The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-12-29
NUMBER OF EARTHQUAKE
VICTIMS MAY REACH $4,000


Montcalieri near Turin.
The 4rst and most violent shock
was felt at 25 minutes after o'clock
and this was followed by less serious
quakes at intervals. Fatalities have
been reported from, Gioja Tauro. Cat
anzaro. Stefanaconi. Reggie. Catannia
Monteleone and many other places.
Communication was cut on at once
by the disaster. Landslides covered
the railroad tracks; telegraph wires
were cut by falling buildings and
poles were carried away In the on
rush OF mountain slides. Couriers on
foot. travelling In the manner un'
known for century. brought direfuI
tidings from the stricken scenes. The
most serious land slip occurred be-
tween Favazzini and Villa San Clio
vani which doomed northern Italy TO
Ignorance; far as Reggie was con-
cerned.
Adding TO the woe and disaster
were the disturbances at sea. Earth.
quake shocks which agitated the
Strait OF Messina between Sicily and
the mainland caused a number OF
maritime calamities.
All through the day and night eff
forts were made to get reports from
Messina. Owing to the fact that a
gale was raging off the Sicilian coast
1t was we'll nigh Impossible for a
ship to brave the elements to carry
the tidings OF disaster. However, the
gunboat Spiga arrived today from
Messina bringing confirmation OF the
worst fears.
Thousands of men have been draft
ed into vast army which Is now on
its way south to clear away the ruins.
bury the dead and give such succor
as is possible. Subscriptions are un-
der way; collections of food and cloth
ing are being shipped In the best way
possible and prayers are being said
continuously In all the churches
throughout the land. The minister OF
war today issued general orders that
the soldiery will be used To prevent
disorder and to carry through such
civic work as shall be deemed neces-
sary
Those injured brought from Mes
sina TO Catania in the vessels Wash
ington and Montebello are being car
ed for. Many OF the refugees were
SO stupefield with fear that they could
not talk OF the calamity
These ships report that at least
have been sunk and that the Austrian
steamship Buda foundered In the gale
which followed the earthquake.
Little ceremony today marks the
burial OF the dead. Great trenches
have been dug and the bodies OF the
slain are being buried in great heaps.
Many are unidentified and never Will
be. Thousands of residents OF the
bigger towns are camping in public
squares and many more have fed TO
the open country, taking care 10 pitch
their tents upon ground free from
running water
The scenes in Messina. as described
by the refugees, were terrible. The
tidal wave left the streets covered
with thick layer of mud and immed.
fitely after the severest shocks the
sky was overcast with lowering clouds
The beautiful sun-bathed city with It's
f1dolent summer skies and It's dancing
seas OF sapphire. was transformed
into blackened mass OF debris, wind
dashed and waye-swept, while the
stately columns, symbolic of Italian
art in architecture, crumbled away
Great tongues OF flame leaped in lurid
and angry bounds, making n great
sky seemed TO weep upon the ruin
and death below.
Many explosions in, the vicinity OF
Messina gave rise 10 mistaken impress
sions. Stores OF gunpowder were ex.
ploded by the flames and these were
followed by explosions OF gas from
broken mains. These detonations add
ed fresh fears 10 the horror-laden
minds OF the stricken people who
feared that new calamities were In
store for them.
The bravery OF Mgr Morabito,
bishop OF Miloto. was distinguished.
lie Gained the fears Of the people
and led small bands Of the drawer folk
into churches anu cathedrals from
which they carried statuettes OF the
saints TO places Of safety Under the
convoy OF warship feet Of boats
departed today for the stricken coast
towns bearing Red Cross nurses. arm
ed soldiers and squads OF willing
civilian workers.
Messina, Sicily, population 100000.
which is reported destroyed. Ia next
10 Palermo, the most important city
In Sicily. II is situated in the north
west corner of the island on the strait
of Messina.
Among the leading buildings are the
municipal palace, the convent OF San
Gregorio, which contains museum OF
valuable relics, buildings of the uni
yersity. which is attended by 500 stu
dents. and a municipal hospital
The outskirts and environs are de.
lightful affording magnificent views
of the sea as well as OF Mount EtDa.
On the west side rises the former fort
of Castellaccio, and not far away TO
the south Is Fort Gonxaga, on his
toric spot. The new Campo Santo Is
beautiful. with It's graceful Greek col
onnades and wonderful views. The
TeIegrafo-the summit OF a pass near
Messina--is much visited for its
scenery. Here was supposed to be
Charybdis Of the familiar legend. op.
posite Scilla on the Calabrian coast.
Messina Is a town OF great antiquity.
Cts foundation being ascribed to
pirates from Cumae in the eighth CEN
fury b. c., when IL was known as
Zancle Ga sickle), in allusion TO the
shape OK its barbor.
At the end OF the fifth century r. c..
the town was occupied by fugitives
from Samos and Miletus, and II soon
after passed to Anaxias, the tyrant Of
Rhegium, who introduced these Mes
senians from the Peloponnesus. by
whom the name OF the city was
changed to Messina.