The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-29
MESSINA IN RUINS.


The oncoming waters rolled in huge
wave, accompanied by terrifying
roar.
1.-THE sky was agIow with the refiec
ton of burning palaces and other
buildings and as if this was not enough
there suddenly shot up into the sky
| huge burst of flame. followed by a
| crash that seemed to shake the whole
| town. This probably was the gas
works blowing up.
Eventually we reached the prin-
cipaI square of Messina. Here we
| found two or three thousand utterly
terrified people assembled. None of us
knew what to do. We were all in an
agony of fear. Men and women
! prayed, groaned and shrieked. I saw
| one of the big buildings on the square
| cola pse. 1t seemed to me that scores
of persons were buried beneath the
| ruins. Then I lost consciousness, ana
| I remember no more.
One Hundred Tourists Dead.
| Palermo. Dec. 29-Refugees from
Messina say that there were 100 for
| eigners in the Hotel Trinacria, and
that they all lost their lives. The motel
has been completely obliterated 1t
was one of the best in the city and
| patronized almost exclusively by tour
lists. 1t was situated in the Via Carl
| baldi.
Two More Towns Heard From.
Rome. Dec 2e.+Reports have just
| been received from two other towns
| Cassano is said to have suffered 1000
dead, while the wounded number
| 500. At Cosenza 400 dead people al
ready have been taken from the
while Cosenza is the center of COM
munity with population of 21,OOO.
Two Towns Destroyed.
| Monte Leone. -Calabria, Dec. 20
| The town of Palmi has been practical-
| " destroyed as has also Bagnara. The
| impossible to estimate the number or
| injured Large numbers were killed
/ also at Bagnara, and the list OF Mouh1-
| ed there also will be heavy. Details
are lacking. The tidal wave inundated
| a villa at San Giovanni, $500 feet back
from the shore line. Palmi has 10000
| inhabitants, while Bagnara consists or
1900 people.
Priests All Dead.
London. Dec. ga special dispatch
| from Rome says the pope has been
notified that the entire religious COM
munities of Messina, and Reggie, IN
| Guiding bishops. priests. monks and
nuns. have been wiped out by the
earthquake and fire.
Tidal Wave 257 Feet High.
A flying squadron of the Italian
navy, composed of three best battle
ships. had left for a cruise on the At
lantfc before the first news of the
earthquake disaster came to hand
Through the medium of wireless teleg-
raphy it was. possible to reach these
vessels and order them to proceed at
full speed for Messipa
British squadron that was at
Syracu has left for Messina, taking
doctors and supplies of medicines. etc.
There also are several Russian ships
at Syracuse.
1t is reported from Catania that the
bishop of Messina is buried under the
ruins of his residence Signor Fuelci,
member of the chamber of deputies
from Messina, together with the mem
bers of his family. also is reported
dead The Fuelci family was one OF
the most prominent in Catania.
The dome of the cath edral at Ca
tania collapsed and other churches as
we'll as the. city hall threaten to fall
at any moment.
The tidal wave sank a number of
small vessels in the harbor of Catant
At Riposto the tidal wave was IS feet
high. It swept in with appalling pow
er and lasted for AZ seconds
Roosevelt Cables Coincidence.
Washington, Dec. .29.-President Roos-
ident Roosevelt. through the state de-
partment today sent to King Victor
Emmanuel of Italy dispatch express
ing his horror and that of the American
people over the disaster.