Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-12
Fall of Volcanic Ash is Finer and Diminish
ing in Quantity.
MIC AMONG PEOPLE OF NAPLES
Nearly All Shops Are Closed and Manu-.
factories Are Deserted.
FIFTY THOUSAND DRIVEN FROM HOMES
Damage 60 Property win Exceed
Twenty Million DoIIars-American
Authors Experience In the
Afflicted District.

NAPLES, April 1.-THE whole Of the
Fesuvius district as far as Naples Caserta
and Castellammarc Is one vast desert. Re
ports tonight from all sides state that tho
fall Of ashes is not so heavy as It has
been for the last few days and that the
ashes are much finer. and from this IL is
argued that the prospects are much
brighter.
The blockade of local traffic continues.
but service on tho main lines of railway
has been rc-establishcd, although greatly
dsarrangcd by the indescribablo confusion
IN the stations. where foreigners, not fully
understanding the situation. inveigh against
the delays and discomCorts to which they
have been subjected. 1t is estimated that
1900 people have been driven from their
homes and property damaged will exceed
S20.OOO.GOO.
This has been dsquietlng day in Ma
pies. The people. alarmed by what has
happened have deserted their shops and
the manufactures are nearly all closed.
The crowds are in a temper for any ex-
cess. 1t would only require a spark to
start conhagration.
The arrival of King Victor Emmanuel
and Queen Helena has done much TO re-
store calm. They have been received with
great JOY. especially when the sovereigns
left a hospita ftcr visit to the wounded
there one GfOor woman exclaimed: Il
would consent to be wounded for the sake
Of being kissed by the queen"
Others cannot find words in which TO
express their gratitude Both the royal
palaces Of Cappodimonti and San Fernando
have been given up to refugees.
Reports OF the destruction OF two towns
/ NJ Co, ~ 49,
ing a populst tiou of more than 5000. have
proved to be without foundation At sarno
! 5000 persons from nearby villages and
! farms have found refuge. Ottajsno, where
many lives were lost ON Monday, is now
! practically buried,
FRII of Ashes DimiDishes.
Conditions to night in the section affected
by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius are
greatly ameliorated. 11ie fall OF volcanic
/ ash has dimnshed dnd scientists express
the opiiilon that the volcano has spent
itself. All the papers tonight advise the
public to be calm, pointing out the Inn
proved condition OF affairs. The papers
also eulogize Director Matteuccl for his
courage in returning to the ruined OBJ
servatory on Mount Vesuvius and sending
| from that place messages OF encourage
| ment and expressions of confidence that
Vesuvius will soon quiet down. The thea
ters, cafes and places of amusement
| throughout the city have been closed and
before all the sacred images in the streets
candles kept burning. while smaller
images are being carried about and in
many cases being set down in the open air
and surrounded by candles.
Troops are engaged in clearing the roofs
OF buildings of the accumulation OF sand
and ashes, which endanRers the structures.
The large glass-covered galleries through
out the city, which are much frequented,
have been ordered closed lest the weight
upon the roofs cause them to collapse.
The village of San Gennaro has been
partially buried in sand and ashes and sew
eraI houses have fallen. At that place
three persons were killed and more than
twenty injured.
In the road at Tore del Greco three per-
sons were found dead from sufrocstion.
The people who remain at Tore Annun-
ziata are in danger of perishing from star
vation, all the shops having been closed.
Rations for 200 persons have been sent
there
The warshlps ordered here have been do
ing effective service in tn, removal OF
refuse
Premier Sonnino reached here today By
train from Rome, his journey having been
greatly impeded. He had a conference Inn
mediately after his arrival with King Vic
tor Emmanuel. with whom the premier dis
cussed the measure 10 be adopted to re-
store public confidence maintain order. aid
the refugees and repair the damage caused
by the eruption.
The king has directed that the Royal
palace Of San Fernandino be opened for
the reception of wounded refugees. Fire
men and ambulance corps from Rome have
t been sent here to aid in the care Of suf-
} ferers.
Two American girls. who had heedlessly
, ventured into the VesuviuS district. where
the abandonment of the train by which
they were travelling caused them much dis
comfort and no little peril. were brought
here today by the steamer st. Don. They
were delighted that their adventure hal
no more serious ending.
American Authors Experience.
Robert Underwood Johnson. associate edi
tor OF the Century Magazine, who has beer
, an eye witness Of the events here the las
few days, said today 10 the Associated
. Press
!, Each day it becomes more impossible L
visit even at distance the afiicted dis
tricts. The ashes have reached preposter
- Gus proportions, flter into everything, blood
the trains trans, automobiles, carriage
, and horses. Only the soldiers seem TO over
. come the obstruction.
Before the interruption l took train fO
Tore Annunziata. On arriving at Tore De
Greco the heavens seemed 10 open and vi
were soon half buried in ashes and no
!, Cinders The train drew up I'm total dark
j, ness, relieved only by lightning flashes