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An account of this dreadful earthquake, is given
by the celebrated Father Kircher. It happened whilst
he was on his journey to visit mount AEtna, and
the rest of the wonders that lie toward the South
of Italy. Kircher is considered, by scholars, as
one of the greatest prodigies of learning.
"Having hired a boat, in company with four
more, (two friars of the order of St. Francis,
and two seculars,) we launched from the harbour
of Messina, in Sicily; and arrived, the same day,
at the promontory of Pelourus. Our destination was
for the city of Euphaemia, in Calabria, where we
had some business to transact, and where we designed
to tarry for some time. "
2 "However, Providence seemed willing to cross
our design; for we were obliged to continue three
days at Pelorus, on account of the weather; and
though we often put out to sea, yet were often driven
back. At length, wearied with the delay, we resolved
to prosecute our voyage; and, although the sea seemed
more than usually agitated, we ventured forward.
3 "The gulf of Charybdis, which we approached,
seemed whirled round in such a manner, as to form
a vast hollow, merging to a point in the centre.
Proceeding onward, and turning my eyes to Aetna,
I saw it cast forth large volumes of smoke, of mountainous
sizes, which entirely covered the island, and blotted
out the shores from my view. This together with
the dreadful noise, and the sulphurous stench which
was strongly perceived, filled me with apprehensions,
that some more dreadful calamity was impending.
"
4 "The sea itself seemed to wear a very unusual
appearance : they who have seen a lake in a violent
shower of rain, covered all over with bubbles, will
conceive some idea of it's agitation's. My surprise
was still increased, by the calmness and serenity
of the weather; not a breeze, not a cloud, which
might be supposed to put all nature thus into motion.
I therefore warned my companions, that an earthquake
was approaching; and, after some time, making for
the shore with all possible diligence, we landed
at Tropea, happy and thankful for having escaped
that threatening dangers of the sea.
5 "But our triumphs at land were of short duration's;
for we had scarcely arrived at the Jesuits' College,
in that city, when our ears were stunned with a
horrid sound, resembling that of an infinite number
of chariots, driven fiercely forward; the wheels
rattling, and thongs cracking. Soon after this,
a most dreadful earthquake ensued; the whole tract
upon which we stood seemed to vibrate, as if we
were in the scale of a balance that continued wavering.
This motion, however, soon grew more violent; and
being no longer able to keep my legs, I was thrown
prostrate upon the ground. In the mean time,
the universal ruin round me doubled my amazement."
6 "The crash of falling houses, the tottering
of towers, and the groans of the dying, all contributed
to raise my terror and despair. On every side of
me, I saw nothing but a scene of ruin; and danger
threatening wherever I should fly. I
recommended myself to God, as my last great refuge.
"
7 "At the hour, O how vain was every sublunary
happiness! Wealth, honour, empire, wisdom all mere
useless sounds, and as empty as the bubbles of the
deep! Just standing on the threshold of eternity,
nothing but God was my pleasure; and the nearer
I approached I only loved him the more."
8 "After some time, however finding that I
remained unhurt, amidst the general concussion,
I resolved to venture for safety; and running as
fast as I could, I reached the shore, but almost
terrified out of my reason. I did not search long
here, till I found the boat in which I had landed,
and my companions also, whose were terrors were
even greater than mine. Our meeting was not of that
kind, where every one is desirous of telling his
own happy escape; it was all silence, and a gloomy
dread of impending terrors."
9 "Leaving this seat of desolation, we prosecuted
our voyage along the coast; and the next day
came to Rochetta, where we landed, although the
earth still continued in violent agitations. But
we had scarcely arrived at our inn, when we were
once more obliged to return to the boat; and, in
about half an hour, we saw the greater part of the
town, and the inn which we had put up, dashed to
the ground, and burying the inhabitants beneath
the ruins."
10 "In this manner, proceeding onward
in our little vessel, finding no safety at land,
and yet, from the smallness of our boat, having
but a very dangerous continuance at sea, we were
bound. Here, wherever I turned my eyes, nothing
but scenes of ruin and horror appeared; towns and
castles leveled to the ground; Stromboli, though
at sixty miles distance, belching forth flames in
an unusual manner, and with a noise which I could
distinctly hear."
11 "But my attention was quickly turned from
more remote, to contiguous danger. The rumbling
sound of an approaching earthquake, which we by
this time were grown acquainted with, alarmed us
for the consequences; it every moment seemed to
grow louder, and to approach nearer. The place on
which we stood now began to shake most dreadfully:
so that being unable to stand, my companions and
I caught hold of whatever shrub grew next to us,
and supported ourselves in that manner."
12 "After some time, this violent paroxysm
ceasing, we again stood up, in order to prosecute
our voyage to Euphaemia, which lay within sight.
In the mean time, while we were preparing for this
purpose, I turned my eyes toward the city, but could
see only a frightful dark cloud, that seemed to
rest upon the place. This the more surprised us,
as the weather was so very serene."
13 "We waited, therefore, till the cloud had
passed away: then turning to look for the city,
it was totally sunk. Wonderful to tell! Nothing
but a dismal and putrid lake was seen where it stood.
We looked about to find some one that could tell
us of its sad catastrophe, but could see no person.
All was become a melancholy solitude; a scene
of hideous desolation. "
14 "Thus proceeding pensively along, in quest
of some human being that could give us a little
information, we at length saw a boy sitting by the
shore, and appearing stupefied with terror. Of him,
therefore, we inquired concerning the fate of the
city; but he could not be prevailed on to give us
an answer. "
15 "We entreated him, with every expression
of tenderness and pity, to tell us; but his senses
were quite wrapped up in the contemplation of the
danger he had escaped. We offered him some victuals,
but he seemed to loath the sight. We still persisted
in our offices of kindness; but he only pointed
to the place of the city, like one out of his senses;
and then running up into the woods, was never heard
of after. Such was the fate of the city of Euphaemia."
16 "As we continued our melancholy course along
the shore, the whole coast, for the space of two
hundred miles, presented nothing but the remains
of cities; and men scattered without a habitation,
over the fields. Proceeding thus along, we at length
ended our distressful voyage by arriving at Naples,
after having escaped a thousand dangers both at
sea and land." |
