Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-12-29
TOday's Telegraphic News
THE EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY.
Between 65, 900 and rs, 900 Persons
Perlsh-liundred of Vessels
Wrecked,

OF the Sicilian province OF Messina, and
in the commune Of which there was q
population of 175, 600, was almost totally
destroyed. Following the shock which
tumbled down the buildings in the city,
tidal wave completed the work of
destruction, aud 1t is now believed that
the city will be obliterated.
The tidal wave left two foot layer of
mud and slime over the city, in which
scores of the injured we're smothered.
Fire is sweeping through the city,
eating up the ruins, with absolutely no
means at band t. combat the flames.
Twepiy-oue towns era known to have
been practically destsoyed, though the
reports OF their number OF dead are still
vague owing to complete prostitution of
communications.
Six hundred vessels, ranging from fish
boats to steamships, have been lost ald
it is probable tbas few of their crews
were saved.
Dozens OF vessels were swept inland
by the tidal wave and are now lying
high and dry 10 the fields, in some cases
two miles from the shore. They will be
total wrecks.
All the seismic apparatus In Italy was
broken by the force of the shock.
Fissures were opened in the ca tn
several inches wide aud the entire sides
of several mountains were split off and
crashed down In terrible landslides.
Several villages In the province Of
Reggie Di Calabria are reported to have
been destroyed by FIRE.
The deaths among the sailors at Reg
gio, where many vessels were lost, will
reach seversl hundred.
Cau,auz7rc, Dec. 29.-Out of popu-
lation of 25, 900 at Reggie, eighty per
cent were either killed or wounded, this
estimate being based on reports from
there this afternoon. The town is be-
lieved to have been literally blotted out
Palermo, Sicily, Dec. 29.-TWelve
thousand people are dead in Mtssns,
according to the latest reports from tba'
city. 1t is feared that hundreds of the
inhabitants are still alive under the ruins
aud are doomed to perish in the flames
that are sweeping what Is left of the
city.
Rome, Dec. 90 In Its late edition
today the Tribuna estimates the number
of earthquake victims at between 60, 600
and rs, 900 dead, and twice that number
as injured or suffering desperately from
hunger and exposure.
The destruction Of Messina was due 10
greater part to the tidal wave than to the
earthquake, according to train load Of
refugees and whohave arrived at Catauia
from Messins. Gigantic waves over
whelmed the city, the refugees say, and
completed the ruin. Part of the city
literally dropped into the sea.
Rome, Dec. 29.-The complete de-
struclion of Messina the second city Of
Sicily, and with a population of $50, 900,
was confirmed in an official message to the
Italian government today. The message
expresses the fear that Reggie, immedi-
stely across the strait of Messina, has
met a like fate, and says most of the
towns on the strait have been wiped out
The pope received private dispatches
today stating that the earthquake was
ten times worse than the catastrophe of
1905, when between 1900 and 1000
people were killed. He Immediately de-
cared that his place was among the
sufferers, and gave orders to arrange for
the Journey TO Calsbris. Fearful OF the
effect of such depressing trip upon the
poutifi, his medical advisers aud all OF the
cardinals strongly urged him to abandon
the idea. For time il seemed that the
pope would remain obdurste, but when
DR.. Petaci warned him that his health
was such that the journey wonld probably
prove fatal, the pope was finally per
suaded. All audiences at the Vatican
have been temporarily suspended.
Rome, Dec. 29.-The best description
yet obtained of the earthquake which
has paralized Ialy was given by the
captain of the Italian ship Washington,
which arrived at Palermo, the capital OF
Sicily, from Messins. he entered the
Strait of Messina just as the first shock
occurred. "The ship quivered as though
it had lost a screw" the captain said.
ga fog Immediately enveloped the YES
sci, bat we continued on TO Messina.
We 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 escaped collision,
Soon macy boats that we're still manned
by their crews approached US aud began
begging for help. We touched at the
city for only a short time, but it looked
as the town had been swept away.
Near Gazzirri, the mayor came out to US
in a beat. he said that 1000 people
had been killed in his town aud that as
many mora we're hurt. The whole
city was overcast with clouds of dust
tina. we're from tumble down building"
Rome, Dec. 29.-Italy is a nation
paralyzsd. With evening newspapers
claiming IS, 600 dead and semi-oficial
government estimates from enough dis
lricts to make it practically certain that
the total dead can not be less than 25,-
900, With possibly as many more facing
death from injuries and exposure, the
true awfulness of yesterdays disaster is
being revealed.
Telegraphic communication has been
completely restored as far as Palmi, and
it is TO this point that reports are COM
ing by courier, vessels and isolated bits
of telegraphic wiro. A few of these re-
ports follow:
Messins: Shaken by quake and swept
By tidal wave. Twelve thousand OF a
population Of more than 100, 600 report