Page:Great Neapolitan Earthquake of 1857 Vol 2.djvu/57

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GENERAL WAVE-PATH—IL CROCE.

were still, in situ as they fell. All that half, to the south side which abutted against the south side wall, remained standing, the projecting force having been resolved principally against that wall; but the other half, having no such support, and the heavy-hinged doors of the same pattern and material, being open to the west at the time, in the way shown in Fig. 5, (as explained clearly to me by the parish priest), which gave freedom of fall to this half, but support by inertia (or back weight) to the preceding; the north half was wholly thrown, and the separate blocks of the capping, as well as the pilasters indicated the direction to have been 120° E. of north.

A general examination then made through the buildings of the town, as seen from the streets, and occasional admeasurements of several pairs of fissures, gave wave-path directions, from 120° to 150° E. of north, and uncertain indications as to emergence, but all proving it, from the north.

Upon a comparison of the whole, and attaching the most weight to the best observations, and in the most favourable conditions, I concluded here, a general wave-path between 150° and 160° E. of north, or more exactly one 152° 30' E. of north.

In the Punta della Chiesa, I found again one of those little stone crosses—"II Croce della Chiesa" uninjured, and, of course, pointed out with superstitious wonder. This one was nearly 15 feet in height, but socketed together and of hard limestone.