The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1908-12-31
EARTHQUAKE KILLS 10000
Horrors of Disaster That
Befell Calabria and Sic
lily Increased.
ALL ITALY is MOURNING
Messina Shaken to Ruins, Reggie
and It's Seaport Destroyed, and
Scores of Towns Shattered.

safety at perhnsula port In describ
ing his experience he said:
The sea was strangely, mysteriously
agitated and the heavens were ablaze.
Nearing Sicily. the clearing smoke re
vealed the mystery; Messina was in
flames. In the frenzy of despair ]
turned my boat back to Calabria."
Terrible Scenes at Messna.
Starving, bleeding from injuries and
almost insane from their terrifying ex-
periences, Messina's survivors are flee.
ing in all directions. The spectacle
presented by the ruined seaport is de-
scribed as terrifying. Tumbling build,
ings both killed and mutilated. while
hundreds of the injured imprisoned in
the wreckage were abandoned to their
fate by the fleeing populace. One OF
these who escaped said: .s
THE earth seemed suddenly to drop
and then turn violently ON its axis
The whole population, who practically
were precipitated from the houses rent
In twain, were spun around like topF
as they ran through the streets. Many
fell crushed to death and others, bewil-
dered, took refuge for breath beside
the tottering walls, where they soon
met the fate of their companions"
Brave Work of Rescuers.
Already British and Russian squad
rons have arrived n Messina. Sailors
. and marines have been disembarked
and they have performed courageous
acts in rescning The injured and re-
moving the wounded A large number
Of survivors have been transferred TO
the warships, which are transformed
into great floating hospitals. 1t is i'm
perative that the dead be removed
from the ruins in order to avoid pes
thence. Steamers with doctors, drug
gists, firemen and workmen have ar
rived at Messina from Catania and
other places.
Special dispatches received here
from Calabria confirm the destruction
of Reggie. They report that the situa-
ton there is as bad, if not worse, than
at Messina. The streets in Rome are
japmed with people, who snatch the
special editions from the newsboys.
The people are plunged in grief and
lamentations are heard on all sides.
Here and there one asks another:
When will end this awful repetition
Of devastation and death in our coun-
try?"
The hands of all the nations have
been extended to Italy in her affliction.
From rulers have come messages Of
coincidence and from the peoples spon-
tsneous promise Of that aid which
brings the world closer together in
times OF great calamity. Great Britain.
France and Russia have sent their war
ships quick as the flash of the tele
graph could carry che orders b lend
assistance to the stricken cities. Re-
lief funds have already been started
and hundred ships and trains are on
their way carrying supplies and rein
forcements to the south Rome, Milan.
Florence. Naples and other cities are
sending physicians police and firemen.
Yesterday all the ambassadors and
ministers expressed sympathy with NJ,
rittoni, minister of foreign affairs,
whose emotion was profound.
The bourses aud theaters have been
closed throughout Italy and dispatches
of sympathy continue to pour in from
all quarters of the globe. ass
Described by Naval Officer.
| Al the time of the earthquake the
torpedo boat Sappho was lying in the
harbor of Messiah and one of the Off
GERS told of the occurrences as fol-
lows: |5
| AT half-past Ave in the morning the
sea suddenly became terribly agitated.
seeming literally to pick up our boat
| and shake It, Other craft nearby were
similarly treated and the ships looked
Ike bits Of cork bobbing about in a
tempest. Almost Immediately a tidal
wave OF huge proportions swept across
the strait, mounting the coasts and
carrying everything before it. Scores
of ships were damaged and the Hun
garian mail boat Andrassy parted her
anchors and went crashing into other
vessels. Messina bay was wired out
and the sea was soon covered with
masses of wreckage, which was car
ried off in the arms Of the receding
| waters"
Many prisoners from the jails made
their escape and looted right and left
Hundreds engaged in the work OF rob.
bling the banks aud business houses,
Continued on mage 5l