254 THE BORDERLAND OF SCIENCE. 



As might be expected, the soil did not continue un- 

 broken by the violent shocks to which it was subjected. 

 In the central parts of the disturbed region, the earth 

 opened so widely as to swallow up large houses. In 

 Cannamaria many buildings were ' completely en- 

 gulphed in one chasm,' insomuch that not a trace of them 

 was ever seen afterwards. So violently did these chasms 

 close their yawning jaws, that afterwards, when exca- 

 vations were made for the recovery of valuables, the 

 workmen found the contents of houses crushed into a 

 compact mass with detached portions of masonry. In 

 some instances persons were engulphed by one shock 

 and thrown out again alive by the following one. 



The magnitude of some of the fissures which were 

 formed during this earthquake affords startling indi- 

 cations of the tremendous violence of the earth's 

 internal throes. Grimaldi observed in the territory of 

 San Fili a newly formed ravine half a mile long and 

 twenty-five feet deep, and another of similar dimensions 

 in Rosarno. In the district of Plaisano three enormous 

 fissures were formed : one a quarter of a mile long, 

 about 30 feet in width, and 225 feet deep ; the second, 

 three quarters of a mile long, 150 feet broad, and 100 

 feet deep ; and the third, nearly a mile long, 105 feet 

 broad, and 30 feet deep. 



If any evidence were required as to the true nature 

 of the disturbance, it would be found in the remarkable 

 motions of masses slightly attached to the surface-soil. 

 Paving-stones were flung into the air, and masses of 

 loose soil flung in showers over the surrounding ob- 

 jects. 



