The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-30
CAL LAM|TY ALMOST
BEYOND GRASP
OF IMAGINATION
All Italy is Entirely Stunned by
the Terrible Calamity and
the Loss Can Not Be Esti-
mated.
DEATH LIST MAY NOW
REACH TOTAL 200, 900
King and Queen Arrive at
Scene of Disaster, But are
Overcome by the Awful
Scene.
MANY REFUGEES CRAZED
Water Now Covers the Site of
Former Prosperous Town of
CaIabria - Pope Orders
Prayers.

Rome, Dec. 3o.-HaIf of the popula-
tion of calabria and eastern part of
Sicily are dead or injured and the 9TH
er half is weeping.
AS the great extent of the terrific
seismic disturbances becomes appar-
ent 1t seems impossible to exagger-
ate the horrors which have followed
them. The calamity which has over
whelmed Italy is almost beyond the
grasp of imagination, not only because
of the dead now known to number
many thousands. but because of innu-
merable injured buried in the ruins,
many of whom will perish, because it
is impossible to resc,h tAem from the
wreck of their fc homes. The
whole of Italy is a6v~.rtely stunned,
and ut the scene of disaster the bulk
of the people are literally demented
with the suddenness and the extent
of the blow
King and Queen on Scene.
King Victor Emanuel and the Que en-
Helena arrived at Messina today. AS
they made their way into the ruined
town the scene of the disaster, the hor-
ror was too much for. the queen who
almost swooned Crowds of terror
stricken persons swarmed about the
royal party and throwing themselves
in the mud, screamed for pity and aid.
Heart Rendinq Stories Told.
Many terrible stories are related
in connection with the rescue work
The rescuers had to contend with a
superstition so deep rooted in the Sici-
liam mind. that in many cases, injur-
ed men and women clung TO the
crumbling walls, refusing to let go
their hold and seek a safer position
100000 Are Dead.
At six o'clock this evening it is esti-
mated two hundred thousand human
beings met death in the earthquake
which swept Sicily and southern Italy
Monday. Every additional report con-
firms or increases the gravity of the
situation. Every hour brings fresh
news of desolation.
Search for Cheney.
Every effort is being made here
to determine definitely the fate of
Consul Cheney and his assistants and
all correspondents have been instruct
ed to make this their first work.
The king and queen are at Messina,
both so overcome that they are COM
PEELED to spend the greater part of the
time in their apartments.
Reggie Beneath Sea.
Refugees are now arriving hourly
from Calabria and other stricken Sec
tions and stories told by these are full
of horror. Not a building remains
standing at Reggie. according TO in
formation brought by the wanderers
and only few score of people es-
capped death. The sea rolled in with
mighty roar that was at first mistaken
for the rumblings of an earthquake.
The site of the city today is covered
ith water.
Looters Fired Upon.
Italian soldiery were compelled to
fire today on bands of looters in Mes
sina district. Public bank buildings
were shattered by Mondays earth
quake and vandals banded together
uffb leaders Souoht RI enrich thern-
selves at the expense of the awful con-
ditions prevailing by securing the
gold. Commands were given to open
fire and number of deaths are re-
ported today, Marines from the ships
have also been given the prerogative
pf firing on the hooters and sailors