Page:Great Neapolitan Earthquake of 1857.djvu/251

Rh Most of these are recorded in the Catalogues of Perrey, and in the General Earthquake Catalogue of the British Association; but the particulars of many are only to be  found in the works of local authors, such as Colosimo,  Onofrio, Grimaldi, Lombardi, Battista, Don Arabia, Colletta, &c., which are scarce and not to be consulted collectively out of Naples.

As observed in all habitual seismic regions, the great shock of December, 1857, was preluded by several minor ones. In 1856 shocks are recorded by Perrey ('Catal. Ann.') in January, March, May, August, October, and November,  some of which embraced areas extending simultaneously to  Naples, Melfi, and Cosenza; and fully an equal number are  said to have marked the succeeding year prior to December:  the most important in either year, was felt chiefly at and  around Salerno on the 12th Oct. 1856, and seems to  have escaped the usually extensive information of Perrey. The following notice of it occurred in the 'Times' of 16th Oct. 1856— ", Oct. 12.—The following account of an earthquake at Sorrento is given by a correspondent:—'A few hours ago we experienced two shocks of earthquake more severe than have been felt in these regions for several years. A few minutes after two o'clock A. M.  I was awakened by a sensation as if my bed were about to  slide out of the window in front of me. From previous experience I instantly became aware of what was taking  place, and lost no time in collecting my family in the  doorways of the sleeping-rooms, which are supported by  very thick walls. The oscillations continued in rhythmical intervals of three seconds until I had counted four of