Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-29

PERISH BY
TEMBLORS
8 Provinces of Italy Laid
Waste by Terrific
Seismic Force
SHIPS SUNK BY WAVES
Thousands of Homes De-
Stroyed and Whole
Cities in Ruins
FLOODS TAKE BODIES
Appalling Extent of Dis
aster Prevents Com
plete Details
FLOODS TAKE BODIES

X. of Cosensa, Catansaro, and Reg
~ gio di Calabria, comprising the
department of Calabrie, which forms
the southwestern extremity of Italy, or
the "Toe OF the Boot" were devastated
today by the earthquake, the far-reach-
ing effects of which were felt at most
every point throughout the country
The town of Messina. in Sicily. was
partly destroyed and Catania was in
undated. In Messina hundreds of
houses have fallen and many persons
have been killed.
Owing, however, to the fact that
telegraphic and telephone communists
it is impossible to obtain even an ap-
proximate idea of the vast damage
done.
Havoc Appalling
The fate of the entire regions with
in the zone of the earthquake is I'M
known, but reports received here up
to a late hour tonight indicate the
havoc has been great and the destruc-
ton to ltfe and property more terrible
than italy has experienced in many
years.
The uncertainty of the situation for
many thousands has filled all italians
with deepest distress, for they still
have fear that the day may come when
that part of the country which seems
to have been most blessed by nature
win be destroyed by the blind forces
of that same nature, which nearly nine
teen centuries ago overwhelned POM
pen and Herculaneurl.
All reports show that the present
catastrophe embraces a larger area
than the earthquake Of 1905.
Tidal Wave Sinks Ships
The tidal wave which followed the
earth shocks on the eastern coast OF
Sicily sank vessels and inundated the
lower part of Catania.
II is known that a number Of persons
were killed at that place, but the rush
ing of waters carried everything pc
fore them and caused such an iaae-
seribable confusion that 1t VIII pe IN
possible for some time to estimate the
damage and the lives lost.
For q. period the town of MesSina ana
the whole province of Reggie were com
pletely isolated through inteirupLlon
10 the telegraph and telephone and ps
landslides that obstructed the railroaus
Absolutely nothing was nearu ilglis
Reggie throughout the day, while tn
first news from Messina came IN tne
form of a dispatch which q, TORPEDO
boat living at full speed along tfie
coast of the peninsula, carried from
point to point, always finding the wlres
down until it reached Nicotera. wne9e
the telegraph lines were round 70 -
Situation Desperate
From this point the dispatch Yves
sent. II briefly stated that the situa
ton was desperate, and after suminai-
izing the immensely of the catastrophs
ended with the announcement tnst
Capt. PASSING. commander OF the locas
station for torpedo boats was nur1ea
under the debris after having WITH
other officials performed heroic work u
trying to save others
The italian government proceeded err
practically to relieve the widespread
distress, concentrating at the points u
greatest need troops and engineers
Members of the Red Cross were dis
patched to various places and camps
with provisions were Immediately pre-
pared. all available railway lines ana
warships being used for their transpor
The city of Messina has suffered
probably more than any other place.
the latest information coming directly
from that quarter stating that two
thirds OF the town was destroyed anc
several thousand persons killed.
Steamers Garry Injured
The steamers Washington and Monte
bello, which We're in that harbor, later
proceeded to Catania, loaded with in
iured who We're so stupehed by terror
that they seemed unable to realize what
had happened, simply saying that y
looked as though the end of the Worlo
had come.
Five steamers left Catania for Mes.
sina to assist ia removing the iniure
from that place, which are reported "
number thousands.
AT Catania- the panic stricken people
fearing new shocks, absolutely refused
to enter their houses and are camping
on the squares.
The tidal wave sank 500 boats then
and did great damage to several lafge
vessels and steamers, including the
Austrian steamer Buda.
Not only did Catania sufEer from tl,s
effects of the tidal wave, but similar
body of water inundated the Handsome
streets of Messina which flank the har
OF mud, which rendered more difficult
the succoring of the wounded, many 81
whom could be seen lying under tho
wreckage.
Villages Have Vanished
It is reported that the villages 81
Faro and Ganzirri, adjoining MESSING.
have disappeared.
rhe effects Of the earthquake were
aggravated through an explosion u
gas. The flames swept along eeveriA
streets. adding terror upon terror.
In Calabria the region around Mon
teleone was most affected. The village
of Stefanaconi, the Inhabitants Of which
number $4,000 was virtually destroyed
Only five persons were killed, but
many were injured Monslgnor Mora
hito, the bishop Of Miieto, who distin'
tContinued on pase Two2