Page:Awful phenomena of nature (2).pdf/12

 iſland: and not only that, but Naples and Malta in the ſhock. It was impoſſible for any body this country to keep on their legs on the  earth; nay, thoſe that lay on the ground were  from ſide to ſide as on a rolling billow:  walls leaped from their founda ionsfoundations [sic] ſeveral  &c. The miſchief it did is amazing; almost all buildings in the countries were thrown down. -four cities and towns, beſide an incredible number of villages, were either destroyed or greatly damaged. We ſhall only inſtance the fate of, one of the moſt famous, ancient, and flouriſhing cities in the kingdom; the reſidence of ſeveral monarchs, and an univerſity. This once famous city had the greateſt ſhare in the tragedy. Father Anthon. Serrovita, being on his way thither and at the diſtance of a few miles, obſerved a cloud like night hovering over the city, and  aroſe from the mouth of Montgibello great  of flame, which ſpread all around. The ſea all of ſudden began to roar and riſe in billows; and  was a blow, as if all the artillery in the world  been at once diſcharged. The birds flew about aſtoniſhed: the cattle in the fields ran crying, & His and his companions horſes ſtopped ſhort, trembling; ſo that they were forced to alight. They were no ſooner off, but they were lifted from the ground above two palms, when caſting his eyes towards Catania, he with amazement ſave nothing to a thick cloud of duſt in the air. This was the ſcene of their calamity, for of the magnificent Catania, there was not leaſt footſtep to be ſeen S. Bonajutus aſſures us, that of 18900 inhabitants, 18000 periſhed therein.

This and the two preceding accounts are taken from Encyclopadia Britannica 3d Editn, vol. 6--EAR.