Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1906-04-11
CITIES ARE RUINED
MOUNT VEsUVIUs snOOTS OUT A
RIVER OF Lava.
Molten Metal Coming Down the Noun.
tain Sides Causes Grand Sight and
Makes the Earth Tremble-SuIphur
Smoke hovers Over vaIleys-Thous-
ands of Homes Swept Away.

Naples.-Mount Vesuvius is a colos-
sal brazier and the town of Boscotreze,
on its southern declivity, has been
transformed into gray island of ruin
by the ashes from the crater Of the
volcano. Torrents of liquid fire, re-
sembling, in the distance, serpents
with glowing yellow and black scales,
are coursing in all directions, amid
rumblings, detOnations and earth trem-
blings, while pail of sulphurous
cmoke that hovers over all makes
breathing difficult.
The streams OF lava are resistless.
They snap like pipestems the trunks
of chestnut trees hundreds of years
old and blight with their torrid breath
the blooms on the peach trees before
the trees themselves have been reach
ed. The molten streams do not spare
the homes of the peasants, and when
these have been razed they dash into
the wells, as though seeking to slake
their thirst, and, after filling them,
continue their course down the noun
tain side
Everywhere in the vicinity of the
volcano pitiful scenes are Witnessed
women tearing their hair in their
grief and old men crying aloud at the
loss of their beloved homesteads.
Artillery carts have been sent to the
assistance of the fleeing peasants and
the duke of Aosta, Cardinal Giuseppe
Frisco and all the authorities, despite
the rain, went to the portions of the
country most threatened.
Duke Of Aosta Works Hard.
The duke of Aosta was especially
active. He explained what means he
tt ought best to save the lives and
property and had the engineers and
soldiers erect parapets and dig trench
es in order to change the course OF the
lava streams and at times gave an
example of his energy by working him
self. Cardinal Frisco distributed the
necesaries of life to the people and
even went so far as to give many the
rings he wore on his fingers. Repeat.
edly he exclaimed to the frightened
peasants: Pray. my children: you
may be sure God will not desert you"
The statue of St. Anne, which was
taken to the mountainside to confront
the lava, is frequently moved back
ward as the tide advances.
Signor Matteucci, director of the OBJ
servatory on Vesuvius, still continues
to occupy a most dangerous position.
With him Is an American engineer
named Perry.
New craters have opened at differ
ent points on the mountain, but 1t is
impossible to ascertain their number
or where they are situated.
There have been no fatalities at
Boscotreze or elsewhere as a result
of the eruption. The flow of lava was
stationary at 10 o'clock Sunday night.
The duke of Aosta visited Boscotreze
Sunday.
King and Pope May Visit Scene.
1t is asserted at Rome that King
Victor Emmanuel, who was born at
Naples, spent his youth there and as
crown prince OF Italy bore the title of
prince of Naples, has expressed his
intention of visiting the afflicted dis
tricts on Mount Vesuvius.
r According to other rumors, which it
has been impossible to verify, Pope
Plus is also desirous of taking this
time as an opportune one to break his
voluntary Imprisonment at the Vatican
and go among the sufferers.