18o8.] the lale Earthquakes in Southern Italy, 533 



remains. She was dug out alive after eleven days, which she had 

 counted from a ray of light that reached her. She recovered, but 

 remained sad and gloomy, could not bear to see a child, would 

 neither marry nor become a nun. She preferred solitude, turned 

 away with a shudder from houses, and liked to sit musing under 

 a tree, whence no buildings were seen. She pined away, and died 

 at five-and-twenty. 



More fortunate was the lot of Marianna De' Franceschi, a 

 beautiful young lady of 20, who, in the earthquake of 1804, was 

 dug out at Guardia Kegia, after being buried for ten days and 

 eight hours. She recovered, married, and became the mother of 

 a numerous family. 



A lady with child was dug out after 30 hours by her devoted 

 husband, who nearly died from over-fatigue. On being asked what 

 her thoughts were during the time, she answered, " I was waiting." 



In the late earthquake, a gentleman of Montemurro, whilst 

 escaping from the house with his wife and a large family of children, 

 remembered that one of them had been left in bed. He rushed 

 back to take him, but the house tumbling on every side, he remained 

 alone on a wall. All his family were crushed to death. The blow 

 was too great ; his mind gave way, and he went raving mad. At 

 Saponara, the judge was buried under the ruins of his house with 

 his young wife and two children. He was dug out alive, but his 

 wife was found dead lying across his knees with her arms out- 

 stretched towards her dead children. He was overwhelmed by 

 his loss ; ever since he has diligently fulfilled the duties of his 

 office, but has never been heard to allude to the event, or seen 

 to smile. 



Instances were mentioned, showing how tenacious life could be 

 under the most trying circumstances. Besides the cases of Basili 

 and I)e' Franceschi already recorded, in 1783 a baby was dug out 

 alive on the third day, and lived. At Montemurro, in December 

 last, ISIaria Antonia Palermo and her two little girls, one of them 

 only thirteen months old, were dug out on the eighth day, and 

 lived. AVith some animals the length of time they had stood alive 

 ^as quite remarkable. A donkey was found living yet on the 

 fifteenth day ; and in 1783 two mules and a chicken were found 

 still alive on the twenty-second, and two pigs on the thirty-second 

 day. 



Five photographs of some of the ruined towns, which Mr. 

 Mallet had kindly lent for the evening, were exhibited. Of the 

 ruined cathedral of Tito, and of the churches of Polla, and other 

 ruins, beautiful illustrations were afforded at the end of the discourse, 

 by a series of photographs which Messrs. Negretti and Zambra, of 

 Hatton Garden, had had executed on the spot, and which, by the aid 

 of the electric lamp, were reproduced on a large scale on the wall. 



[J.P.L.] 



