The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-04-13
YESUVIUS
CLAIMS OVER
500 VICTIMS
APPALLING LOSS OF LIFE is
CHARGED TO THE DEATH
DEALING VOLCANO.
PEOPLE IN PANIC OF FEAR
TERROR-STRiCkEN THEY FLEE
BY THOUSANDS IN ALL
DIRECTIONS.

Naples, April ll.-RepOrlS Ol ldldll-
ties consequent upon the eruption OF
Mount Vesuvius are coming in. Ac-
cording to information received late
last night probably as many as 500
lives were lost 1t is said that more
than 200 perished in the district of
San Giuseppe, while from the ruins of
a church which collapsed owing to the
weight of ashes on the roof, 49 corpses
were extricated, and it is asserted
that at Sorrento 81 persons were killed
by falling houses.
A railway train from San Giuseppe
for Naples was derailed owing to
showers of stones from the crater
Cavalry Is Halted.
Cavalry proceeding to the succor of
the inhabitants of the devastated sec
tion have been unable to make prog
ress, the rain, falling on the ashes a
foot deep, having made it impossible
for the horses to travel.
Yesterday was a day of terror for
the cities, towns and country about
Mount Vesuvius. At midnight the sit
uation appears more assuring, the lava
streams having diminished in volume,
and in some directions have ceased
altogether, while a copious railfall is
cooling the lava where it remains sta
tionary.
Town Destroyed.
This has caused the practical de-
struction of San Giuseppe, place of
5000 inhabitants. All except 200 Of
the people had fled from San Giuseppe
and these 200 assembled in a church
to attend mass. While the priest was
performing his sacred Office the roof
fell in and about sixty persons We're
badly injured.
At Ottajano five churches and ten
houses fell under the weight of ashes
and cinders. which lie four feet deep
on the ground. In the fall of the
fall of the buildings about twelve per-
sons were killed and many were in
jured. The village is completely de-
serted.
Terrible Devastation.
Reports from coast and inland towns
depict terrible devastation. San Gior-
gio, Cremona, Portici, Resina and
Tore del Greco have been almost
completely abandoned. The inhabi-
tants of Tore Annunzato are pre-
pared to leave at moments warning.
Somma Vesuviana is another village
which has suffered most severely.
Although the eruption of the volcano
is less violent than it was twenty-four
hours ago the ashes are still falling in
great quantities. Refugees from the
threatened or destroyed villages are
pouring into Naples by the thousands,
veyance and on foot.
Fleeing in Every Direction.
The roads are crowded with process
sions of men and women carrying
crosses and crying piteously. Special
railway trains, warships and steamers
are employed in conveying the home
less people to Naples, Rome and Cas-
tellammare, while numbers of people
are fleeing over land in the direction
of Caserta. Not less than $1,000 refu-
gees have reached Castellammare.
King Victor Emmanuel and Queen
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.
King and Queen on Scene.
The king and queen and their suites
arrived at Naples yesterday morning
from Rome When the royal train
reached the station the eruption of the
volcano was almost at its worst, but
both insisted upon leaving immediate
ly for Tore Annunziata, the king de-
claring:
If Tore Annunziato is in danger it
Is my duty to be there"
Travelling in automobiles, and ac-
comDanied by the duke and duchess
of Aosta and the Princess of Schles-
wig Holstein, they set out for the af-
flicted districts.
About 150 900 refugees from the dis
trict of Somma Nesuviana have sought
shelter here and elsewhere The
stream of lava, which had been threat
ening Tore Annunziato has remained
stationary since Sunday evening so
that the danger that the place would
be overwhelmed appears to have
passed.