EARTHQUAKE IN EUROPE.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 6685, 25 February 1887, Page 3

EARTHQUAKE IN EUROPE.

A APPALLING VISITATION. HUNDREDS OF LIVES LOST. ESCAPE OF THE PRINCE OF WALES. [special to press association.] London, Febrnary 23, Midnight. Intelligence of a terrible nature has just been received here from the Sonth of Europe, which has been the scene of a most destructive earthquake, spreading death and desolation in all directions, The news at present to hand is of a very vague description. The first intimation of the disaster came from Nice, where two severe shocks of earthquake were experienced about six in the morning. The shocks were preceded by a sound of distant rumbling, which seemed to grow iu intensity until the earth trembled with terrible violence, the agitation increasing and culminating in a shook of calamitous force. Half-naked people rushed from their houses into the streets. Women, attended by terrified children, hurried along, screaming in chorus, imploring the Ditty to protect them. Amidst a scene of the wildest and indescribable disorder a sudden and terrible termination was put to the earth’s agitation. The ground, which had apparently been receding from under the feet of those who were attempting to fly from the impending doom, was, as by a magic spell, forced into tranquility, and the next instant the houses rocked and were torn as if by a mighty unseen force and then fell to the ground, killing some and injuring a great number of the terror-stricken people. A large crowd of visitors who were staying in the town, of whom many were from England, have fled, but whether any of them were injured cannot yet be ascertained. The next news came from Cannes, where the Prince of Wales has been staying for some days past. Information from that oity states that the shocks wore experienced there with astounding severity, and muoh damage has been done. The Prince of Wales escaped without injury. The shocks were felt with full violence at Monaco, where rocks were split into atoms, while huge pieces were hnrled a considerable distance with death-dealing force. Some splinters were shot forth with meteoric force, rapidly wrecking the houses or falling into the aea with a deafening hiss. A great sensation was caused at Monte Carlo, where, although not felt with like force as at other places, the shocks had the effsot of driving the whole populace almost frantic. At Genoa the people assembled in the streets, and prayed with heartrending fervour. The town of Dianomarina is reported to be almost totally destroyed, and Oneglis, a town fifty-five miles south-west of Genoa, and the towns of Noli and Albisola have suffared to a great extent.

The latest news that has been received states that hundreds of people have been killed and woneded. Received Febrnary 24th, 11.45 a m. Paris, February 28. Several severe shocks of earthquake were experienced this morning about six o’clock. At Cannes, Nice, Mentone, many houses collapsed, but so far aa b known no loss of life has occurred. Received February 24th. 10.5 pja. Rome, February 23. The earthquake which was experienced this morning at Cannes and Nice extended through Northern Italy, doing an immense amount of damage in the Riviera,

where hundreds of persons are reported to have been killed. Paris, February 23. A few caenaltlee are reported to have occurred at Nice from the shocks of earthquake experienced this morning. DESCRIPTIVE NOTES.

The locality visited by this terrible dia aster app.ars from the telegrams to be the strip of country in the South of France and North ofi Italy situate on the Gulf of Genoa, which, on acconnt of its balmy climate, is so much resorted to by English people during the winter. The chief seat of the disturbance was apparently bounded by Nice on the one side and Cannes on the other, a distance o! about 90 or 100 mileß. At this time of the year thousands of invalids and others from England ani elsewhere would be staying in the towns named as having suffered from the earthquake, and among them would be many visitors from the colonies, who, by going to Nice, Sin Bemo, and the Biviera generally, escape the rigours of the English winter. Residents in Australia who have friends at Home will therefore await with special anxiety further newß regarding the extent of the disaster, which, it is hoped, moy n't prove so serious as at present it is represented. In regard to the towns mentioned in the telegram, the following particulars will probably be of interest

Nice, anciently known as Nicies, is a seaport, and episcopal city of France, capital of the Department Alpes Maritimes. It is beautifully situated on a plain at the mouth of the Faglione. The population is about 43,000. Its principal buildings are a palace, cathedral, convents, hospitals, theatre, bath establishments, an English chapel, and a triumphal arch. Cannes is another town much patronised as a winter resort, and has come into especial notice of late years owing to the fact, of the Queen and Prince of V» ales staying there. It is a seaport situate in the department of Alpes Maritimes, and possesses sjme historical interest to sngliah. people from the fact that Lord Brougham died there on May 7th, 1883. It has an ordinary population of about 14,000, and among itß public buildings is an English church. Monaco, with its great gambling establishment Monte Carlo, has become infamous in the annals of Europe, for its records of vice and crime. Gambling in its worst form is still carried on, and not a month pisses without its record of numerous tuicidts on the part of victims drawn into the infatuation. It may well be imagined, as the telegram intimates, that the dire event caused much consternation among the people assembled at this place, and engaged in its unholy occupations. The principality of Monaco has been held by theGenoese family Grimaldi since 968. By treaty on 2nd February, 1861, the Prince ceded the communes of Bcquebrune and Mentone, the chief pan of his dominion, to Franco for four millionfrancs. The present Prince Charleß 111. was born in 1818, and succeeded his father, Fiorestan, injlßs6. The chief part of his revenue is derived from the gambling establishments of the place. The peculation of the principality in 1878 was 7019. Diano Marino is a small town situated in Sardinia, with a population of between two and three thousand.

Oneglia is another Sardinian town about forty-one miles E.N.E. of Nice, on the Gulf of Genoa, near the mouth of the Impero. It has remains of fortifications destroyed by the French in 1792, a college, and a port. Noli and Albisola are two small townß situated on the same coast, the former with a population of about 2009, and the latter about 1700. Genoa is awe * known fortified city and seaport of Nor n taly,beautifully situated on the Bay of t same name, which will always l?e mous as the birthplace of Columbus, not for other reasons. It is an important commercial and manufacturing city, Btill noted for its velvets, silks, jewellery, optical and surgical instruments, artificial flowers, Ac. ■ihe population is upwards of 130,000. The port is protected by several moles, and the city rises like an amphitheatre out of the water, being situated on the ridges of hills. It possesses a number of palaces, all rich in choice works of art. The Cathedral is a SaraceaoGothic structure, and there are numerous other handsome churohes, a university, convents, arsenals, Banks, &c. It is an archbishop’s see, and has a royal college and naval school. Altogether Genoa is a most interesting town, rich in public buildings, historical associations, and rich in a more material sense. In conclusion, it may be added that in searching the history of the district for anything like a parallel to the present disaster, we have to go back to the year 1819, when Genoa, Palermo, Borne, and a number of other towns were greatly damaged by earthquakes, and thousands are said to havo perished.