The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-04-09
MORE VIOLENT. Mt. Vesuvius Actively h. creases and Thousands of Inhabitants Are
 Fleeing.
NO TRACE OF BOSCOTRECAZ
COMMUNE OF 10, GOO SOULS CoM-
 PLETELY OBLITERATED.

People Escape to Naples to Which Place Panic Has Spread--TwO Heavy
 Earthquake Shocks shatter Windows and Crack WalIs--PeOpIe Rush to
 Streets Crying "the Madonna Has Forsalxen Us, the End of the World
 Has COme"-Lava Almost Surrounds TOrre Annunziata-Its 3O,OOO In-
 habitants Evacuate Town by Rail
 and steamers--Observator Destroyed "A Terribly Magnificent Sight.
 Naples, April S.-The hope that Mount vesuvius was becoming calm was dis sipated to-day, when the volcano be- came more active than ever.
 The panic has spread to Naples. Two strong earthquake shocks, which shat tered window panes and cracked the walls of buildings, were experienced to-day. 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 Boscotrecaz, a commune on the southern declivity of the mountain, where up to orty-eight hours ago 10000 persons lived, and Tore Annunziata, on the shores of the Gulf of Naples, one mile to the southward, is almost surrounded by the invading lava, and has been evacuated by its SO,OOO inhabitants, The people were brought to Naples by trains, street cars, military carts and steam ships. Similar means of transportation are being used to take the people out of Torre del Greco. The police and carbineers are guarding the abandoned houses, and several members of the government also are there.
 A telegram from the mayor of San Sebastiano, a village near the observa- tory. on the northwest declivity of Ve- suvius, says the lava is approaching rapidly, and that the people are terror stricken. They have been for nights
 
 tute and beg for assistance.
 The work of succor is hGmpered ow- ing to delays to the, railway service, which is interrupted by red hot stones falling on the tracks. As yet it is im- possible to count the craters that have 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 the flashes of lightning are blinding, while the detonations from the volcano re- semble in sound terrible explosion.
 The churches of the city were open all Saturday night and were crowded with panic-stricken people. Members of the clergy are doing their utmost to calm their followers, but the effects Of their arguments go almost for naught when renewed earthquake shocks are experienced.
 With the danger and horror on the southern side, vesuvius presents one of the most splendid sights imaginable, The mountain of fire, whose speech ia by detonation, whose acts are destruc- tion, seems like an enraged giant de- termined to make the pigmies of earth feel the might of its wrath. Here and there on the mountainside stand the blasted trunks of pine trees, their bare branches outstretched as though in protest against the devastation of the volcano.
 The duchess of Aosta, who is always flo be found where misery exists is not sparing herself in her efforts to ale viate distress. The people call her an angel of mercy. To-day she took sev- eral children from their weary moth CTS, and in her carriage conveyed them to the royal palace, where they will re- main until conditions are brighter.
 The observatory has been destroyed and Signor Mateucc, the director, and the employees had narrow escapes. They passed last night in the darkness save for the frequent flashes of lightning as the gas works and the electric light ing plant also were destroyed. The restaurant of the Funicular railroad too. has been obliterated.
 Prisoners in jail on the mountain side went mad with terror and mutin- fed, and were only partially quieted by being brought here. But their fears have been communicated to the prison CTS here, who may rebel at any mo- ment. The situation is critical.
 Breathing is momentarily becoming more difficult, because of the poisonous fumes and smoke while the hot ashes which are still falling tend to make life a burden.
 Contrary to expectations, the sea has mot shown signs of being affected by the phenomena; but fears are enter tained that tidal waves may yet come and many craft have put to sea.
 Visitors to Naples are avoiding the hotels on the sea front, and the people living there are beginning to leave fol higher attitudes.
 Though there is much misery, up tC the present time there have been nc fatalities, except at Portica, where ar old woman died, supposedly from frirhf