Page:Great Neapolitan Earthquake of 1857 Vol 2.djvu/174



The first rock that I saw from under the snow at the west side, proved to be nearly, vertical beds, in the variegated clay slate—Apennine marls, I suppose—and within two miles down from the top, we came upon cretaceous-looking limestone, having passed some intermediate beds of red metamorphic rocks.

The view now opens upon Bella, a town perched upon, and stretching along the top, of a thin-edged ridge, of soft rock and diluvium to the westward. The general direction of the ridge, is 110° W. of north, and it abuts and is connected with, much higher ridges at its east end.

The torrent of Carpineto, runs at its east and south bases, which falls into the Platano, and ultimately into the Salaris far away.

The town has suffered, but not severely. The church, whose axial line is 140° E. of north, has had its campanile thrown from the north end, on to the roof of the church. The church itself, is fissured both longitudinally and transversely. The direction of throw of the Campanile, indicated a wave-path of 25° to 25° 30' E. of north. Several other buildings were fissured, but the near approach of darkness