The Washington times., 1908-12-29


hanI 1T is certain that an area hundreds
of miles IL extent and including the
whole Of the northeastern part OF
Sicily and practically all of Calaberia,
in the suuthw estern extremity of Italy.
were shaken and twisted by the shocks.
The tremor was felt throughout the
whole length of Italy. however, even
reaching to the Alps.
In the immediate vicinity Of Messlna
and Reggie, tile seismic disturbance
was so violent that the Strait of Mes
sinas is reported to have been shifted. ;
The best description Of the shock yet
obtained was given by the captain Of
the Italian ship Washington, which ar
rived at Palermo the capital of Sicily.
from Messina. He entered the Strait of
Mcssina just as the first shock oc-
CURED.
Ship Feels Shock
The ship quiveced as though it had
lost a screw" the captain said. "A
fog Immediately enveloped the vessel,
began to see the floating wrecks Of
ships, and houses. and furniture that
had been washed from the city. They
came whirling down the strait, and it
WAS with great difficulty that we es-
capped collisions. Soon many boats that
were still manner by their crews ap-
preached and began begging for help.
We touched at the city for only a short
time, but it looked as though the town
had been swept away.
Near Gazzirri the mayor came out
10 use I'm a boat. He said that 1 200
people had been killed in his town and
that 1,5OO were hurt. The whole city
was overcast with clouds Of dust that
rose from the tumbIed buildings.
his, coupled with the knowledge that
thousands were dead and dying and
the terrible agitation OF the survivors,
made a terrifying picture"
The most terrible phase OF the
calamity at present is the fear that
thousands Of the survivors viii sue
cumb to the twin dangers that con-
front them-burnin~ to death in the
ruins or dying from starvation and
exposure
Every possible effort to avoid this
is being taken by the government. but
the extent of the disaster is so great
and the handicap under which the
rescuers are working SO great that II
is feared a terrible death awaits many
who survived the initial disaster.
Fire Threaten Towns.
Fires are raging in scores OF towns.
with absolutely no means TO check their
spread. Palermo reports that many
persons are still alive in the burning
ruins OF Messina. and that II Will be
Impossible TO rescue them. This report
is confirmed 10y Signor FeIice. a deputy
al Messina, who says that the ruins Of
the city are burning fiercely. Frlice es-
Inmates that half the population of Mes
sina will be killed.
. The tidal wave following the uake was
probablQy the most devastating in the
histor yof such disasters At Riposto
the tidal wave was reported as reach
iug height Of thirtysix feet. but it is
believed impossible.
II is known that at Messina. Catania,
Reggie. PaImi, and other coast towns.
great stretches Of the shore seemed lit !
orally to fall into the sea and the furi-
GUS iurush OF water enguIfed the main
land.
After the first waves swept over the
land. the waters subsided, but oniv 10
gather strength for d second rush that
swept the mainland for miles and
wrought untold destruction.
The seismic disturbances which suen+
over tho entire southern districts ~
Italy yesterday have been foreheraIded.
scientists claim.
Active for Months.
For months past, volcanoes have
been active; slight quakes have been
felt in the mountains. and the dire
rumbliugs, which are q precursor
uf disaster. have been heard in
the bowels Of the smoking craters in
the mountainous regions. It Is known
now that the earthquake OF 1895. when
50 many lives were lost, has been
eclipsed. The city Of Catania was one
OF the worst sufferers.
The violence Of the shocks caused
great cdifces to tumble, stately columns
of granite, secure from ordinary earthly
disturbance, fell as though they were
supports OF mud. An idea OF the forca
of the shocks can be gained from the
fact that they extended through Italy
from the southernmost extremity To the
Alps, and were appreciabIy felt at Dom
odossola, on the SimpIon route. and ar
MontcaIicri. near Turin.
First Most Violent.
The first and most violent shocks
We're felt at twenty-five minutes after
, o'clock, and these were follow ed b,- |
less serious quakes at intervals. Fa-
taIities have been reported from Gioia.
Tauro. Catanzaro, Stenanoci. Reggie.
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