Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-31
Seventy Thousand Persons pefsAed
in This One Town as Result
Of Earthquake.
OEST|TuT|0A IS APPALLING
Reaoio and Score Of Other Towns De-
vastatee-4o,ooo Died in Reggie
Total Deaths Far Above Hundred
Of Earth Con-
vuIsion Starving.
(Bv Associated Prese.)

(By Associated PreseD
ROME Dec. 30-The immensely or
the earthquake disaster In Southern
Italy and Sicily can only be meas
ured by the fact that it is now esti
mated that 10000 people persisted
in Messina and Reggie A score CT
other towns have been devastated,
and thousands of victims in these
places must be added to the roll.
In the face of this awful catastro-
phe all Italy stands appalled,.
Nor has the full ceain list yet been
reported Ship loads OF fugitiveS
have arrived at Naples and other
ports. and the vast majority of these
are sorely injured. Thousands are
wandering about the streets starving.
The forces that on Monday over
whelmed the cities also destroyed
the means Of subsistence.
Communication Reestabiished.
Telegraph communication has been
established with Messina. the appa-
retus having been installed in a rail
way van.
Messages which have come over
the line though they have been me-
ager in detail. show that hope is
gone.
Nothing remains OF the city but a
mass Of ruins that have been swept
by fire. A more handful CT surviv-
ors are being cared for by the Rus
sian forces, but their distress has
been increased ~ the lev winds.
Destitution Everywhere.
Destitutioa is everywhere and is
appalling. There is little food and
less water. OF Messina, 10000 poDu-
lation 1t is believed that fully 10000
persisted.
Forty Thousand people died in Reg
King Victor Emmanuel and Queen
Helena are in. Mess'na today. The
| king explored the ruins regardless OF
the danger to which he expressed
himself. He was often moved to
tears at the heartrending scenes he
came upon at every turn.
The king was loud in his praise OF
the splendid work accomplished by
the Italian, Russian and English
blucjackets who saved many persons
! who otherwise would have persisted,
The queen spent the dav In the
| wards of impoverished hospitals Wis
iting the wounded. many Of whom
have lost all that was dear TO them.
Her majesty did her best 10 cheer
thin with womanly words Of consola-
ton often breaking into sobs As she
| listened to their dreadful tGles Of
suffering.
The king left for Reggie tonight
Refugees Terror Stricken.
Catania, the largest city nearest 10
the zone Of the disaster. is crowded
| with refugees and the continuous
| stream OF fugitives coming IN the
| sight Of the wounded and repetition
Of real or imaginary earthquakes
have SO alarmed the peonIe that thew
are becoming uncomfortable. There
Is no longer cry places where the
refugees may find shelter
Cardinal Frash-Nava Bontife.
archbishop Of Catania. has employed
all the money in his possession 10
1 provide bread for the fugjtives. but
she poor Of Catania are also in great
| need, rs the ordinary business pur'
suits have been entirely interrupt
ed
The government Is finding difiicu'.
~ in ascertaininS TIRE fate Of the
\ mary foreigners who were IN the
Earthquake zone at the time of the
cs:astrophe.
American Consul Dead.
The commander Of the hattlcshir
Admiral NakharofY. which arrived
1 with fueitives a. Naples today. con-
firms the report Of the death Of the
American consul at Messina. Arthur
3. Cheney and his wife. who were
buried in the ruins Of the consul
/ ate
| The rumbcr Of Americans In the
city and southern italy Is believed
| ~ y. small and several Of them are
reported 10 have been staying at TIA
ormina whfch r. on the east coast
ssor: 20 miies southwest Of Mess'na.
According ~ the latest renorfs this
place entered no harm from the
earthquake.
Messages o. Coincidence.
All the soyercisps and heads Of
states OF the foreign government
have sent expressions Of warUo0l
sympathy and deeu;sf -