The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-12-31
100000
Persisted
In QUAKE
Appalling Ruin in
Southern Italy.
TOWNS ARE WIPED OUT
Heavy Damage Was From Huge
Tidal Wave.
FIRE SWEEPS THE RUINS
Italian King and Queen Go to
SuccOr Their Subjects.
FIRE SWEEPS THE RUINS
Italian King and Queen Go to
SuCcOr Their Subjects.

Rome. Dec. S0.-One hundred thou
sand dead: Messina. in sicily. and
Reggio and a score Of other towns so
southern Italy overwhelmed. the en-
tire Calabrian region laid waste. this
is the earthquakes record so far a.
Is at present known from the reports
that are coming slowly into Rome on
account OF the almost complete de-
struction Of lines of communication to
the stricken places
The death list in Messina ranges
from 1900 TO 10000. that OF Reggie
which, with its adjacent villages. num-
oered $4,000 people. includes almost
the entire population At Paint 1000
are reported dead. at Cassano. 1000.
At Cosenza. 500. and half OF the popu
lation Of Bagbara. about 5000. The
Monteleone region has been devas.
tated. and Riposto. Seminara. san Clio
vanni Scilla. Lazzaro and Cannitello
and all other communes and village $
bordering on the straits are in ruins.
The king and queen of Italy are now
on their WY 20 Messina. having sailed
from Naples aboard the batticship VIZ
toriO Emmanuele. The pope has shown
the great est distress AZ the calamity.
and he himself was the first TO con.
tribute sum amounting 70 5000 900
10 the relief OF the afflicted. British.
French and Russian warships are
steaming toward the south. and al
ready several OF the ships OF Great
Britain and Russia have reached
Sicily. Officers and men OF these ships
have performed heroic service in the
work OF rescue
Many Tourists Killed.
It is feared that many foreigners
have been killed. as a nnmber OF the
hotels at Messina and doubtless a.
other places. were crowded with tour
lists. Little is known OF the fate OF the
diplomatic representatives. of the for
eign powers stationed at these posts
although the Italian government is
using every effort 10 relieve the anx
iety felt on their account
There u the gravcst danger thar a
pcstilence wiz follow the destruction
Of the towns where. on account OF the
vast havoc wrought. bodies will lie
uubuued for days and weeks. Those
who escaped death. many or whom are
badly injured. are making their ssf
BY the thousands 70 the nearest place
Of refuge. Their suf-rings even now
must be intense. as thee are withou,
food or clothing
Messina was shaken 10 ruins. end
flames burst forth 70 complete the
city's destruction and 10 burn alive
untold numbers heiplessly pinioned be-
Meath fallen walls and broken tim
bers-
In the Calabrlan district. which was
only beginning To recover from the
effects Of the earthquake or 1905. Res
gio was the center of the earth's no
hsaval. The seaport OF Reggie is Re
ported as no longer existing. and the
city proper is in ruins. The loss OF life
on both sides of the strait and IN
eastern Sicily was enormous.
Survivors Fleeing In All Directions.
Starving. bleeding from injuries AMI
almost insane from their terrifying ex.
periences. Messinas survivors are fee
ing In all directions The spectacle
D4 the ruined seaport Is de
scribed as terrifying Tumbling build
ings both killed and mOtilated. while
hundreds of the injured. imprisoned
in the wreckage. were abandoned 10
their fate by the fleeing populace One
II those who escaped said: The earth
seemed suddenly 10 drop and then
tlrn violently on its axis. The whole
population. who practically were pre-
cspitsted from the houses rent in
twain. were spun around like tops as
they ran through the streets. Many
fell crushed 20 death. and others, be
wildered. took refuge for breath be
side the tottering walls. where they
soon met the fate OF their compan-
ions"
Already British and Russian squad
rons have arrived at Messina Sailors
and marines have been disembarked
and they have performed courageous
acts In rescuing the injured and re-
mogSDg the wounded. a large number
OF the survivors have been transferred
TO the warsnips which are trsngform-
ed into great floating hospitals. Many
prisoners from the jails made tbeis
escape and looted right and left Hun.