The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1908-12-30

dated the handsome streets of Mes
sina which face the harbor, covering
them with a thick layer of mud which
rendered more difficult the succoring
of wounded. many of whom could
he seen lying under the wreckage.
In Calabria the region around
Montelone was most effected. The
village of Stafanaconi, the inhabi-
tants of which number $4,000. was
practically destroyed. Only five per-
sons were killed. but many persons
were injured.
Monsignor Morabito, the bishop of
Mileto, who distinguished himself in
the earthquake of 1905, did valiant
work again. He rushed into places
where the ruin was greatest and
brought aid and encouragement TO
all
Thousands of persons abandoned
their homes. although terrific rain
storm prevailed and filled the air with
lamentations and prayers. In some
places, such as PriZzo, Cotrone, Santa
Severina and Piscopio, the people en-
tered the churches almost while the
latter were falling and carried out
the saints. They bore these in pro-
cession through the open country, in
yoking the mercy of God. In the
mountainous region inland the popu-
lation has taken refuge in grottoes
and caves, where peasants and
priests. soldiers and persons of gen.
teel birth. are living in common.
They sleep on the ground and fires
burn to keep off wild animals. In
Aloi alone 1000 persons are home
less
he pope was greatly distressed at
hearing of the scourge that had af-
fiicted the loyal population in the
south. He could hardly credit the
truth of the dispatches describing the
devastation and fatalities as 0 times
greater than In 1905.
After kneeling reverently in prayer
the pope arose and said, as he said
three years ago, mat he felt his place
was amidst his suffering children. II
was his firm intention to order that
instructions be given for beginning
the journey, but his physician and
those in attendance upon him insist
ed that it would be impossible for
him to undertake such fatiguing
expedition in his present state of
health.
A flying squadron, composed of the
battleships Vittorio Emanuele, Re-
gina Elene and Napoli have been or
dered to proceed to Messina. The
squadron will arrive there Tuesday,
and. together with steamers of the
Italian Navigation Co., carrying sup
plies and troops. The troops will be
sent TO various points Senior Berto-
lini. the minister of public works. left
for the south, where he will repre-
sent the government.
Prof. Jicco, director of the Mount
Aetna observatory, says that the CEN
ter of the earthquake was near the
volcano. 1t is possible that further
shocks will follow. but these are en-
pected to be of minor force.
Messina, next to Palermo. the chief
commercial town of Sicily, with more
than 10000 inhabitants, is situated
on the Strait of Messina, and is over
Swallowed by range of rugged rocky
peaks. Messina has been the scene
of many battles and sieges. and has
been SO often devastated that there
are no important relics of antiquity.
An earthquake in 1888 destroyed al
moot the entire town. Messina lies
on thee line of contact of the pri-
mary and secondary formations, on
which boundary earthquakes between
Aetna and .esuvius are always most
violent The earthquake of Novem-
Der. 1894. left many traces of its de-
structive force.