The morning journal-courier., 1908-12-29
THOUSAND KILLED

(Continued from First Page) Monticello, which were in that har- bor, afterward proceeded to Catanla'. loaded with injured who were so stu piled by terror that they seemed un- able to realize what had happened simply saving that it looked as though the end of the world had come Five steamers left Catania for MessIna to assist in removing the injured from that place, who are reported to mum ber thousands
 Five Hundred Vessels Sunk,
 At Catana tho panIcstrlcken people, fearing new shocks absolutely refused Co re-enter tAcir houses and are camp ing In the squares, whlca are free from water and the surrounding country. The tidal wave sunk five hundred boats and did great damage to several large vessels and steamers including the Austrian steamer Buda
 Not only did Catana suffer from the effects of tidal wave, but sim liar body of water Inundated the streets of MeSslna, which flank the harbor, covering them with a thick layer of mud which rendered more difficult the succorIng of the wounded, many of whom could he seen lying under the wreckage. II is reported that the vll- lages of Faro and Ganzrr adjoining Messna, have disappeared The effects of tho earthquake were aggravated by fire from an explosion of gas the flames, which swept along several of the streets, adding terror upon terror.
 Town Entirely Destroyed
 In Calabria the region around Monte leone was most affected The village of Stefanaconi, the inhabitants of which. number 23o0 was practically destroyed. only five persons were killed but many were injured Mgr Morabito. the bishop of Mlleto, who distinguished himself In the earthquake uf GN5. diu vauant work today, He rushed into places where the ruin was the greatest and brought aid and encouragement to all
 Thousands Abandon Homes.
 Thousands of people abandoned their homes although a terrific rain storm prevailed and filled the air with lamentations and prayers In some places, such as Prt22o. Cotrone, santa ScvcrIna and Piscopio the peo- plc had the courage to enter the churches almost while they were fall- ing and carry out the saints They bore these In procession through the open country invoking the mercy of God In the mountainous regions in- Hand the population has taken refuge In grottos and caves, where peasants and priests, soldiers and persons of gentle birth are living in common Their bed Is the ground, and fires burn Ito keep off wild animals, In Aubi alone 2,00O persons arc homeless
 Churches Filled ny Pcnltcnts.
 Extraordinary scenes are reported at Catanla Following violent earth shock at 5;90 q. m. the sea rose in a tremendous wave, which wrecked many smacks Secondary tidal waves caused further great damage md wreckagc. Awakened IN the shock, the inhabitants fed panic-strickcn from their homes Into the streets and squares Processions were organized and soon an tho churches were filled with weeping crowds implorng Divine mercy
 Cardinal Nava, archbishop of Catan- la. oxhortcd tho people to be calm He promised that inc body Of st Agatha should bc carried around in procession St Agatha ls regarded as tho special delverer from nll scourges, and ac- cordng 10 history. the pious inhah- fants of Catanla diverted the course of the lava stream Tn 1889 when a fear fnl eruption of Mt Aetna took place by extending the veil of st Agatha to- wards it. thus saving the city, for the lava turned aside near the Renedietinc monastery and descended into tho sea
 Reggie Reported In Ruins,
 Midnight reports say that Reggie, the capital of the province of Reggie di caIabria. eight mites from Mcsslua on tho opposite side of the suaIt has met thc same fate as Messina, but these re- ports have not been confirmed owing 10 tho lack Of tclegraphic facilities
 X very severe shock was felt al Caltaulasctia, city of Sicily and al thoueh much damage was done, no one was Killed ghc shock created great alarm and notwithstanding tho dowupour of rain tho whole popula- don remained iu the streets through out the day and marched in religious procession
 Pope Anxious to Visit scene,
 Tho popc was greatly distressed at hearing oC the scourge that had aiIiict- ed the local population in the south He could hardly credit the truth of the dispatches describing the dcyasta- ton and fatalities as ten times great CT than In 1905,
 After kncollng fcwcntly in prayer, his holiness arose and said, as he said three years iGo, that he felt his place was amidst his suffering chl- dren. It was his firm intention to order that instructions be given for beginning the Journey, but his physic- ians and those in attendance upon him insisted that t would be impossible for him to undertake such fatisung expedition in the present condition of his health.
 Scundrou Carries Supplies.
 Al midnight a regiment of soldiers tefl hero for caiabria, A flying squad r,u u,.puogpI nr ina hatiIaqIIng \-it. torio Emauucle, Regina Elena and the