Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-04-21
MOUNTAIN OF FIRE
KILLS HUNDREDS
Reports Of Fatalities About Vesuvius
Are Coming In.
MANY TOWNS ARE ABANDONED

ties consequent upon the eruption of
Mount Nesuvius are coming in. Ac-
cording 10 information received,
probably as many as 500 lives
were lost IL Is said that more
than 200 persisted in the district of
San Giuseppe. wBile from the ruins of
a church. whilh collapsed owing to
the weight OF ashes on the roof. 40
corpses We're ex,ricated. and it is as
serted thst at Sorrento 81 persons were
killed by taiirS houses.
When mCrnuug broke the outlook
was promising ior an ameiioration of
the conditions consequent upon the
activity oi Mount Vosuvius The hope
fulness OF tie rupulace. however was
short lived. anu the Neapoitans were
plunged into condition bordering on
frenzy by the collapse of the Mount
Oliveto market. which covered a plot
of ground GOO feet square. the struc-
ture falling upon zoo or more persons.
of whom u were killed. two mortally
injured. "a dangerously, and 100 less
seriously injured. Several OF the dead
were crushed and mangled beyond
recognition. The scenes were agoniE
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to be allowed 10 go TO their dead OF
dying.
railway train from San Giuseppe
for Naples was derailed owing 90
showers Of stones from the crater.
ers OF stones from the crater.
Almost equally with the devasta-
ton wrought by the lava is the dam
age done by cinders and ashes. which
in incredible quantities have been car
ried great distances. This has caused
the practical destruction OF San Gut
seppe. a place OF 5000 Inhabitants. All
but 200 OF the people had fed from San
Giuseppe. and these 200 assembled IN a
church TO attend mass. While the
priest was performing his sacred Of
fee the roof fell in. many were killed
and about co persons were badly in
jured. The only thing left standing
in the church was a statue Of ST. Anne.
the preservation OF which the poor.
homeless people accepted as "A miracle
and promise Of deliverance from their
peril
AT Ottajano five churches and 10
houses fell under the weight OF ashes
and cinders. which lie four feet deep
on the ground In the fall OF the
buildings about Il persons were killed
and many were injured The village
is completely deserted by its people.
After the evacuation OF the place the
barracks and prisons fell in
Reports from coast and inland towns
depict terrible devastation. San Gior-
gio. Cremona. POrtici. Resina and Tor
re del Greco have been almost COM
pletely abandoned.
No trace remains OF Boscotrecase, a
commune on the southern declivity OF
the mountain, where up 20 4S hours ago
10000 persons lived, and Tore Annun-
ziata. on the shores OF the gulf OF Ma
pies. one mile TO the southwark, is al
most surrounded by the invading lava
and has been evacuated by its 30, 900
Inhabitants. The people were brought
to Naples by trains. street cars. mill
tary carts and steamships Similar
means of transportation are being en-
ployed to bring away the people from
Tore del Greco. The police and car
bineers are guarding the abandoned
houses. and several members of the
government are also there.
The statement is made here that in
the vicinity of Ottajano cinders and
ashes from the volcano lie TO a depth
of $50 feet.
Somma Vesuviana is another vii
lage which has suffered most severely.
The most of the buildings in the viii
lagos are OF fiimsy construction and
have fat roofs. and so are but poorly
calculated to bear the weight OF ashes
and cindeFs that have fallen upon
them. Inevitably IL will be found that
a considerable number of persons have
persisted by the Falling OF their homes.
Although the eruption OF the volcano
Is less violent than II was "a hours
ago. the lava is still falling in great
quantities.
Refugees from the threatened or de-
stroyed villages are pouring into Ma
pies by the thousands. arriving in ev-
cry description OF conveyance and on
foot. The roads are crowded with pro-
cessions of men and women carrying
crosses and crying piteosuly.
King Victor Emmanuel and Oueen
Helena have further endeared them.
selves to the people by their activity
in behalf of sufferers by the eruption.
and the government is exerting itself
for the relief Of the destitute. This
work. however, is INSTRUCTED by the
congestion Of ali means of transporta-
ton, which are monopolized in the
carrying Of people out OF the zone OF
danger
Touching scenes greeted them along
the way. BY the kings order there
was no attempt to keep the people
away from him. The sovereigns visit
ed Santa Anastasia. Cercola and som
ma Vesuvius, where they were greeted
with great enthusiasm.
CpnHrnlad Cnnde