Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-12-29
HUNDREDS DEAD
IN EARTHQUAKE
TEMBL0R AND TIDAL WAVE
RAZE WHOLE CITIES
THREE PROVINCES OF ITALY IN
RUIN AND ASHES
Reports from Rome and Palermo in-
dictate Fearful Loss of Life and
lnestimabIe Damage to
Property
tcontInued from Page Onel

/
guished himself in the earthquake Of
1905, did valiant work again today.
He rushed into places where the ruiz
was greatest and brought aid and en-
couragement to all.
Flee in Storm
Thousands of persons abandoned theii
homes, although a terrific rainstorn
prevailed, and filed the air with lamen-
tations and prayers.
In some places, such as Prizzo, Co
trone, Santa Severina and Piscopio, the
people entered the churches almost
while the latter were falling and car
ried out the saints.
They bore these in procession through
the open country, invoking the mercy
of God.
In the mountainous regions inland the
population has taken refuge in grottoes
and caves, where peasants priests, sol
diers and persons of gentle birth are
living in common
They sleep on the ground, and fires
burn to keep off wild animals. In Aloi
alone 1000 persons are homeless.
Extraordinary scenes are reported at
Catania. Following a violent shock at
500 o'clock, the sea rose in a ire
mendous wave which wrecked many
small boats.
as quickly, causing further great dam
age and wreckage.
Awakened by the shock, the inhabi-
tants fled panic stricken from their
homes into the streets and squares.
PROFESSIONS Organized
Professions were organized and soon
all the churches were filled with weep
ing crowds imploring divine mercy.
Cardinal Nava. bishop of Catania,
exhorted the people to be calm. He
promised that the body of Saint
Agatha should be carried in process
sion.
Saint Agatha is regarded as the spe-
cial deliverer for all scourges, and ac-
cording to history the pious inhabi-
tants of Catania diverted the course
OF the lava stream in 1869, when a
fearful eruption of Mount Etna took
place, by extending the veil of Saint
Agatha toward it, thus saving the city,
as the lava was turned aside near the
Benedictine monastery and descended
into the sea.
While the number of deaths at that
place is not believed now TO be large,
there were several terrific occurrences.
Torn from Mothers Clasp
Among the children swept away by
the wave was a boy 10 months old,
who was torn from the arms of his
mother.
The mother, too, was overcome by
the force of the water and lost con-
seriousness, but her body was caught
by railing and she remained there
until she was rescued.
Midnight reports state that Reggie
the capital of the province of Reggie
di Calabria, eight miles from Messina,
on the opposite side of the strait, has
met the same fate as Messina, but
these reports have not been confirmed,
owing to the lack of Geographic facili-
ties.
A very severe shock was felt at Cal
tanissetta, a city of Sicily, and al
though much damage was done, no one
was killed.
The shock created great alarm, and,
Notwithstanding the downpour of rain
the whole population remained in the
streets throughout the day and
marched in religious procession.
His Holiness Grieved
Pope Plus X was greatly distressed
at hearing of the scourge that had
afflicted the loyal population in the
south.
He could hardly credit the truth of
the dispatches describing the devasta-
ton and fatalities as ten times greater
than in 1905.
After kneeling fervently in prayer,
His Holiness arose and said, as he said
three wears ago, that he felt HIS place
was among the suffering children.
1t was his firm intention to order
that instructions be given for begin
ming the journey, but his physician
and those in attendance upon him in
sisted that it would be impossible Tor
him TO take such a fatiguing eXpedi-
tion in his falling health. At midnight
a regiment of soldiers left mere tor
Calabria.
Flying Squadron Out
A flying squadron composed of the
battleships Vittorio Emanuele, Regina
Elena and Napoli has been ordered TO
proceed to Messina.
The squadron will arrive there Tues
day morning, together with steamers
of the italian Navigation company
carrying supplies and troops.
The troops will be sent to various
points to keep down the lawlessness.
senior Bertolini the minister of pub
lie works, left tonight for the south,
where he will represent the govern
ment
Another regiment of infantry and
several companies of engineers also
left for the south.
Altogether 5000 troops have been sent
from this city in the last eighteen
hours while. from other military posts
about $4,000 men are on their way to