The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-12-29
Weeping Crowds.

H = I&LAG% %lLkldUls
tants fed panic-stricken from their
homes into the streets and squares.
Professions were organized and soon
all the churches we're filled with
weeping crowds imploring divine
mercy. Cardinal Nava, bishop OF
Catania, exhorted the people to be
calm.
He promised that the body Of Saint
Agatha should be carried in the pro
%cession. Saint Agatha is regarded
al the special deliverer for all
scourges and according to history, the
pious inhabitants Of Catania diverted
the course Of the lava stream III 1869,
when a fearful eruption Of Mount
Aetna took place, by extending the
veil Of Saint Agatha towards It, thus
saving the city, as the lava was
turned aside near the benedictine
monastery and descended into the
sea-.
T terrible Experiences.
While the number of deaths at that
place is not believed to be large, there
Weres3%gseveral tragic occurrences
Among the children swept away BY
the water a a boy Is months old
who was torn from the arms Of his
mother. The mother, too, was over
come BY the force Of the water and
lost consciousness, but her body was
caught by a railing and she remained
there until she was rescued.
"A Night OF Terror.
Midnight reports state that Reggie,
the capital of the province of Reggie,
miles from Messina on the opposite
side Of the strait has met the same
fate as Messina, but these reports
have not been confirmed owing to the
lack of Geographic facilities.
A very severe shock was felt at
Caltanisselta, in Sicily, and although
much damage va done, no n vas
killed. The shock created great
alarm and, Notwithstanding the down
pour of rain, the whole population re-
manned in the streets throughout the
day and marched in religious process
sion. Y M
The Pope Distressed.
The pope was greatly distressed at
hearing Of the scourge that had af-
flicted the loyal population In the
south. He could hardly credit the
truth of the dispatches describing the
devastation and fatalities, as ten.
greater than in 1905.
After kneeling fervently in prayer,
the Pope arose and said as he said
three years ago that he felt his place
was amidst his suffering children.
1t was his firm intention to order
that instructions be given for begin
ming the Journey, but his physicians
and those In attendance upon him in.
sisted that it would be impossible for
him to undertake such a fatiguing e <
petition in the present state Of his
health.
Supplies for the Sufferers.
At midnight a regiment of soldiers
reached here. for Calebria.
A flying squadron composed of the
%battleships Vittorio Emanuele, Reg
ina, Elena and Napoli has been order
ed to proceed to Messina. The squad
ron will arrive there Tuesday norm
ing, together with the steamers Of the
italian Navigation company, carrying
troops and supplies.
Troops Sent to the island.
The troops will be sent to various
points to keep down lawlessness. Sen
or Bertolini, the minister of public
works, left tonight for the south,
where he will represent the govern
ment. a 7
Another regiment of infantry and
two companies Of engineers also left
for tho south.
Altogether 5000 troops have been
sent from this city In the last Is
hours, while from other military posts,
about lie, 900 men are on their way to
Calebria and Sicily.
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