The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-12-29
Many Towns Of Southern Italy
Are Reported to Be To-
tally Destroyed
NO-THIRDS OF CITY
OF MESSINA DESTROYED
Distressed Territory Is Practically Cut
off From Outside Communication
and Details of Disaster
Cannot Be Secured.

Rome, December 2s.-The latest dis
patches received here from Messina,
Sicily. state that two-thirds of the city
was destroyed by the earthquake. Many
people were killed and injured.
The gravest news also has been received
from the privince of Reggie, where the
earthquake wrought havoc, are lacking.
For period the town of Messina and
the whole province of Riggio were com
pletely isolated through interruptions to
the telegraph and telephone and landslides
that obstructed the railways. Absolutely
nothing was heard from Reggie through
out the day, while the first news from
Messina came in the form of dispatch
which torpedo boat, flying at full speed
along the coast of the peninsula, carried
from point to point, always finding the
wires down, until it reached Nicotera,
where the telegraph lines were found to
be intact. From this point the dispatch
was sent. 1t briefly stated that the stu
alton was desperate and after summarize
ing the immensity of the catastrophe
ended with the announcement that Cap
tain Passino commander of the local sta
tion of torpedo boats was buried under
the debris after, having with other Of
ficials, performed heroic work in trying to
save others.
Government Sends Relief.
The Italian government proceeded en-
ergetcally to relieve the far-spread dis
tress. concentrating at the points of great
est need, troops and engineers. Members
of the Red Cross were dispatched to vari-
Gus places, and camps with provisions
were Immediately prepared, all available
railway lines and warships being used
for their transport. e@sss=sss
The city of Messina has suffered prob
ably more than any other place. the lat
est information coming indirectly from
that quarter, stating that two-thirds of
the town was destroyed and several thou
sand persons killed.
The steamers Washington and Monte
belo, which were in that harbor, later
proceeded to Catania, loaded with in
jured, who were so stupefied by terror
that they seemed unable to realize what
had happened, simply saying that 1t
looked as though the end of the world
had come. Five steamers left Catania
for Messina to assist in removing the in
jured from that place, who are reported
to number thousands
At Catania the panic stricken people
fearing new shocks absolutely refused to
re-enter their homes and are camping on
the squares, which are free from water
and the surrounding country.
The tidal wave sank 500 boats there, and
did great damage to a large number of
vessels and steamers, including the Aus
tralian steamer Buda.
Great Tidal Wave.
Not only did Catania suffer from the
effects of tidal wave, but similar body
of water inundated the handsome streets
of Messina, which flank the harbor, cover
ing them with a thick layer of mud,
which rendered more difficult the succor
ing of the wounded, many of whom could
be seen lying under the wreckage. 1t is
reported that the villages of Faro and
Ganzirri, adjoining Messina, have disap-
peared. The effects of the earthquake
were aggravated by fire through an ex-
plosion of gas, the flames which swept
along several of the streets adding terror
upon terror.
In Calabria, the region around Monte
Leon was most affected. The village of
s+afan.oon, tho inhabitants of which
number 23Oo was practically destroyed.
Only five persons were Killed. put many
were injured
Monsignor Morabito. the bishop Of Mile
s,s.;u,,,.hoa hin,sa,f :, tho
w. "Ho 49, -, -,
ear'nquahe u io0' w WIN
day. He rushed into places where the
ruin was greatest and brought aid and
eucoura cement TO all
People Apanoon Homes'
Thousands of people abandoned their
homes although a terrific raiustorm pre-
,.,,aa ana +ha or was e1led witb,laman
- "a rravars In some places srch
tauons ana PRAYERS ~ soiie piaces' suca