Page:Great Neapolitan Earthquake of 1857 Vol 2.djvu/111

70 88° 30' W. of north; and the mean from the fissures of the body of the edifice, precisely corresponds with the direction of throw that is given by the spherical triangle, broken from the dome at the west side. The great east and west fissures in the arch of the nave and chancel, evidence a separate shock, which must have been within 10° or 15° at most of north and south in path. This fissure, however, has been widened, and many others in the same general direction, in the soffits of the great arches beneath the dome, by its rocking high above; the oscillation at first, in the plane of the primary wave-path having, as usual, become gyratory.

The fallen masses, from the roof and roodloft, at the extreme east end of the chancel, were thrown westward and southward. From the altar at the north end of the north transept, a little alabaster image was thrown from a shrine, and found on the table beneath, having been thrown 1·5 foot to the south and west. The figure was 15 inches high, the base round 3¼ inches diameter; the centre of gravity was about 8½ inches above the base, and it weighed 7 rotuli by trial. The irregular form of the figure rendered any calculation of velocity from its throw useless. The episcopal throne and canopy, which stood against the north wall of the chancel, was thrown forward south, from the wall. An image of St. Michael, that stood in a niche in the west wall of the north transept, was found leaning back against the rere of the niche (i.e. thrown westward). In the sacristy are a number of old oil paintings high up the walls, hung from single nails. All those, upon the two north and south walls, are thrown more or less out of plumb towards the south, and all upon the two east and west walls, similarly out of