Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-04-09
Great Throngs Flee From
Molten Lava of
Vesuvius.
NAPLES Is 0VERRUN
Several Villages Destroyed
Ruins of Pompeii Again
In Danger.

New York, April o The Evening
Sun publishes the following:
Naples, April g. Better news was
received this morning from the villages
abount Mount Vesuvius. Since last
evening the stream of lava that is
moving toward Terre del Annunziata
has been stationary and eruptions from
the volcano less violent. The rain of
ashes ceased for time last night, but
showers of cinders again fell upon Ma
pies at intervals today.
10000 Refugees mt Naples
THE Giorno says 100000 refugees
from the afflicted districts are in Ma
pies, and 10000 inhabitants of Bosco-
Trecese have all fed from their homes.
King Victor Emanuel and Queen Helen
today made a trip to the villages at
the foot of the volcano.
Few Left In Town.
Naples. April 9.-Only about 1000
out of $4,000 inhabitants of Tore An
nunziata dare remain in town. The
number of fugitives 10 augmenting ev-
erywhere, and it is estimated half
million people have fled from their
homes. Many persons are leaving Ma
pies in alarm, travel on the railroads
is interrupted. and a number of fugi-
tives are going to Sicily by sea.
Becomes More Destructive.
Naples, April 9-VesuviuS hourly be-
comes more destructive. The erup-
tions, which increased with frightful
violence, now threaten to destroy the
entire coast from Portici to Pempeii.-
Pompeii, buried under ashes 1,S00l
years ago, is now threatened with en-
gulfment by lava. A great molten
flood. 600 feet wide and q feet deep,
after sweeping over the town of Tore
Annuziata, is approaching the ruins
of Pompeii at rapid rate. Already
the cemetery and some houses north
west of the town have been destroyed.
Cost Great Sums.
The work of excavatins the buried
city of Pompeii cost infinite labor dur
ing many decades and the expenditure
of enormous sums of money.
Now the lava flood threatens to fill
the streets, temples, forums, gardens
and terraces excavated with so great
an expense of time and money. The
ruins of Pompeii, once overwhelmed
by the lava flood, can never be re-
excayated.
Greater Destruction In Store.
But the second destruction of Pom
peii is not all of the havoc threatened
by the present eruption. Not in cen
turies has Vesuvius been so terrible i'll
its rage.
Countless new craters are emitting
a molten flood simultaneously, and the |
attendant earthquake shocks have
caused the panic to spreak to Naples.
More villages have been blOtted out.
Breathing momentarily is becoming
more difficult, because of the poisonous
fumes and smoke. while the dense
shower OF hot ashes adds to the horror.
The Royal Meteorological observa-
tory on Mount Vesuvius has been de-
stroyed and Signor Metteucci, the di-
rector, 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
electric lighting plants also were de-
stroyed.
Lawn Sweeps Over Barriers.
Refugees from Tore AnnunZiata re-
ported a lava stream striking the villa
on the outskirts. 1t divided, one cur
rent flowing in the direction of Pom
peii. while the other threatened to de-
stroy Tore AnnunZiata. 1t since has
been reported that the lava reached
the town, sweeping over barriers that
had been erected with the utmost en-
ergy by the military engineers. The
latter. together with all the officials
and the whole population. were COM
PEELED to abandon the town.
Ottajano, Poggio. Marino, Somma,
and other towns and villages have
been abandoned. Lava is flowing sew
eral feet deep through the streets Of
Ottajano and many houses have fallen.
Earthquake Shakes Buildings.
Two strong earthquake shocks, which
shattered windows and cracked the
walls of buildings here, were expert
enced yesterday. The entire popula-
tion rushed to the streets, many per-
sons crying, "The Madonna has for
saken us; the end of the world has
come"
No trace remains of Boscotrecase, a