Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-12-29

PERISH BY
TEMBLORS
3 Provinces of Italy Laid
Waste by Terrific
Seismic Force
SHIPS SUNK BY WAVES
Thousands of Homes De-
stroyed and Whole
Cities in Ruins
FLOODS TAKE BODIES
Appalling Extent of Dis
aSter Prevents Com
plete Details
FLOODS TAKE BODIES

n
~ gio di Calabria, comprising the
department of Calabrie, which forms
the southwestern extremity of Italy, or
the "Toe of the Boot" were devastated
today by the earthquake, the far-reach-
ing effects of which were felt at most
every point throughout the country.
The town of Messina, in Sicily, was
partly destroyed and Catania was in
undated. In Messina hundreds of
houses have fallen and many persons
have been killed.
Owing, however, to tho fact that
Geographic and telephone communica-
lions were almost completely destroyed,
it is impossible to obtain even an ap-
proximate idea of the vast damage
done.
Havoc Appalling
The fate of the entire regions with
in the zone of the earthquake is I'M
known, but reports received here up
to a late hour tonight indicate the
havoc has been great and the destruc-
ton to life and property more terrible
than Italy has experienced in many
years.
The uncertainty of the situation for
many thousands has filed ali Italians
with deepest distress, for they still
have fear that the day may come when
that part of the country which seems
TO have been most blessed by nature
will be destroyed by the blind forces
of that same nature, which nearly nine
teen centuries ago overwhelmed POM
peii and Herculaneunn.
All reports show that the present
catastrophe embraces larger atea-
than the earthquake Of 1905.
Tidal Wave Sinks Ships
The tidal wave which followed the
earth shocks on the eastern coast OF
Sicily sank vessels and inundated the
lower part of Catania.
II is known that q number of persons
were killed at that place, but the rush
ing of waters carried everything De
fore them and caused such an mae
scribahle confusion that 1t VIII be I'm
possible for some time to estilnale the
damage and the lives lost.
For a period the town OF Messllla anu
the whole province of Reggie We're com
nletely isolated through interruption
TO the telegraph and telephone ana pS
landslides that Distracted the rallroauS
Absolutely nothing was hearu ll9lt
Reggie throughout the day, while tn
tirst news from Messina came in the
form of a dispatch which a. torpeoo
boat flying at full speed along tfle
coast of the peninsula, carried IRON
point to point, always finding the WlIes
down until 1t reached Nicotera. wnefe
the telegraph lines were touilo u ~
'l'N Situation Desperate
From this point the dispatch was
cont n briefly stated that the situa
tion was desperate, and after summa'
izins the immensely of the catastrophe
ended with the announcement ina
Can't. PASSING, commander or the ioca.
1.aav r. IA
station for torpedo boats, was pure
under the debris after having Wit
other officials performed heroic WORK isl
irving to save others
The Italian government proceeded eli
e,.aetically to relieve the widespread
distress. concentrating at the points Ct
greatest need troops and engineers.
Members of the Red Cross were dis
PATCHED to various places and camps
with provisions were Immediately pre-
pared, all available railway lines ana
xuarshiys being used for their transport
The city of Messina has SUFFERED
probably more than any other place
the latest information coming directly
from that quarter STATING tnat Two
thirds of the town was destroyed ana
several thousand persons killed.
Steamers Garry Injured
The steamers Washington and Monte
bello, which were in that harbor, later
iured who were so stupefed by terror
that they seemed unable to realize what
had happened, simply saying that il
looked as though the end of the world
had come.
Five steamers left Catania for Mes
sina to assist in removing the injured
from that place, which are reported N
number thousands.
AT Catania- the panic stricken people
fearing new shocks, absolutely refused
to enter their houses and are camping
on the squares.
The .tidal-wave sank 500 boats there
and did great damage to several largc
vessels and steamers, including thu
Austrian steamer Buda,
Not only did Catania suffer from the
effects of the tidal wave, but similar
body of water inundated the handsome
streets of Messina which flank the har
Dor, covering them with a thick layer
of mud, which rendered more difficult
the succoring of the wounded. many or
whom could be seen lying under tho
wreckage.
Villages Have Vanished
1t is reported that the villages OF
Faro and Ganzirri, adjoining MESSING.
have disappeared.
The effects Of the earthquake We're
aggravated through an explosion OF
gas The flames swept along severed
streets, adding terror upon terror
In Calabria the region around Mon
teleone was most affected. The village
of Stefanaeoni, the inhabitants of which
number $4,000, was virtually destroyed.
Only five persons were killed. but
many We're injured. Monsignor Mora
INTO the bishop of Alueto, who distin-
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