Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-29
ITALIAN PROVINCES
DEVASTATED BY QUAKE
Continued From Page One.)

Thousands of people abandoned their
homes, although terrific rain storm
prevailed. and filled the air with la
mcntations and prayers. In some
places, as Prizzo CotrOne, Santa Ser
venia and Piscopio. the people had the
courage to enter the churches, almost
while they We're falling, and carry out
tie saints. They bore these in process
sion through the open country invoking
the mercy of Cod In the mountainous
regions inland the population has TAX
en- refuge in grottos and caves where
peasants and priests, soldiers and per-
sons of eentier birth are living in
common In Abb alone 1000 people are
homeless.
Extraordinary scenes are reported at
Catania. Following a violent earth
shock at $40 A. NJ, the sea rose in
tremendous wave which wrecked
many smacks. A secondary tidal wave
caused further great damage and
wreckage. Awakened by the shock the
inhabitants fled panic-stricken from
their homes into the streets and
squares. Cardinal Nava, archbishop of
Catania. exhortcd the people to be-
calm He promised that the body of
ST. Agatha should be- carried around
in procession St Agatha is regarded
as the special deliverer from all
scourges, and. according to history. the
pious inhabitants of Catania diverted
t,1e course of the lava stream in 1869,
when fearful eruption of Mount Act
ma took place by extending the vel OF
St Agatha towards it. thus saving the
city, for the lava turned aside near the
benedictine monastry and descended
into the sea. While the number OF
deaths at that place is now believed
to be large there were several tragic
occurrences. Among the children swept
away blythe tidal wave was boy 10
months old, who was torn from the
arms of his mother. The mother, too,
was overcome by the force of the wa
ter and lost consciousness. but hef
body was caught by a railing and re-
mainod there until she was rescued
Midnight reports say that Reggie. the
capital Of the province of Reggie Dl
La Clahria, eight miles from Messlna,
on the opposite side of the strait, has
met the same fate as Messlna, but
these reports have not been confirmed.
owing to the lack of telegraphlc faclll-
ties
A very severe shock was felt at Caltan-
issetta, a city Of Sicily. and although
much damage was done. no one was kill
ed The shock created great alarm ahd
notwithst landing the downpour of rain.
the whole population remained in the
streets throughout the day and marched
in religious procession.
The Pope was greatly distressed at
hearing of the scourge that had afflicted
the loyal population In the south. He
could hardly credit the truth of the dis
patches describing the devastation and
fatalities 10 times greater than in 1905.
After kneeling fervently in prayer, His
Holiness arose and said. as he did three
years ago that he felt his place was
amidst his suffering children. 1t was mis-
firm intention to order that Instructions
be given for beginning the journey, but
his physicians and those attending him
insisted that it would be impossible for
him to undertake such a fatiguing eX-
pedition in the present condition of his
health.
At midnight regiment of soldiers left
here for Alabria.
| A flying squadron. composed of the bat
tleships Vittorio Emanuele, Regina Elena
and the Napoli has been ordered to pro-
ceed to Messina. The squadron will ar
rive there Tuesday morning. together
with steamers of the Italian Navigation
Co. carrying supplies and troops. The
troops will be sent to various points to