The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-12-30
EARTHQUAKE


place. that were rssed ~ the earth.
quaivv and SWEPT by the tidal wave
Nslss Like Thunder,
Dawn was javt breaking over the
sea az 4 O'Clock Monday when the
catastrophe occurred, The sleeping
mhabltants we're awakened By a noise
like thunder, 10 md their homes rock.
ing about them, Many Thought that
q great sterm had barss over the
tslAnd, b0t IA the roaring Increased
and the earth continued Ia shake
more yloivatiy aud walls aud stones
begun TO crash sboot their ears the
Inhabitants began TO appreciate the
nature and extent Of the catastrophe,
The arst shock was the most VITO.
lent. lasting more than a minute. Ac.
cording TO one survivor, interviewed
at Catanta, the earth cracked like tho
report OF n large suh, The shock was
30 sudden that scores OF houses col.
lspsed like cardboard before the ter.
rorsticben inmates could leap into the
/stfeetses
rhe sSiddcnness Of the shock was
responsible for the huge death roll.
Thousands were killed In their beds
btore they could realize what was
hppening. Others were killed by
ding debris or shattered under
lhsonry that toppled into the streets
! the earth continued It's Quivers and
ven long after all pulsations had
eased.
The scene Immediately following
the first shock was like the coming Of
|. fhe end OF the world. according to an
Dther survivor, Thousands OF men.
women and children In night attire
ran shrieking into the streets, half
dressed, praying and wailing. Many
rushed out only to be crushed by fall
ing walls.
Means OF Dying.
with the first shock the electric
and gas lights went out and the city
was In darkness only to be lighted
brilliantly In another minute by the
flames OF burning houses.
The frenzied prayers of the people,
the groans OF the dying and the pite-
Gus appeals for help from those i'm
prisoned in the ruins made scene
of horror, but the climax was not yet
reached.
While the dazed inhabitants were
still crawling out from their wrecked
homes a tidal wave engulfed the lower
part OF the town. The sea receded
several hundred feet and then rolled
back on the city with tremendous
force
"A wall OF water from 30 to 80 feet
high swept over the wharves, ware
houses and magnificent commercial
structures adjoining the harbor. Ell.
tire streets were obliterated, ships at
anchor were cast up into the town and
then borne back seaward as battered
wrecks The stone docks were tom
up and the ponderous stones tossed
about like wooden chips.
Day broke over scene OF deso!a
tion. The harbor Of Messina had prac.
ticalIy disappeared and with it nearly
all the shipping. The lower part Of
the town was swept clean by the tidal
wave while the remainder was a mass
OF twisted. shattered buildings
Fire broke outA simultaneously In
three places and owing tc the lack ct
apparatus and water supply. quickly
gained Roadway
The Straits OF Messina Is dotted with
sorpses and wTeckage, carts and house.
hold furniture. swept seaward Cap
itains OF vessels arriving at Palermo
and Catania reported passing through
this detris for miies beyond Mes
sina.
Throughout Monday morning the
Trims blazed fiercely, but the surviving
Inhabitants, aided by Catanians ard
,eople from the neigbboring towns,
inally succeeded in checking the
hres.
Russia, Germany. England and
France have ordered warships 10
italy. Those from the nearest sta.
lions are steaming towards Sicily to-
Hay. while the foreign Offices Of the
continental countries have promised
Rll the aid possible in the effort to-
bring order out of the existing chaos
Italy has been accustomed TO dis
aster from time immemorial. Vol
canic eruptions, tidal waves and
earthquakes have taken their toll OF
sunny Italy for centuries until the
people came to look upon them in
their cycles of disaster without fear,
but the latest catastrophe makes all
previous calamities fade into insig-
nificance.
Monument Of Death.
II The beautiful Siclian city OF Mes
sina, accustomed To war and scourge
II
day monument OF death. Halls and
public buildings of splendid ornament
and matchless architecture are but
blackened walls and charred ruins.
fnass Of debris has sor its
on human bodies crushed and
en beyond Identification
the wharves and quays lined
he's there are scenes of nature
rimmest mood Great masses
have risen from the bed OF
shores are lined with
ships and with HUI
lMessina has been
by the upheaval and
months before II can
again made a safe
aritime passage
district had Just re
he effects OF the 1905
hen. dire disaster again
Reggie seemed the neu-
disaster. Reggie was
rapport town; today
iron and timber marks
Ice southern Italy's pre-.
The scenery which was
I'd as de luxe in the Jour-
Is a sight now to men
rS Were Ablaze.
IS the fear instilled into