Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1908-12-31

y
a hundred thousand persons have
been embarked on warships and other
vessels in the Messna straits, or have
otherwise left the devastated district.
All towns and villages along the
strait are rapidly becoming depopu-
lated, as there Is a widespread fear
of further commissions. Scenes of the
werdest nature are being enacted at
Messina and the other ruined cities.
Grim advces reach Palermo that
clouds Of crows are discerned in the
stricken district, having crossed tho
sea in response to a mysterious in
tuition of disaster. In MesSina the
rescuers frequently encounter process
sions Of naked persons bearing the
images of saints.
1t is exceedingly difficult to deal
with these frenzied survivors. Ac-
cording to reports brought in by
priests from the town of Sicily, near
the famous rock of the same name,
both town and rock have completely
disappeared, and even the site has
vanished completely, the entire topog-
raphy Of the country being altered.
Scientists Explain Cause
of Earthquake.
Rome, Dec. 31.-A dispatch from the
observatory at Ripostov, says that the
center of the earthquake was probably
in the sea in the southern part of the
Strait of Messina, The seismograph
at Mileto continues to record slight
shocks. Signor Stanci, distinguish
ed scientist, attached to the Florence
observatory, is of the opinion that
the cataclysm was geological rath-
er than volcanic. He believes the
trouble was caused by the sliding of
lower strata AS result of this de,
preston, huge cracks appeared and
formed semi-circle, the center OF
which was the focal point of the dis
turbance.
Dead Exceed Hundred Thousand.
Rome, Dec. 31.-Slowly the measure
of the disaster which depopulated
Calabria and eastern Sicily is being
taken, and as the reports accumulate
it is evident that in their first stages
they in no sense exaggerated the ex-
tent and horror of the visitation. The
official estimate places the dead at
10000. But there is reason to be-
leve that this may be greatly ex-
ceeded Today the pitiable plight OF
the survivors claims universal atten-
ton. The relief of their sufrerings
calls for concentrated effort of all ma.
tions. The dead are dead, but count
less thousands Of half-demented, nak-
ed and starving survivors, some
wounded and some uninjured are cry
ing for shelter and medical attention.
No news has been received of Amer
leans thought to have been in the de-
vastated district excepting Rev. David
Sessums of New Orleans, and his
daughter, Alice, who are safe at Rome.
1t is reported that several Americans
lost their lives in the wreck of ho-
tel at Messina Ambassador Griscom
is about to 60 from Rome to the south
in an endeavor to secure information
concerning the missing American trav-
elers. 1t is estimated that one hun
dred thousand have fled from the de-
solated territory for fear of fur
ther commissions. The latest esti-
mates OF the dead at Palmi and Bag
mare are $4,000 and 10000 respectively.
Two thousand soldiers were killed
at Reggie. The survivors say that
for half an hour before the quoke,
the heavens were filled with a gorg-
eous display Of light resembling the
Aurora Borealis It is declared that
an army Of not less than 25,000 is
needed to rescue the living still en-
trapped in the ruins and bury the
dead.