The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-30
THOUSANDS DEAD;
 CITIES WRECKED
King and Queen on Way to Stricken Section Pope Gives Large
 Sum for Relief.

racks at Messlna were buried under the ruins.
 Tine rock of charybis nov blocks the entrance to the Strait of Messina.s
 The tidal wave wrecked the light houses in the strait. including Fare Beacon, and they crashed into the sea. ALL ITALY. MoURNs
 FOR STRICKEN SICILY.
 Rome. Dec.s 29--Stunned at the mag nitude of the calamity which has over taken fellow countrymen. all Italy mourns tonight for the stricken province of Calabria and the island of Sicily.
 Accustomed for centuries to earth uuskes. Italy stands ever in dread, but none was prepared for the disaster which in the fraction of a minute yes terday devastated cities and towns and caused the death of thousands.
 sMessina. whose tragic history has been marked by tidal waves, and war and which was the. center of yester- days terrestial maelstrom, was shaken to ruins. Flames burst forth to com- pletb the city's destruction and to burn alive untold numbers ho5eIessly pinioned beneath fallen walls and broken timbers.
 The strait of Messina was shaken and twisted by the earth's trembling, and mariners report the channel alter ed beyond recognition. The ports and villages on both the continental ana sicilian sides were wrecked or. inun- dated and all light houses along the coasts were swallowed up. Navigation now is dangerous and in some places Impossible.
 ReGwfo la Destroyed.
 Tn the Caiabrian district, which was only beginning to recover from the effects Of the earthquake of 1905, Reg i gi0 was the center of the earth's up- heaval. The seaport of Reggfo is re- ported as no longer existing and the city proper is in ruins.
 The loss of life on both sides of the straits and in eastern Sicily. was enor- nous. One of the refugees from Reg 1 gio. who was the first to bring the news of the city's destruction tried to make his way to Sicily in a sail boat ! but was compelled to return and finally found safety at peninsula port.
 In describing his experience he said:
 ''rhe sea was strangely. mysterious Iy aEitated. and the heavens were ablaze. Nearing Sicily the cIearing smoke revealed the mystery; Messina was in flames. Tn the frenzy of de- spair turned my boat back to Gala l bria."
 Starving, bleeding from injuries and ! almost insane from their terrifying ex, periences Messina's survivors arc 'flee- | Ing in all directions. The spectacle presented by the ruined seaport Is de. scribed as terrifying. Tnmbling build- | Ings. both killed and mutilated, while hundreds of the injured. imprisoned in the wreckage, were abandoned to their ! fate by the fleeing populace.
 One of those who escaped said: 'The earth seemed suddenly to drop and then turn violently on its axis. The whole population who practically were precipitated from the houses rent in twain, were spun around like tops as they ran through the streets. Many | fell, crushed to death and others be- wildered, took refuge for breath be- side the tottering walls, where they soon met the fate of their companions. Already British and Russian squad rons have arrived at Messina. Sailors land marines have been disembarked and they have performed courageous | ACLS III IGELuiHE anu HRr moving the wounded. A large number of survivors have been transferred to | the warships, which are transformed Into great floating hospitals It Is inI- peratfve that the dead be removed 1 from the ruins in order to avoid a pestilenee.
 Steamers with doctors, druggists. firemen and workmen have arrived at Messina from Catania and other places. dfgna tahpG r0RafWn1 haFa from Calabria confirm the destruction of Reggie. They report that the sItua- ton there is as bad if not worse tban at Messina.
 Streets of Rome Jammed. The streets In Rome are damned with people. who snatch the special | editiorM from the newsboys. The lamentations are heard on all sides. Here and there one asks another | aWhen will end this awful repetition of devastation and death In our eoun- try2"
 The hands of all nations have been extended to Italy in her afflictions From rulers have come messages o. condolence and from the people spon- taneous promise of that aid which brings the world closer together in times of great calamity. ~ Great Britain, France and Russia have sent their warships quick as tiIe flash of the telegraph could carry the orders to lend assistance to the stricken cities. Relief funds have AL ready been started and hundred ships and trains are on their way carrying supplies and reinforcements to the south. Rome Milan Florence. Naples and other cities each are sending phy- sicIans, police and firemens
 Today all the ambassadors and min isters expressed sympathy with M Tit toni, Minister of foreign affairs. whose emotion was profound.
 The Bourses and theatres have been closed throughout Italy and dispatches of sympathy continue to pour in from all quarters of the globe.
 At the time of the earthquake the torpedo boat Sappho was lying In the harbor at Messina, and one of the of ficers told of the occurrence as follows:
 At 5:3O in the morning the sea sud- denly became terribly agitated. seem ing literally to pick up our boat and shake 1t. Other craft nearby were