Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-30
ALL ITALY. STUNNED
AND IN MOURNING
Full Extent Of Destruction Wrought
by Earthquake Staggers
The Imagination.
pR0RARlY INN 0Q0 LIVES ARE LOST
PROBABLY 100000 LIVES ARE LOST
Adequate Estimate of Casualties I'M
possibie-Pinioned by Fallen Bull
dinss, Many Burned to Death in
Messina-Other Towns are OtlIt-
erated-Resgto Wiped Out.
(By Associated PreSs.)

(By Associated Press.)
ROME, Dec. 29.-The earthquake
in south Italy and Sicily Yesterday
morning wrecksd nearly an entire
city and obliterated smaller towns
and villages without number. Then
a tidal wave swept along the strait
of Messina and added to the horror.
drowning the people in their help
lessness and panic. Flames broke
out in the devastated cities. ana
countless numbers of wounded men.
women and children were burned to
death.
100000 Dead.
Any adequate estimate OF the total
casualties is as yet quite Impossible
but trustworthy estimates place the
number al 100000.
Messina has been fire swept Inc
dead there alone will run into the
tens of thousands. Reggie is a sep
ulchre of the dead. Catania suffer-
ed heavily.
Mount Aetna. the volcano on the
island Of Sicily is active.
France Great Britain and Russia
are hurrying warships to the scene.
Troops are being poured into the
zone.
The minister OF marine al five
o'clock this afternoon received
wireless despatch estimating the
dead at Messina at $4,000.
No correspondence has een re-
ceived from Reggie.
All Italy Mourns.
Stunned at the magnitude Of the
calamity which has overtaksn fellow
.countrymen. al! Italy moErns tonight
for the stricken province of Calabria
and the island of Sicily.
Accustomed for centuries to earth
quakes. Italy stands ever in dread.
but none was prepared for the dlsaa-
ter which in the fraction Of min
ute devastated cities and towns and
caused the death CT thoIsanos.
Mess;na, whose tragic history has
been marked by tidal waves and war.
and which was the center of yester-
days malestrom. was shaken TO
ruins.
Flames Complete Destruction.
Flames burst forth 10 complete the
city's destruction and to burn alive
untold numbers helplessly pinioned
beneath fallen walls and broken tim
bers.
The strait Of Messina was shaken
and twisted by the earth trembling.
for mariners report the channel al
tered. The ports and villages on
both the continental! and Siciitan
sides were wrecked or inundated anu
all light service along the coast was
swallowed up. Navigation is now
dangerous and in some places i'm
possible.
In the Calabrian district. which
was only beginning to recover from
the effects Of the earthquake OF 1905.
Regg'o was the center Of the earth s
unheaval.
Reoaio No Longer Exists.
The seaport of Reggie is repor'ed
As no longer existing and the city
proper is in ruins. .
The loss Of life on both sides OF
the strait and in eastern Sicily was
enormous
One Of the refugees from Regg'o
who vas the first to bring the news
Of the city's destruction. tried 10
make his way to this city in sail
Loaf. but was compelled to return
and finally found safety a; PENN
sIIa port.
In describing his eyper'' nee, he
said: The sea was strangely. mys-
teriously ag!tated, and the heavens
we're atlaze. Nearing Sicily the
clearing smoke revealed the mys-
terry: Messina was in flames. In
the frenzy Of despair turned nv
boat back TO CaIabr'a."
Starving. bleeding from injuries
and almost insane from their ierrify-
ing experiences. Messiua's survivors
are fleeing in all directions
One Of those who escaped said:
The earth seemed Suddenly 10 drop
and then turn Violently on its ski
The whole population who practical
" were precipitafed from the houses
rent In twain were spun around like
tops as they ran through the streets.
Many fell crushed 10 death and
others. uiidered. took refuge for
breath beside the tot'cring walls
where they soon net the fate OF their
companions"
Forsi N Wsrxh;ps Render Aid.
British and Russian Sdnadrons
have arrived at Meye'ns. Sailors and
marines have been discmharked and
they have performed courageous acts