Page:Great Neapolitan Earthquake of 1857 Vol 2.djvu/141

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
94
SPINAZZOLA—OSTUNI—BRINDISI, ETC.

thinks, a little to the south of from west to east It was a strong horizontal shake, succeeded by a continued tremor for several seconds; then another heavy horizontal shake, and then a second tremor. Altogether, he thought the movement must have lasted from three to five minutes, but added, that he only judged so, and that people judged badly when frightened.

There was a rolling noise, heard by many around him, but he did not hear it himself which he ascribed to his whole attention having been otherwise directed; others said the noise began when the shock did, and ended with it. The Campanile of Spinazzola, he said, had been fissured, but the mischief done, was chiefly confined to old and very ill-built structures.

Part of a church had fallen at Spinazzola; but it was before the shock in a tottering and dangerous state, and might have come down at any moment.

I caused my photographer to obtain the two Photogs. Nos. 322 and 323 (Coll. Roy. Soc), the former being a view of this Campanile, looking eastward. It was fissured right through the north and south walls, nearly vertically; but the fissure appears to have been too narrow to show distinctly in the photograph; the fact, however, supports the narrative of Padre Campanelli.

Upon the east coast, the shock had been felt as far down as Ostuni, but did no damage whatever. It was perceived at Brindisi by some persons, but was not perceptible at all further south, as at Lecce and Otranto.

Passing northward along the coast, it was distinctly felt, but without damage, at Monopoli, Polignano, Bari (where it was severe), Molfetto, and Barletta, and was