Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-09
TOWNS ARE IN RUINS
Mount Vesuvius Becoming More Desdly a.
the Days Go By,
NO TRACE OF soSco TREcosE REMAINS
Forty Eight Hours Ago It Was the Home Of
Ten Thousand People,
PEOPLE OF ToRRE ANNUZlALA REMOVED
Nornplate C,,rro,,n5ad h. oAro,,,. .e -.
TRACE OF sOsco TREcOsE REMAINS
EoPlE OF ToRRE ANNUzlALA REMOVED
Completely Surrounded by Streams Of Lava
from the Mountain,
TERROR OF THE PEOPLE is PlTlABLE
Work of Rescue is Hampered by the
showers of Ashes and RED hot
stones which Fall on the
Railway Tracks.

NAPLES, April s.-The hope that Mount
Vesuvius was becoming calm was dissl-
pated today when the volcano becams
more active than ever.
The panic has spread to Naples. Two
strong earthquake shocks, which shattered
windows and cracked the walls OF build
ings, were experienced today. The entire
population 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 Bosco Trecase, a
commune on the southern decivity of the
mountain, where up to forty-eiEht hours
ago ten thousand persons lived; and Tore
Annunzials, on the shores of the gulf OF
| Naples one mile TO the southwark. is
almost surrounded by the invading lava
and has been evacuated by its thirty
thousand inhabitants. The people were
brought to Naples by trains, street cars,
military carts and steamships. Similar
means Of transportation are being en-
ployed to bring away the people from
Terre Del Greco. The police and carbi-
neers are guarding the abandoned houses
and several members OF the government
also are there.
telegram received from the mayor OF
!
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. he says. with
! out sleep, are destitute and beg that as
sstance be given them
work of succor Hampered.
The work of sueeor is hampered OWNS
to the delays to the railway service, which
is interrupted by red hot stones thrown to
a height of 5000 feet. falling on the tracks
As yet II is impossible to count the era
ters that have been opened and from
which streams OF lava have flooded the
beautiful, prosperous and happy land lying
on the southeast shores OF the gulf OF
Naples.
The atmosphere is heavily charged with
electricity and now and then flashes OF
lightning are binding. while detonations
from the volcano resemble those OF terrible
explosions.
The churches OF the city were open ali
Saturday night and were crowded with
panic stricken people Members of the
clergy are doing their utmost to calm their
fears but the effects of their arguments 60
almost for naught when renewed earth
quake shocks are experienced.
With the danger and horror of the situa-
ton aside, Vesuvius presents one of the
most splendid sights imaginable. The
| mountain of fire, whose speech Is by de-
tonation and whose acts are destruction.
seems like an enraged giant determined
to make the pigmies of earth feel the
might of his wrath. Here and there on
the mountainside stand the blasted trunks
of pine trees, their bare branches out
stretched as though in protest against the
devastation the volcano has wrought.
The duchess of Aosta. who always Is TO
be found where misery exists, is not SPAR
ing herself in her efforts to alleviate dis
tress. The people call her an angel OF
mercy. Today she took several children
from their weary mothers and in her car
rage conveyed them to the royal palace,
where they will remain until conditions
are brighter.
Observatory Destroyed.
The observatory has been destroyed and
Signor Matteucci. the director and the en-
ployes had narrow escapes. They passed
last night In the darkness save for the
frequent flashes of lightning. as the gas
works and electric lighting plant also were
destroyed. The restaurant of the F'unicu-
lar railroad. too. was obllterated
Prisoners in jails on the mountaihside
went mad with terror and mutinied ana
were only partially quieted by being
brought here. But their fears have been
communicated to the prisoners here. who
may rebel at any moment. The situation
il critical.
Breathing is momentarily becoming more
difficult because OF the poisonous fumes
and smoke, while hot ashes which are still
falling. tend to make life burden.
Contrary to expectations. the sea has not
yet shown signs of being affected by the
phenomena. but fears are entertained that
tidal waves may yet come and many craft
/ hax fn 70
avoiding the hotels on the sea front and
the people living there are beginning 70
leave for higher attitudes.
/ Though there is much misery, up 20 the
present time there have been no fatilltIes.
except at Portici. where an old woman
died, supposedly from fright
! The city OF Naples bears an aspect q
desolation, everything being covered With
ashes from the volcano.
! The lava destroyed a few houses in a
suburb of Tore Annunziata and also the
cemetery there. Then. fortunately, the now
ceased. It did also at Tore Del Greco.
At Pompeii the rivers Of lava are less rapid.
Incandescent material has set fre to the
village Of San Giuseppe.
Pope Greatly Distressed.
! ROME. April S.--Pope Plus Is greatly dis
tressed by the calamity wrought by the
eruption Of Mount Vesuvius. In takins
with his secretary today he said:
These are. moments when my imprson-
ment is irksome."
His holiness personally will not be able
/ 10 go to the scene. but he has sent a letter
! to Cardinal Frisco. archbishop of Naples
! expressing his grief for the sufferers by
the disaster and instructing him 10 dis
J tribute relief among them ana 70 send TO
the vatican particulars of the eruption. He
/ also gave the apostolic benedieton to the
! faithful.