Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1883 — CARNAGE. [ARTICLE]

CARNAGE.

Whole Towns In the Island of Ischia, Italy, Annihilated by an Earthquake* r— ——» J*> Appalling Slaughter of Human Beings at Casamicciola, a Famous Resort * ’ *4 ' ♦ thousands of Persons Crushed to Death Beneath the Falling Buildings. \ * [Cable Dispatch (July 30) from Naples,ltaly.] Three thousand Inhabitants of the island of Ischia were killed by an earthquake. The productive part of the island was ruined, and vineyards, farms, mines, baths and summer residences by the hundred were destroyed. About 9:30 o'clock Saturday night, soon after the majority of the inhabitants of the to wn of Casamicciola, a watering place of about 3,500 inhabitants, hacf retired to rest, shocks of earthquake began to be felt Many of the citizens of the upper classes were at the theater at the time. The first trembling of the buildings awoke those who were sleeping, and caused the theater-goers to be filled with alarm. In an instant a more violent shock came The people in the theater rushed wildly out of dobra The fourth shock leveled most of the houses of the town. Many of the citizens were resting in their beds These were buried under the toppling walla The Hotel Piccola Sentinella sank into the earth and burned with many of its inmates. Home of the inhabitants escaped to the sea at the first shock, and made their wav to Naples with the news of the calamity. The ground opened in many places, while in other places there was no movement Water gushed out of the springs. Several boilers in the bathing-houses burst The theater, a wooden structure, was literally torn open, allowing the audience to escape. A gentleman who was staying at the Hotel Piccola Sentinella, and who escaped with his life, relates that he only had time to secure some candles for use in the darkness and ruins before the collapse of the building occurred. A person who lived near the now ruined bathing establishment says he escaped from the place amid falling walls and balconies, terrified people shouting, “to the sea”

The shock came with irresistible violence, and was accompanied by a deafening noise; The confusion in the theater was fearful Lights were overthrown and set fire to the budding, and a dense cloud of dust filled the air. Cries of pain and terror were heard on all sides Gn hearing shouts of “to the sea,” a general rush was made toward the shore. Every boat and floating teing was taken by assault The whole Island is in a condition of intense terror, sufliering and helplessness. Although all the steam vessels within reach have been endeavoring to aid the people, and have removed many thousands of the injured to the main land, the thousands of injured cannot be estimated. The destruction was most complete at Casamicciola, the famous pleasure re ort, with its hot springs and bates, the Saratoga of Italy. Of its populace of 4,000, and its summer visitors to an equal number, few escaped death or injury, and the losses deeply affect every portion of Italy, as the guests were drawn from the wealthy and aristocratic districts of the entire kingdom. Several members of the National Assembly and the Senate a. e miss’ng and unaccounted for, while the earth .opened and buried forever a number of Roman families who had visited the island on a pleasure excursion. Many hundreds were killed at Ischia, the capital of the island and the seapdrt nearest to t*he mainland, among them being the prefect, Fiorentina As soon as the news reached Rome and Naples, assistance ol evqry available sort was forwarded. Among the first to leave for the scene was Admiral Acton, the Minister of Marine, and Signor Berti, the Minister of Trade, who were not content to issue their commands from Rome. Details or several hundred soldiers and marines, whose services could be utilized at sappers, or in the temporary hospital, or kindred work, were also taken to the island. They improvised stretchers and carried hundreds of the wounded to the steamers, which took them as well as numbers of the homeless, to Naples