Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-12-31

- "a GIL "a
Starving, bleeding from injuries and
almost insane from their terrifying ex-
periences, Messina's survivors are
fleeing in all directions. The specta'
Gle presented by the ruined sea port is
described as terrifying.
Rescue Work Is Prompt.
Already British and Russian squad
rops have arrived at Messina. Sailors
and marines have been disembarked
and they have performed courageous
acts in rescuing the injured and re-
moving the wounded. A large number
of survivors have been transferred to
warships, which are transformed into
great floating hospitals.
Special dispatches from Calabria
confirm the destruction of Reggie.
They report the situation there is as
bad, if not worse, than at Messina..
The hands Of all nations have been
extended to Italy in her affection.
From rulers have come messages of
and from peoples spon-
taneous promises Of aid. Great Brit
ain, France and Ru STA have sent their
warships quick as the fash Of the
telegraph could carry orders, TO lend
assistance to the stricken cities. Re
lief fund have already been started
and a hundred ships and trains are
on the way carrying supplies and re-
south. Rome, Milan,
Florence, Naples and other cities are
sending ply icians, police and firemen.
Yesterday ambassadors and ministers
sympathy with Minister of
Foreign Affairs Tittoni, whoG8 emotion
was profound.
Awful Force of the Waters.
At the time of the earthquake the
torpedo boat, Sappho, was lying in
the harbor of Messina and one of the
officers told of the occurrences as fol
lows:
AT half past five in the morning
the sea suddenly became terribly agi-
tated, seeming literally to pick up our
boat and shake it. Other craft nearby
were similarly treated, and ships
looked like bits Of cork bObbing about
in a tempe It. Almost Immediately the
tidal wave swept across the strait,
the coasts and carrying ev-
erything before it. Messina bay was
wiped out and the sea was soon Gov
cred with masses of wreckage, which
was carried off in the arms of the re-
ceding waters"
Eight sailors from the Sappho were
landed and took up the work of res
cue. Officers and men from the Italian
and British steamers also went chore
as soon as possible. Many PR oners
from jails escaped and looted right
and left. Hundreds engaged in the
work Of robbing banks and business
houses. In the opinion of officers of
the SapphO half the population of Mes
5ina persisted.
DepIorable Fate of Refugees.
Catania, Dec. 3O.-Refugees are
pouring into Catania. They are half
naked and stupefed with terror and
from the horrors through which they
have gone. Little by little some idea
Of the inde scribable horror at Messina
is obtained from these unfortunates.
They declare that thousands of de-
mented survivors are still wandering
among the ruins of the city. A wound
ed soldier said:
THE spe ctacle was terrifying be
yOnd words Dante's Inferno gives
you but faint idea as to- what hap
Dened Monday morning at Messina
The first shock came before the sun
had risen. It shook the city to its
very foundations. Immediately the
houses began to crumbIe Those of
US not killed at once made our way
over the undulating floors to the
street Beams were crashing down
through rooms and stairs were equally
unsafe
4 found the streets blocked by
fallen houses. Balconies, chimneys,
bell towers, entire walls had been
thrown down. From every side of
me arose screams and meanings of
People were half mad with
excitement and fear. Most of them
had rushed out in their night clothes
In a little while we were all shivering
under a tOTrentai dOwnpour of rain.
Everywhere there were dead bodies,
nude disfgured and mutilated. In
the ruins I could see arms and legs
moving helplessly. From every guar
ter came piteous appeals for aid.
That portion of the town down
near the water was inundated by the
tidal wave, the water reaching to the
shoulders of the fugitfYes and swept
them away.
The city hall, cathedral and bar
'acks were crumbled, and churches
and other public buildings and dwell
ngs without number were literally
,azed to the ground. There were 2OOI
customs agents at the barracks; only
II of them were saved At the rail-
'oad station only eight out of 2S0I
have been accounted for.
Rain Added to Horror.
Many of those who succeeded in
escaping with their lives are inca
pable of relating their experiences CO.
lerently. I questioned all who were
IN a condition to talk Most of them
old the same story. They said that
he first thing they knew they were
brown out of bed, and amid crashing
ceilings and falling furniture man
aged to make their way to the street.
Then in the blackness of the night
md amid a pouring rain that added
10 their horror and distress they