Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-04-17
BELCHES OUT FIRE.
VOLCANIC FURY OF VESuVIUS
INCREASES.
Flow of Lava Is EnguIing Cities as
Inhabitants Flee Panic Stricken
Destruction of Historic Pompeii
Is Threatened the Second Time.

History is repeating itself and the
fate of Pompeii and Herculaneum is
being revisited upon the cities clustered
at the base of mighty Vesuvius. All
ready the city of Bos9otrecaz has been
obliterated by the tiowsof lava and the
homes of its 10000 inhabitants de-
stroyed.
Now the flood of molten rock is hem
ming in Tore d'Annunziata, a prosper
GUS port on the Bay of Naples. a short
distance to the southwark. and it is
only matter of hours when it, too,
will be engulfed. Thirty thousand peo-
pie have evacuated it. Other cities in
the path of the lava flow are threat
ened with destruction and their inhab-
itants are fleeing in panic.
AS yet there have been no fatalities,
as the populace has had warning that
was denied their forefatherS in the
days of Titus.
Prayers were offered up in all the
churches at Naples, but instead of les
sening its fury the eruption of Vesu-
vius has become more violent than
ever. Cities and towns and homes that
were peaceful and prosperous a few
days ago have now become places of
terror. People are abandoning their
hearthstones without taking time to re-
move their lares and penates, and it is
probable that the suffering and priva-
ton Will be pitiful in a few days
Many of those who lived in BoscOtre-
caz are now destitute and are being
cared for through charitable institu-
tons. Naples is a city of homeless,
pennileSs, hopeless refugees, and the
resources of both public and private
are being taxed to the utmost to pro
vide for them.
Naples itself is in state of restless
fear, for earthquakes broke window
panes and struck universal terror into
the hearts of the people, many of whom
rushed into the streets shrieking:
The Madonna has forsaken us! The
end of the world has come y
Scene of Gigantic Fury.
Near the scenes of destruction the
spectacle is one of gigantic fury. On
the lower slopes of Vesuvius were fer
tile vineyards and olive groves. These
are now Completely devastated Where
the streams of lava have not buried
the fields completely, showers of ashes
and red-hot rocks and powders have
accomplished equally certain destruc-
ton.
At Tore dAnnunziata the fleeing
populace was taken away by every
mode of conveyance that could be
pressed into service. Steamers carried
them away by hundreds, trains and
electric cars were crowded to the limit
and the government military convey
ances gave aid. What property could
be carried in the hands was all that
many succeeded in saving. Jewels, VAL
uables and all kinds of household
goods were left behind in the mad exc
dus, and government TROOPS have been
sent to guard the deserted city until
all hope of its escaping destruction has
| been abandoned.
At Tore del Greco, a few miles
away, the same facilities for leaving
were given the people, and other towns
and cities are being evacuted hourly as
the rivers of lava advance.
AT San SebastIno the people are ter
ror stricken and in a destitute condi-
ton. The lava is fast approaching
them and the Mayor has sent a tele-
gram here imploring aid. Other towns
are in imminent danger of being cut
! off from help by the lava.
Up on the mountain side the govern
ment observatory has been destroyed,
also the restaurant of the railroad.
Perret, the American engineer who was
at the observatory when the eruption
became violent, is one of the brave band
who are sticking to their posts that
| they may serve the cause of science in
keeping accurate observations of the
| outbreaks progress. With Signor Mat
teucci, the Italian director of the OBJ
servatory, and the attaches he spent a
terrible night. The electric and gas
plants were destroyed and they were
forced to remain in darkness except
for the phOsphorescent glare of the vol
cauo