The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-30

and dead; Messina in Sicily and Reg Rto and score of other towns in southern Italy overwhelmed; the en- tire fcalabrian region laid waste. This is the earthquakes record so far as is at present known from the reports that are coming slowly into Rome on ac- count of the almost complete destruc- ton of lines of communication to the stricken places.
 The death list in Messina ranges from f2,00o to 5o.oo0; that of Reggio, which with It's adjacent villages num- bered 46,oo0 people, includes almost the entire population, At Palni Teos are reported dead; at cassano. 1000; at cosenza. 500 and half the population of Bagbara. abort 4,ooO.
 The Monteieone region has been de- vastated. and RIposto. seminara, san Giovanni. scilia. Lazzaro and Cannitel- lo and ali other communes and villages bordering on the straits are in ruins
 The King and Queen of Italy arc roy aa their way to Messina, having satIAa tonight from Naples aboard the battleshlp vittorio Emmanueie. The Pope has shown the greatest dis- .raes =. the calamity and he himself 7 waa the first to contribute--a sun. a,nonnting to s2OO. .Oo0--to the relief or the afflicted.
 British. French and Russian war .hsns ars sseaming toward the south ana already several of the ships or 1raat pritain and Russia have reached siciIy. officers and men Of these ships have performed heroic service in the work of rescue,
 MaAy ForeGgnera Killed.
 II Is. reared that many foreigners navs been kliIed, as number of the bots1s at Measina and doubtless as otbar places were crowded with tour ists
 Iattle is known of the fate of the d,n,omatie representatives of the foreign powers stationed at these posts. although the Italian government is us- ing every effort to relieve the anxiety felt on their account.
 There is the gravest danger that a pestliencs will follow the destructions of fhe towns where on account Of the vass havoc wrought. bodies will lie un- buried for days and weeks. Those who escaped death. many of whom are bad lv injured. are making their way by inc thousands to the nearest place of rsf,aa. Their sufferings even now must be intense as they are without food or clothing.
 Retort of the King.
 vvban King victor Emnianuef and inc Queen, who left for the scene of inc calamity, were in the depot at Rome. one among number of depu- ties observed to the King. "the pres ence of your majesty will suffice to con sole the stricken people.
 The King turned sharply upon the speaker ana said abruptly. "Dont talk nonsense"
 Reports indicate that the geography of the Straits of Messina has been so changed as to cause apprehension of serious commercial and strategic dificulties. It is believed that nayi- gation has been extremely dangerous. in which case the fortifications on which the Government in recent years spent large sums, will be useless. The famous Whirlpool of Charybdis, 1t IS said. has shifted its position.
 Desperate calls have been made from Rome to Messina. but these re- main unanswered and fears are enter tained that Fort Spuria. near Messina, 2 has been destroyed, as the wireless station installed there Is one of the most powerful in Italy and evidently is not working.
 The catastrophe has excited the whole populace. who are running about the country and calling upon the Nir' gin to help them.
 The superstition has been increased by the rumor. that in the general de- struction of Messina the statue of St Rose remained uninjured.
 The work of Reseue.
 The work of rescue at Messina. ac- cording to meagre details received here tonight presented narrowing scenes Hundreds of people were pinned under walls and rafters alive. hut terribly injured, for thirty hours.
 one of the rescuers found under the ruins of Q house five children alive. put unable to speak, elinging around the corpse of their mother.
 In some cases heroic rescuers met death in the falling debris.
 In one house twenty persons sus- pehded on the fifth floor and unable to reach the street because the lower floors had been torn away, were rescued with asFope by sailor
 Six criminals were killed while att tempting to loot the bank of Sicily. where cash amounting to half nlil- lion dollars lay in plain view.
 Refugees from Reggie, who reached C,atanzaro this Afternoon said that they couII see huge columns of smoke ris- ing from the ruins of Messina. They affirned that Reggio Cannitelio and Iazzaro were destroyed A tidal wave demolished the railroad between LaSI zaro and Reggio. and Q small army or men were working desperately to re- establish communication with the lat fer place for which train with troops and telegraphers has started.
 Latest reports received here state that A00o soldiers in the various bar