Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-10
FR|GHTFUL DISASTER
Collapse of Market House Roof
at Naples
UNDER WEIGHT OF ASHES
Deposited by the Eruptions of We
suvius.
MANY KILLED AND INJURED
Occurred During Marketing Hours in
the Morning-ChiIdren Among
the Victims
MANY KILLED AND INJURED

NAPLES. April 1o.-A frightful disaster
has occurred in the center of this city. fol-
lowing the eruptions Of Mount vesuvius
Two hundred people, 1t is estimated, were
buried this morning In the ruins of the
Market Monte Oliveto when the roof col
iapsed under the weight of cinders from
the volcano.
The exact number of people within the
building at the moment of the catastrophe
is not known. The disaster at the market
place was appalling. The courtyard covers
600 feet square and was rooted The space
within was unusually crowded with buyers
and their children, the accident happening
at the hour of the day when trade is most
brisk
Rival displays of flowers, fruits and veg
etables contended for buyers, while market
women screamed their wares and joked
with their customers Little children play
ed about the stands, adding gayety to the
scene, the like of which is not to be wit
messed outside Naples
Came Without Warning.
Suddenly, with scarcely tremor of warn
ing, there was terrifying crash, and the
brilliant sight disappeared in a cloud of
dust, while shrieks of agony rent the air.
Up to the present time the bodies of six
teen dead persons have been taken from
beneath the ruins of the Monte Oliveto mar
ket and IT'S injured people are being cared
for at the hospitals.
The injured persons taken from the ruins
of the Monte Oliveto market have better
chances of recovery than the victims Of
the disasters at Ottajano, as the latter,
when they escaped death from falling build
ings. were in many cases suffocated by
ashes
Populace Indignant
The indignation of the people here as
result of the market disaster increases as
each additional body is taken out, and a
disturbance approaching a riot in isnpor-
tance has already occurred. The people
loudly insist that the authorities were
aware that the roof of the market was un-
safe, and that they were so excessively
economical that they would not appropriate
the funds necessary to repair the building.
The Identification of the bodies of a num-
Der Of those killed by the collapse of the
market roof has been found TO be impos-
sible, owing to their being absolutely un-
recognizable In some cases being reduced
to pulp, while others were horribly multi
ated, giving rise to scenes which are better
undescribed Among the dead are many
children who had been sent by their parents
to do the mornings marketing, and the
grief of the parents when the bodies of
their children were found was heartrending.
Market a Mass of Ruins
The market itself Is a mass of ruins, sur
rounded by enormous crowds of people who
are kept in order by cordons of police and
carbineets. The work of searching the
ruins continues In the most energetic man
ner doctors, fremen, municipal guards,
police and arsenal employees taking part in
1t under the direction of the Duke of Aosta.
prefect of Naples, whose wife Is assisting
In the care of the injured. All the city
authorities are also on the spot, and every
thing possible is being done to assist the
families of the victims.
After visiting the ruins of the market the
Duke and Duchess of Aosta proceeded to
the Pelligrini Hospital, to which institution
many of the injured persons were taken
The inhabitants of many houses near the
collapsed market have been ordered by the
police as matter of precaution, TO Vacate
their residences, ewing to fear that the
roofs may fall In
The City In Mourning.
The collapse of the market roof again
turned the city of Naples into mourning.
The people seemed demented. They sur
rounded the market, In many cases tearing
their hair, cursing and screaming, "Oh. my
husband is there!" or Bring out my child!'
and endeavoring with their own hands to
move heavy beams from beneath which the
groans of the injured were issuing.
The cries for help were so heartrending
that even rescuers were heard TO sob aloud
as they worked with feverish eagerness to
save life or extract the bodies of the dead
from the ruins.
Such was the anxiety of the people to
take part in the work of rescue that II re-
uuired determined efforts on the part OF
the large force of police and carbineers
present to keep the most desperate from
moving beams too precipitately and there
by causing further deaths or injuries.
Some of the people about the market were
heard to exclaim that curse rested upon
the people of Naples for repudiating their
| saints yesterday when Mount Vesuvius was
| in its most violent mood.