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The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Exeter, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Extract from Naples letter dated March 11 recounts a tragic anecdote from the Vesuvius earthquake: Marchioness de Sparata, evacuated to harbor, returns for her infant son, trapped in collapsing house, pleads for help ignored amid chaos, both die in fire embracing.
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Extract of a letter from Naples, March 11.
"Of the many anecdotes related concerning the desolations of Vesuvius, the following is by much the most terrible and distressing. The Marchioness de Sparata, during the Earthquake, was conveyed by her husband to the harbour; but, during the preparations for embarkation, having come to her senses, and perceiving that her infant son was not with her, she profited of her husband's being too busied to attend to her, and ran back to town: she found her house safe, and going up stairs, took her infant from its cradle, but could not return, as in the interim the stairs had fallen; she flew from room to room, distracted by repeated crashes of one or other part of the building, and got to where, thinking herself safe, she held up her son, and implored the assistance of those who saw her; but the interest which every one felt for himself at the moment of this dreadful and general calamity, prevented every attempt to save the impending danger; and the house taking fire, this unhappy woman fell a sacrifice to her maternal affections. Her body was found at last clasped to the arms of her babe—an embrace which death itself could not loose."
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Naples
Event Date
March 11
Key Persons
Outcome
marchioness de sparata and her infant son perish in house fire following earthquake collapse.
Event Details
During the earthquake, Marchioness de Sparata was taken to the harbor by her husband but returned for her son, found her house intact initially, retrieved the infant, but stairs collapsed; she moved room to room amid crashes, held up her son seeking help which was not given due to general panic, house caught fire, both died in embrace.