Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-12-30

Rome, Dec 3O.-The details of one
of the most appalling disasters In the
history of the world are being un-
folded today in the dispatches coming
in from the districts of Calabria and
Sicily where an earthquake wrought
havoc and a tidal wave and fire COM
pleted the work of destruction. 1t is
a story if indescribable horror ana
calamity. Italy is stunned by the
visitation yet the full measure of the
catastrophe has not yet been taken.
The extent of the calamity grows
with every fresh dispatch from the
south. Calabria was dotted with
small towns and villages and the
news from localities so fa~ reporting
brings word of death lists running
from hundreds to thousands. 1t is.
still impossible to give anything like
an accurate statement of the total
death list but the total will probably
run anywhere from 100000 to 15O,-
600. In some quar- ters it is said that
the final report will show list as
high as 100000.
Half the population of Calabria
and eastern Sicily has apparently per-
ished and countless thousands of
in the ruins of buildings. 1t is i'm
possible to, succor all.
Numbers of the wounded are on
their way to various cities and are
without medical assistance. The de-
vastated district is still filled with
half demented survivors, starving and
> wandering aimlessly in the ruins. The
ruins are still burning
IN, Lii Of IA r.
rived at Messna today and both are
personally aiding the injured. Their
example is a wonderful inspiration
TO the country Everything possible
is being done to aid the survivors but
railroads into the district are out Of
commission and little can be accom-
plished
Rome, Dec. 30-Half the popula-
ton of Calabria and the eastern part
OF Sicily is dead The other half is
weeping. From the latest reports
today it is feared that the total num-
Der of victims in Sicily and Calabria
will exceed 100000, while the damage
to property viii approximate several
hundred million dollars.
AS the great extent of the seismic
seems impossible to exaggerate the
horrors which have followed. The
calamity which has overwhelmed IT.
ally is almost beyond imagination,
not only because of the great number
of dead. but because of the innumer-
able injured buried in the ruins, many
of whom will perish because 1t is i'm
possible to rescue them from the
Co.. 10
whole of Italy is stunned and at the
scene of the disaster the great bulk
of the people are literally demented
with the suddenness and extent Of
the blow.
King and Queen at Messina.
King Victor Emanuel and Queen
Helena arrived at Messina today. AS
they made their way into the ruined
town the scene of disaster and horror
was too much for the queen, who al
most swooned Crowds of terror
stricken people swarmed around the
royal party, throwing themselves in
the mud and screaming for pity and
aid.
Many terrible stories are related in
connection with the work of rescue.
The rescuers had to contend with the
superstition which is so deep rooted
I'm the minds of the Sicilian people
and in many instances the injured
men and women clung to crumbling
walls. refusing to let go and seek
safer positions.
As further facts concerning strick-
en- Messina become available they cor
roborate the worst fears that were
entertained. The cathedral, munici-
nal building barracks and prison
were all destroyed and presumably
all the smaller buildings met the same
fate. Out OF ESQ railroad employees at
Messina only eight survived.
A torpedo boat which was sent to
the aid OF the sufferers at Reggie