Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1908-12-30
Calabria Is a Charnel House and the
Italian Nation is in Mourning
Heartrending Episodes
THOUSANDS Of INJURED MUST PERISH FOR LACK OF HELP
Half Of the Population Of Eastern Sicily is Dead and the
Other Half Is Weeping Amidst the Ruins of Their
Homes of Disaster and Horror


i lation of Calabria and the eastern
part of Sicily are dead. The other
half is weeping. From the latest state
ments today, it is feared that the to-
tai number of victims in Sicily and
Calabria will reach more than a hun
dred thousand, while the damage tc
property approXimates several hum
dred millions. AS the great extent
of the seismic disturbances becomes
apparent, it seems impossible to eX-
aggerate the horrors which have fol-
lowed them The, calamity which has
overwhelmed Italy is almost beyond
the imagination, not because OF the
dead but because of the innumerable
Injured buried in the ruins, many OF
whom will perish because of the i'm
possibility to rescue them from the
ruins of their former homes. The
whole of Italy is stunned and at the
scene of the disaster, the bulk OF the
people are literally demented with the
suddenness and the extent OF the blow.
King Victor Emmanuel and Queen
Helena arrived at Messina today. AS
they made their way into the ruined
town the scene Of disaster and horror
was too much for the Queen, VINO al
most swooned. Crowds Of terror
stricken people swarmed around the
roval party. throwing themselves in
the mud and screaming for pity and
aid. Many terrible stories are re-
lated in connection with the rescue
work. The .rescuers had to contend
with superstitions so deep-rooted in
the Sicilians' mind that in many in
stances the injured men and women
clung to crumbling walls and refused
10 let 90 their hold and seek a safer
position.
Stromboli in Eruption.
Rome. Dec 30.--The volcano OF
Stromboli is active and the seas
around the island are very agitated
and dangerous to navigation. The
Pope has telegraphed the archbishop
at Palermo a large sum of money and
instructed him to proceed to Messina
Immediately to help the survivors.
Devastation In Calabria.
Persons arriving at Cataniro from
the coast state that Messina is still
blazing despite the torrential down.
pour of rain. Reports received IN
dicate that thirty-fve towns and vii
lages have been wiped out in the out
living districts of Calabria, while the
number of dead in that district alone
exceeds $4,000. The few survivors
are mad with terror and have fled
to the forests and mountain tops
where they are subsisting on roots and
the bark of tres.
No news was received up to o'clock
this afternoon as to the tate or
Aschency, the American consul at
Messina. All private and official ef-
forts to ascertain whether he is still
alive have resulted in failure.
Cable communication with the AGO
.lian Islands, rs miles north of Sicily,
is interrupted. IT is evident the line
is broken and 1t is feared the island
is also devastated. The largest OF
the group is Lipari, and the capital
town has a.population of 10000
Fire Completes Work of Destruction.
Catzanzar, Dec. 30.-Reports receiv-
ed here early this morning say that
the town Of Bagnara, on the coast
north of Reggie, is completely wiped
out, fire finishing the work OF destruc-
ton. The report says: All the m
habitants Of Bagnara are dead" me
town had about 10000 people. In a
few days time 1t will be scattered
\ feap Of ruins which alone will mark
the site Of the once populous town.
Such fragmentarX news as IS re-
ceived from Reggie confirms a report
that the city is practically obliterated.
A laconic telegram from a telegraph
\ operator on the scene says: Reggie
has been entirely destroyed. Local
director Of telegraphs and operators
dead. Messina and Reggie look
like Pompeii."
Church Collapse Kills Many.
Signor Orso, who was thought to
have been killed, reached this point
this afternoon after "a hours Of fear
ful experiences. He could hardly talk
but said Reggie was almost entirely
destroyed, that the dead ran into the
4 thousands, and the sLrrouding vii
lages were also devastated. The may
Or Of Seminar, town in Calaoria,
telegraphs his town IS practically de-
stroyed. 1t had 1000 people. Up to
y the time Of reporting, rescuers un-