Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-12-29

cal police chief lies dead in the ruins
of his office and the barracks at Mes
sina have been demolished. The
commander of the troops was killed
outright and many of the enlisted
men were victims.
VIII Shoot Looters.
The government last night sent
General Feiera Di Cassatto, an army
corps commander, to take full charge
of the troops in the devastated terri
tory and one of the first moves will
be to declare martial law. The rob-
Ders pillaged the ruins of the shat
tered buildings and even stole cloth
ing and valuables from the bodies of
the victims. They were not deferred
by the flames which broke rut at va
rious places in the city but took ad-
vantage of the light made by burn
ing debris to continue their vandal-
ism.
The night at Messina was one of
horror indescribable. With fire,
robbery and the dead and dying on
every side, the city was in the ut
most confusion. The people were
panic stricken and under a spell of
terror.
Many Heroic Acts.
Troops began to arrive at Messina
last night and this morning a number
of steamers arrived from the penin-
sula with soldiers. Patrols were at
once organized and an effort made to
bring some order into the situation
Bands of citizens were formed to help
in the work of rescue. Many cour-
ageous acts were performed by eiti-
Zens and soldiers alike and in some
cases the rescuers lost their lives
while trying to help others. Toward
morning the worst of the fires were
eXtinguished and the looting was par
TALLY stopped. Comparative order
was restored before daylight. Every
thing possible is being done to sue
cor the wounded but the relief meas
ures are utterly inadequate, owing to
the immensity of the disaster.
The finest palaces, churches and
theatres of Messina are heaps of ruins.
Countless bodies are scattered through
the ruins and the decomposition of
those bodies will doubtless bring pes
thence and add to the horror of the
situation.
Flames Complete Work.
The devastation in the entire dis
trict is complete and no part of the
province of Reggie and Calabria es-
capped damage. The disturbances
were most severe along the shores of
the straits of Messina where the cit
les of Messina and Reggie are sit
Tated.
In more than one town the shock
caused the gas meters to explode and
disastrous fires resulted. The flames
helped greatly to swell the death list.
The configuration of the straits of
Messina has been materially altered
by the earthquake. The tidal wave
that completed the work of destruc-
ton started by the earthquake, was
S2 feet high.
Wireless telegraphy has been Of the
greatest assistance in getting reports
from the devastated districts and is
helping the authorities TO realize the
extent OF the disaster and to send help
where 1t is needed the worst. The
flying squadron of the Italian navy
composed OF three of the best bat
tleships, which had left for a cruise
before the disaster, was reached by
wireless and ordered to return to
Messina. The British squadron at
Syracuse has also left for Messina.
There are also several Russian ships
at Syracuse.
The dome Of the cathedral at Cat
ania collapsed and other churches, as
well as the city hall. threaten to fall
at any minute. At Piposto the tidal
wave was 25 feet high.
One Town Razcd.
The minister OF marine this after
upon at o'clock received a wireless
message, esue ating that the dead at
Messina will number so 900. There
is yet no news from Reggie.
Reports have Just been received
from two other towns in Calabria. the
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