown mud, OF
the consistency and texture OF a
%scllpror's modelling clay. just what we
do in New York with the nov on our
roofs, shovelling 1t into the street. Such
a spectacle of dirt. discomfort and misery
Naples has not presented in centuries. But
Vesuvius had moderated it's tone. However
%furiously it. might smoke it was abating
sensibly, and il I spoke at the OUTSET Of the
great eruption Of 1905 ] did 50 only out OF
Difference to the universal conviction here
that it will be centuries before there is
another like it.
It shows greatness of soul nowadays to
speak veil Of a king, and it is due 10 Italy's
monarch TO say that he discharges his
functions nobly, He came down here on
Sunday in a special train and vent with an
automobile retinue into the afflicted dis
trict, cheering and comforting the unhappy
victims. His Majesty did this right royalty.
and before he had gone very far had ex-
changed his customary garb for an impro-
vised khaki OF yellow mud, which also dried
on his face in a complete mask and cracked
and faxed off when he spoke or smiled.
But what he did he did we'll and with his
heart in it, and SO gave a good account OF
himself, as becomes a Christian prince.
There is no estimating the damage in
ficted at this time. hut It. must be very
great. The loss on vineyards and build
ings by the lava flow is relatively insignif-
can't, but what will be the result of the
distribution Of millions and millions Of
tons Of ashes over the great and fertile area
Of the campo gns is at PRESENTLY pure con-
lecture. One thing is certain. and that is
that Naples stands appalled, at ii.
WEDNESDAY, April 1.-THE dreaded
pioggtd came again in the night and Naples
is freshly dressed in ashes. No trains in or
out. No mail The railway station lie
besieged by people who have come in
steamers from the Far East and from
Mediterranean places and who want to get
away at once. Six feet Of ashes cover
the railroad. and in Italy there are no snow
ploughs. One rotary plough would be
worth its weight in gold,
The most unhappy. man in all Italy is
the Naples McGaw. or local Woodbury..
An intelligent press tears him limb from
limb. The unfortunate man has an army
at work, but the imagination cannot picture
the conditions that prevail. There are no
presidents for volcanic eruptions of this
kind, and the Italian street cleaner does not
work here ae he would if he we're in New
York. No Italians work here as Italians
work In New York. The extraordinary
creatures who coal the ships in Naples
harbor are perhaps an exception; but
ordinarily one sees hone of the tremendous
physical energy that a lively gang Of
"dagoes" will exhibit in America. They are
the same cheerful, amiable and industrious
people, but somehow it takes the American
climate to bring out the steam.
A week ago the most prosperous season
that the Naples hotels had ever known was
at it's height, and every house was turning
people away. To-day there is nobody here
except those whom ~inadvertence has
brought or kept here, and Zimmerman gloom
rervades the worthy profession.