New-York tribune., 1906-04-13
NAPLES CINDER SWEPT.
HEAVY FALL OF ASHES.
LaUa Cooling RapidIy-King Aids
IN Rescue Work.


veSuvius to-day is reassuring. the conditions
here in Naples are such as make it difficult TO
-sslize that the situation is actually better The
wind IS blowing from the volcano toward Naples
and is carrying the ashes in this direction.
Toward evening the fall of ashes and cinders
bsre was worse than at any time since the
eruption began.
The scenic effects vary from hour TO hour.
Nov in the north the sky is chocolate colored,
lingering and heavy. under which men and
women with their hair and clothing covered
with ashes, move about like gray ghosts. Fort
San Martino, as it towers above the town, can
only lust be SEEN while Castel delPOva is boldly
marked in light, seeming Ike silver against the
brown sky.
To the south beyond the smoke zone, lies
smiling sunny Posilipo and its peninsula, while
far away glistsns the sea, deep blue, on which
The islands seem 20 float in the glow of the
setting sun To add TO the strange picture, one
Of the French men of war, which arrived in the
Bay Of Naples to-day, is so placed as to be half
IN the glow and half obscured by the belt Of fall
ing ashes
From the observatory on Mount NesuVius'
where Director Matteucci is continuing his work
in behalf Of science and humanity, the scene is
one Of great impressiveness. To reach the OBJ
ened but hot lava covered with sand, until he
comes 10 q poiat from whence nothing can be
seen but vast gray reaches, sometimes fat and
sometimes gathered into huge mounds. which
take on sernblances Of human faces Above the
heavens are gray ike the earth beneath. and
seem just as hard and immovable. In all this
lonely waste there is no sign Of life or vegeta-
tion and no sound is heard except the low NUT
terings Of the volcano. One seems almost i'm
PEELED 10 scream aloud to break the horrible
stiffness.
Every day that passes gives new evidence Of
the magnitude Of the catastrophe. To-day s
visit of King Victor Emmanuel to Ottajano re-
vesled new tragedies. At a certain point his
majesty was obliged TO abandon his motor car,
and went forward on horseback amid constant
danger. His horse 1oundered through four feet
OF ashes stumbling into holes, blinded by the
fall OF large cinders, and the target for falling
bssaitic masses
In the presence of the King l29 more bodies
we're eKtrcated from the ruins. while ashes and
Ted sand continued TO fall as though determined
not 10 reGuquish their victims. The dead at
ouajano re said to number $50.
The King was deathly pale. To a parish priest
who came 10 him he said,
How I'D You escape"
J put myself in safety" replied the priest
What 10 you mean asked the King.
Realizing the danger" was the priests re-
ply. i had left for Nola"
The King flushed with anger What" he
cried you q minister Of God were not here 10
share The danger Of your people and administer
The last sacraments2 You did very wrong"
Queen Helena was with the King when he
Started FOR Gttajano, but she obliged TO
Turn lack, as the task was one not suitable for
woman. Her majesty spent the most Of the
DAY in visiting the Injured people in Naples hos
1itals and inspecting the housing provided for
refugees
The Princess of Schleswig- Holstein set out in
hsr automobile this morning 10 visit the hos
h1sls in the desolated towns bat after time
NE motor car became disabled and she was
forced to return on foot, distance Of twelve
niles, walking through three feet OF ashes. the
endurance Of the princess surprised the Neapoi-
&ns, some Of whom declared that she mus
nave been aided by the saints. for never before
Aao woman accomplished such task.
There have been a large number of robberies
VI deserted houses in spite OF the efforts OF th'
authorities for the protection OF property IL
'he excited condition OF the populace there il
Noine difficulty in preserving order The CLOSING
church at Tore Annunziatta, which wa
considered 10 be unsafe. precipitated SINAI
not;
Provision is being made for the feeding ah'
sneiteTing Of people who have remained IN thei
."n towns. i is estimated that 5000 houses
AaVe been destroyed or rendered uninhaoitaoie
Frequent detonations are still heard. but seer
!" be growing fainter. The main crater OF IA
Volcano is gradually enlargins Large conilIi
gents of troops have arrived here af1ording
military force sufficient to cope with the situa
fion
ihe rain C aches oyer SomE2a. Santa AI.@s''.
"a 2rl Pou;.oeri is st:ll heavy. For time at'e
,-anignt Wednesday the e-uptions were aeu's
Su ister su5si6ec. The most ccfsohEs hS"
Continued ca fourth JAKE