violently in
some cities, such as Oppido, from the immense magazines of oil which
were consumed.

Many persons were engulfed in deep fissures, especially the peasants
when flying across the open country, and their skeletons may perhaps be
buried in the earth to this day, at the depth of several hundred feet.

When Dolomieu visited Messina after the shock of Feb. 5th, he describes
the city as still presenting, at least at a distance, an imperfect image
of its ancient splendor. Every house was injured, but the walls were
standing; the whole population had taken refuge in wooden huts in the
neighborhood, and all was solitude and silence in the streets: it seemed
as if the city had been desolated by the plague, and the impression made
upon his feelings was that of melancholy and sadness. "But when I passed
over to Calabria, and first beheld Polistena, the scene of horror almost
deprived me of my faculties; my mind was filled with mingled compassion
and terror; nothing had escaped; all was levelled with the dust; not a
single house or piece of wall remained; on all sides were heaps of stone
so destitute of form, that they gave no conception of there ever having
been a town on the spot. The stench of the dead bodies still rose from
the ruins. I conversed with many persons who had been buried for three,
four, and even for five days; I questioned them respecting their
sensations in so dreadful a situation, and they agreed that of all the
physical evils they endured, thirst was the most intolerable; and that
their mental agony was increased by the idea that they were abandoned by
their friends, who might have rendered them assistance."[672]

It is supposed that about a fourth part of the inhabitants of Polistena,
and of some other towns, were buried alive, and might have been saved
had there been no want of hands; but in so general a calamity, where
each was occupied with his own misfortunes or those of his family, aid
could rarely be obtained. Neither tears, nor supplications, nor promises
of high rewards were listened to. Many acts of self-devotion, prompted
by parental and conjugal tenderness, or by friendship, or the gratitude
of faithful servants, are recorded; but individual exertions were, for
the most part, ineffectual. It frequently happened, that persons in
search of those most dear to them could hear their moans,--could
recognize their voices--were certain of the exact spot where they lay
buried beneath their feet,