Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-04-17
Sun Shines AGAIN
IN CITY OF NAPLES
vEsUvIUs STOPS SCOUTING AND
WORK OF CLEANING UP
is BEGUN.
ALL AVAILABLE HOUSES
FILLED WITH REFUGEES

Scientist Believes Explosive Period
of Eruption Is Over-King Sees 1919
Bodies of Victims Taken from the
Ruins.
Naples, April 14.-The latest news
received here is encouraging. For the
first time since Tuesday the sun is
shining all over Naples and, although
above the city the usual gray cloud
is discernible, the fall of ashes has
almost entirely ceased Ashes, how
ever, continued to fall throughout the
night, adding several inches to the &C
emulation in the streets.
Nearly 5000 persons are employed
in cleaning the roofs and main thor
oughfares. Gangs of men are engaged
| in piling the ashes in the middle of
the narrow streets, which makes the
passage of vehicles exceedingly diff
cult and adds to the discomfort of
pedestrians.
The Neapolitans have become, to a
certain degree, sun worshipers. One
day they are plunged in the depths
of despair because the sun is obscured
by falling ashes in the middle of the
| narrow streets, buoyant when the sun
shines and no ashes are sprinkling
over Naples.
Several men, apparently, have
braved the terror of the wild wastes
of lava about the royal observatory on
Mount Vesuvius. One of them re-
turned here Friday morning and gave
an account of most interesting con-
versation which he had with Prof.
Mattucci, director of the observatory,
who was in very hopeful mood when
his visitor left him.
Thinks Explosive Period Over.
The professor said: Very little is
known of the volcanic forces, so one
can never safely predict what is 60
ing to happen. But 1 think 1 can
with some confidence express the hope,
based On my experience here, that the
explosive period of the eruption has
passed. 1t is impossible to make a
positive statement to this effect, but
the probabilities point to quieting
down of the volcano This, however,
does not mean that its activity will
entirely cease unless the crater def.
nitely assumes it's new shape, that is
to say, when the ridges have been
smoothed down, there is possibility
of further disturbances. For the pres
ent the light wind blowing will in all
probability carry the ashes in a di.
rection which will leave Naples free
from further annoyance of this ma
ture, and, as it is, the ill wind is
blowing good to other places, for ashes
are the best fertilizer it is possible to
use. 1t is merely question just now
of having too much of good thing
Refugees Crowd Naples.
| Nearly 5000 refugees are already
housed here and the number is rap
idly increasing. In fact, all the build
ings available for the accommodation
of the fugitives are crowded, and II
many more people seek shelter here
1t will be necessary to place them in
army tents. The municipal and mill
tary authorities have already taken
steps to accommodate large number
of people in this manner.
| Crowding of refugees into Naples
has resulted in the almost complete
stoppage of the supply of food usual
ly forwarded to the Vesuvian districts
and, consequently, the prices of fooi
have risen enormously and the lacl
of meat and bread especially is seri
ously felt in those districts.
The reputation of Neapolitans fol
laziness is in striking contrast with
the feverish activity displayed every
where here. The hours, even the min
utes, seem too short for what mus
be done. The people rush here ant
there, horses gallop about and ever
the dogs and cats seem to be infected
| with the general spirit of hustle"
A curious phenomenon has beer
noticed at Cape Postilipo, pictur
esque spot in the northeast part Of thu
Bay of Naples. Owing to the grea
Quantity Of ashes and cinders which
have fallen into the bay the intogsen
la large shellfish, which is common
there, have come to the surface Will,
all the other fish have disappeared,
King Sees 1879 Bodies Taken Out.
Every day that passes gives new
evidence of the magnitude of tn
catastrophe. King Victor Emmanue
Thursday visited Ottajano, where nev
tragedies were revealed. At certain
point he was obliged to abandon hi
motor car and went forward on horse
back amid constant danger, his hors
f1oundering through four feet of ashes
stumbling into holes, blinded by tn
!; fall of large cinders and the large
for falling basaltic masses. In tn
presence of the king 1923 bodies wer
extricated from the ruins, the whit
ashes and red sand falling as thoug
they were determined not to reli1
quish their victims. The dead at OF
tajano are said to number $50.
Murder in New York.
New York, April 14.-Edward Scan