The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-12-31

lGHyD UEHJ ANU
DESOLATION IS WAKE
Messina Alone Reports That
Not Less Than $4,000
Are Dead There.
Rome, Dec. 31.-The Tri-
buna today estimates the total
casualties In Calabria and Sic
lily at between 10000 and
10000.
Rome, Dec. 31.-The dis
aster in the province of Ca
labria and the island of Sicily
has today assumed staggering
proportions. Each successive
report received from the
stricken region makes it more
apparent that the first stories
of widespread destruction
were little, if any, exagger-
ated.
Messina alone reports 49,
900 victims, but it is feared
this is only a partial list of
the dead and wounded.
Reports are coming in from
other towns, giving estimates
Of the dead there from 500
up to several thousand.
Reggie still remains in it's
tragic isolation. It is impos-
sible to get word from the
stricken city. This silence gives
rise to the most fearful ap-
prehensions. a dispatch from
Catanzaro says only a few
thousand out of the entire pop
ulation Of Reggie, placed at
50, 900, have escaped death or
injury.
vANpALs At WORK.
Vandalism of the worst kind
has broken out. The government
has adopted energetic and severe
measures for it'sSrepression. Rob
bers and hooters are shot on sight.
The prison at Messina collapsed.
Some prisoners were killed, but.
the survivors made their escap
and joined the Hooligans who
were sacking the city. The bar
racks at Messina were demolished.
The commander of troops was
killed outright. There are many
victims among the enlisted men.
Martial law was declared in the
earthquake.
King Victor Emmanuel will pro-
coed to Calabrm and Sicily and do
all in his power to further the
work Of rescue.
Tle robbers at Messina pillaged the
ruins OF the shattered buildings, and
even stole the clothing and valuables
from the corpses Of victims. They
broke out ! several sections of the
city, but took advantage OF the light
for their vandalism,
MtufR Of Terror.
i. The night was one OF horror indie
soribable, the fire, robbery, dead, dying
on every side, the city In Utmost con-
fusion. the people panic-stricken and
Under q spell of terror.
Troops began to pour into Messina
lastsnight, and this morning a number
of steamers arrived from h peninsula
with soldiers Q n board. The patriots
81 once organized and efforts were
made to bring some order into the sit
N6tiOn. and Of citizens were formed
and helped heroically in the work Of
rescue.
Many courageous acts we're per-
formed by soldiers nj citizens alike.
4 Towards morning several Of the worst
hres had been extinguished, footing
was under partial control. and compar-
attve order had been established.
Asaps OF Ruins.
Everything possible ~ being done to
succor the wounded, but the relief
measures are utterly inadequate. owing
to the immensely OF the disaster. The
Anest places. churches n theaters
OF Mes1ina are heaps OF ruins. Count
less dead bodies are scattered through
Is xIlGlT OCCOAlpO0ASSO
will doubtless bring pestilence to add
to h horrors OF the situation.
The devastation over the entire dis
trict was more or less complete. Nc
part Of the province Of Reggio de Cam
most severe along the shores of the
straits OF Messina, where the cities OF
Messina and Reggio are situated. In
more than one town the sparks aused
gas meters to explode and disastrous
sllreS resulted. The names helped great
to swell the death list.
The conflguration Of the straits o
Aessina has been materially altered
The tidal wave was 32sfset high.
Wireless 70 Effective.
The wireless telegraph has been o
the greatest assistance In getting II
reports from devastated regions and II
helping authorities to send help to tn,
places where It Ia most urgentl,
needed.
ships from Italian, British and Rus.
Ssian squadrons have left for Messina
taking doctors and supplies. medicines
etc. II 10 reported from Catania tina
the Bishop of Messina is buried undel
e ~ Sw,,suu6 ~ heo roa2dcncp ~