The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-12-31

| yea I the scene OF the disaster. The
Tnbuna publishes an interview with
a refugee who made his way to Monte
leone, In Calabria. This man says the
entire countryside is crowded with VIC
of living persons are still beneath the
ruins in Calabrian towns, but it Is
quite impossible to relieve them.
At Riposto the tidal wave was ter
rife. At first 1t receded for a great
distance from shore, then it swept for
ward with tremendou violence. tsne
water advancing in a huge wave swept
before it every house and building for
a thousand feet from the shore line.
The waters rushed through the streets
to a depth OF from 10 to 20 feet
Sunk 500 Boats.
At Catania the panic stricken people.
fearing new shocks. absolutely refused
to %re-entcr their houses, and are camp
ing on the squares which are free from
water and the surrounding country. The
tidal wave sunk 500 boats there and did
great damage to several large vessels
and steamers. including the Austrian
came Buda.
Not only did Catania suffer from the
effects of a tidal wave. but a similar.
body of water inundated the handsome
streets of Messina which flank the nar-
Dor, covering them with a thick layer
of mud which rendered more difficult
the succoring of the wounded, many Of
whom could be seen YIN under the
w~reckage.
1t Is understood that the villages OF
Faro and Ganzirri, adjoining Messina.
have disappeared. The effects of the
earthquake We're aggravated by fire
through an explosion OF gas. the flames
of which swept along several of the
streets, adding to the terror.
AT Calabria The region around Mon
telone was most affected. The village
of S%tefaconi, the inhabitants of which
number 1890, was practically de-
stroyed. Only five persons were killed.
Morabite. the bishop of Mileto, who
distinguished himself in the earth
quake of 1906. did altar work again
today. He rushed into places where
the ruin was greatest and brought aid
n encouragement to all.
People Pray in Streets.
Thousands Of people abandoned
storm prevailed and filled the air with
lamentations and prayers. In some
places, such as Prizzo, Cotrone, Santa
Severina and Piscopio. the people en-
tered the churches almost while the
latter We're falling and carried out the
saints. They bore these in procession
through the open country invoking the
mercy of God. In h mountainous
regions inland the population has
taken refuge in grottoes and caves.
where peasants II priests, soldiers
and persons of gentle birth are living.
in m They sleep OH the ground
and fires burn to keep off wild animals.
In Abb alone 5000 persons are home
less.
Extraordinary scenes are reported
at Catania. Following Il violent earth
shock at $50 the sea rose in a tremcn-
] dong lUay-tS which yVrapEaI MANY email
boats. 1t then suddenly retired and
returned as quickly. causing further
great damage and wreckage. Awak-
ened by the shock. II Inhabitants fed
panic stricken from their homes into
the streets and a Professions
We're organized and Don all the
churches were filed with weeping
crowds imploring divine mercy.
Carry Saints Body.
Cardinal Nava, archbishop of Gaia
ria, exhorted the people to be calm.
He promised that the body of St.
Agatha should be carried oun in a
procession.
st. Agatha is regarded as "A special
%deliverer from all s%courges, and ac-
cording to history the pious >inhab-
itants Of Catania diverted the course
OF the ava stream in 1869, when q
place, by extending the veil OF st.
Agatha towards 1t. thus saving the city,
as the lava was turned aside near the
Bcnedictine monastery n descended
into the sea.
While the number Of deaths at that
there We're several tragic occurrences
Among the children swept away by
the wave was a 15-months-o old boy;
who was torn from the arms Of his
mother. The mother, too, was over
come by h force of h water and
lost consciousness. but her body was
caught by q railing and remained
there until she was rescued.
Government Gives Aid.
! The Italian government proceeded
energetically to relieve the widespread
distress, concentrating at the points
of greatest need, troops and engineers.
Members Of the Red Cross were dis
patched to various places, and camps
with provisions were Immediately
prepared. all available railway lines
transport. The city Of Messina has
suffered probably more than any other
place. the latest Information coming
indirectly from that quarter stating
that two-thirds of the town was de-
stroyed n several thousand persons
killed. The steamers Washington and
Montebello. which were in that har-
Dor. later proceeded to Catania loaded
with injured. who were SO stupefied
by terror that they seemed unable to
realize what had happened, simply
saying that 1t looked az though the
end of the world had come. Five
steamers left Catania for Messina to
assist in removing the injured from
that place. who are reported to mum
Der thousands.
Pope Prays for Victims.
The pope was greatly distressed, q,
hearing Of the scourge that had at
ficted the loyal population In tn,
south. He could hardly credit thu
truth OF the dispatches. describing the
devastation and fatalities as 10 time,
greater than in 1905.
After kneeling fervently in prayer
the pope. arose and said. as he sale
three years ago.. that he felt his plac,
was amidst his suffering children. I
was his Arm intention to order that In
structions be given for beginning tn,
Journey. but his physician and thos'
in attendance upon him insisted tina
1t would be impossible for him to un
der take such a fatiguing expedition II
the present condition of his health.
Messina, mex to Palermo. the chic
commercial town of Sicily, with NOR
than 10000 Inhabitants, is situated OF
the Strait Of Messina, and Is overshad
owed by a range of rugged. rock,
peaks. Messina has been the seen