Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-12-31
DEATH LIST BEACHES 125,o00
King and Queen Aid In Rescue Work In Ruins of Reggie Today.

Rome, Dec, 3l Further violent earthquake shocks in southern Italy today wrought great destruction and affrighted thousands of survivors in Reggie, Palermo, Catanzaro andsother places already half mad and paralyzed by fear.
 Scores of buildings left standing col lapsed and killed not only some or the rescuers striving to save those buried alive by the first earth spasm, but some who had survived fl.
 Shocks in Syracuse and Pizzo ana violent auakes at Latica have caused further panic. Rumblings of the vol canos Stromboli and Etna added ter. TOT. Fear is expressed that Naples will be destroyed
 The prophecy of Matide Serao. which was printed in Les Annales week ago, in which she predicted the destruction of Naples and expressed Italy's constant fear of natures up- heaval. is now recalled. She said
 Prophesied Naples Destruction.
 To-day the city is beautiful because God wishes 1t. We believe her immor- tai, but she Is destined for death. See you this mountain at whose feet stretch beautiful villages bathed by l the sea? She will destroy our city:she will be our executioner. On day very near the present roars will come, con vulsions will shake the mountain, | frightful tempest will agitate the sea, flashes of lightning will cover the | heavens. and all nature will combine to our destruction"
 Official reports made to the govern ment by the prefects of forty-two cit les in Calabria and Sicily, together with those sent by the authorities of i Messina and Reggie, place the num- Der killed in earthquake, inundation tidal wave and fire at not less than 125, ,00O.
 At least 10000 people perished in Messna and 10000 in Reggie. A score of other towns have been devastated, and thousands of victims in these places must be added to the roll. In the face of this awful total all Italy stands appalled,.
 Property Loss $500, 900.
 It is conservatively estimated that the property loss will exceed S3OO,0o0,- GOO.
 Nothing remains of Messina but mass of ruins that have been swept by fire mere handful of survivors are being cared for by the rescuing forces, but their distress is great, and it has been increased by the violent icy wind that followed the deluge of rain. Des- titution is everywhere and appalling. There is little food and less water.
 The Marquis Ruvolito, who has just visited Messina. declares that the spec tace is horrifying. He estimates that there are not more than 10000 sur vivors of the entire popuace. Thou sands, he said, are buried under the wreckage, and some of the injured pinned beneath the walls which the Sre did not touch are yet alive. He believes 1t will take months and per- haps \ year to remove the dead from under the ruins.
 One tragic phase of the disaster was the fight for life made by the prisoners in the jail at Messina. There were nearly 1000 of these, including 300 wo- men. The building collapsed at the first shock. and the inmates were caught like rats. Several rows of cells remained intact and those who were locked within them could be heard ,l lie, -t,,sr plA And I for help. Then came arther shock which completed the destruction. All were killed with the exception of the , few who had escaped after the first shock.
 King and Queen Weep at Sights.
 King Victor Emmanuel and Queen
 Helena were in Reggie today. The king explored the ruins regardless of the danger to which he exposed himself
 He was often moved to tears at the heartrending scenes he came upon at every turn. The king was loud in his praise of the splendid work accom- plished by the Italian, Russian and 1 English bluejackets. who saved many who otherwise would have inevitably
 perished
 The queen spent the day in the
 wards of improvised hospitals, visit Ing the wounded, many of whom have lost all that was dear to them. Her
 majesty did her best to cheer them
 with womanly words of consolation, :" often breaking into sobs as she lis tened to their dreadful tales of suffer . ing.
 King Victor Emmanuel Joined res
 cue party and labored unremittingly. !. Soon after his arrival the party of
 which he was member extricated a number of injured persons from the
 ruins.
 Attempts were made to deter the u queen from following the kings lead In taking a personal part in the work Il of rescue. It was thought khat the
 horrible sights would he too much fol
 her nerves.
 Rescues Child From Ruins.
 But she persisted and had the satis .- faction of recovering with her owr
 hands a child who was badly injured ,r The infant was a mass of bruises as e. the queen lifted it tends(y in hel n. arms and carried it to the shore. wher' ,3 1t was taken in charge by surgeons
 from the warship. The surgeons salt X that the child would probably live