A MODERN POMPEII.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 153, 29 June 1901, Page 5 (Supplement)

A MODERN POMPEII.

Among bt elnteresttng features qf the May lease of the "Universal Magazine" Is an article by Mr Hurry rtc Windt, desoribiug a ylsit to tho modern Pompeii, Bussana VeciUla, 0 large mountain village about seven juHes from San Ilemo. This place was desW«d »y the Sreut earthquake of 188?, ojioa wllieu occasion the entlrcJliviera,i*oni SlnrseiHes to Genoa, was laid waste. It was In the cnttrch where most lives were lost. Inscribing the scene, Mr. de Wlndt says: "is the father ascended the pulpit a violent gust of wind shook the building, startling the congregation, for, just before, the air had been perfectly still. A minute later a hurricane was raging with such fury that, tile priest was inaudible, but he continued preaching, although some of the people rose from tlieir seats. These were leaving the building In dismay when true ground roekea beneath their feet, and two or three-were dashed to the ground—to die there. The rest of the fugitives rushed into the plaua, only to be crushed by falling houses. Those who were saved say that at tirst the earth roue and fell like the waves of the sea, ewaylus large buildings, aboot like ships at anchor in a gale. Th«n came three violent suocfcs, at intervals of about 15 seconds. Immediately following the first arose a deafening sound of falling walls, and the Bcreams of those within the church, for most of those at home were killed in their Sleep. The father at once saw the peril, and shouted from the altar, 'Save yourBflvea!' But it was too late, for the words were scarcely tittered when the cries were •tilled by a dull roar that drowned all other sounds. The roof had collapsed, bnrylng «t*y «T victims. The father was saved. It Wait'still dark.and from the Sacristy, where h« hid taken refuge, he could see nothing. At length he managed to strike a match, and grope his way to the altar rails, where, raising his eyes, he beheld the stars. 'Until tbett,' he tells us, 'I thought that this was sorely the end of the world.' "