The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-30


Only five survivors of the city's
$4,000 inhabitants have yet been &C
counted for. These unhappy wTetches
reached Catanzaro and Palmi half de-
mented by fright. They were scarcely
able to talk intelligently. but their in
firm the horrible fate of the city. One
of them was mainly impressed by hav
ing seen the sea cover the cathedral
the others were deafened by the roar
of the sea and the falling houses
which they compare with the roar OF
heavy artillery.
The Government is withholding the
news concerning Reggie for the pres
ent, hesitating to publish the appalling
tale until it is fully confirmed.
In view of these latest develop
ments of the catastrophe. the death
roll may we'll reach 123.OOO.
There were 1J0 guests at the Hotel
Trinacria, at Reggie, so of whom were
English and American. All of them
perished.
Relief Work Rushed.
Relief funds have already been
started, and hundred ships and
trains are on their. way carrying sup
plies and re-enforcements to the South
Rome. Milan, Florence. Naples and
other cities are sending physicians. po
lice and firemen. Yesterday all the
Ambassadors and Ministers expressed
sympathy with M. Titoni, Minister OF
Foreign Affairs, whose emotion was
profound. The Bourses and the the
Italy and dispatches of sympathy con
tinue to pour in from all quarters OF
the globe.
At the time of the earthquake the
torpedo boat Sappho was lying in the
harbor at Messina, and ont of the Off
GERS told of the occurrences as fol
lows:
AT $50 in the morning the sea sud-
denly became terribly agitated, seem
ingly literally to pick up our boat and
shake it. Other craft near by were
similarly treated, and the ships looked
like bits of cork bobbing about in a
tempest. Almost Immediately a tidal
wave of huge proportions swept across
the strait mounting the coasts and
carrying everything before it. Many
ships were damaged, and the Hungar.
ian boat Andrassy parted her anchors
and went crashing into other vessels.
Messina Bay was wiped out and the
sea was soon covered with masses OF
wreckage which were carried of in the
arms of the receding waters
Eight sailors from the Sappho were
landed and took up the work OF res
cue. Officers and men from Italian
and British steamers also went ashore
as soon as possible. the Britishers
having family of five who were i'm
prisoped in a burning house. Many
prisoners from the iails made their
escape and looted right and left. Hun,
drcds engaged in the work of robbing
the banks and business houses. In the
opinion Of the officers of the Sappho
half the population of Messina per
ished.
The Devastating Shock.
All accounts now agree that the
time occupied by natures gigantic
spasm was but 80 seconds. 1t was
sCme time later that a great wave
came to complete the havoc in the i'll
fateo coast towns. The violence of the
shock seems to have been unpreced
erted. except in volcanic eruptions OF
limited area. The buildings in Mes
sina were not merely shaken down
their foundations were literally yanked
f: ON beneath them. to one side or the
other they were toppled from the per-
pendicular and fell in alongside their
original states: that was the exper-
iencc of Messina. That of Reggie, on
have been more violent. for scarcely
one stone remains on another of what
was fiourishing city only three days
ago.
Messina probably will not rise again
from her ruins and ashes. This last
overwhelming calamity will alter the
future history of Sicily and Southern
Italy. 1t may be regarded as certain
that considerable portion of the pop
ulation of this land will bow before
the wrath of the gods and seek homes
elsewhere.
Next to Italy itself America will feel
the effects of the calamity more than
any other country for large proper
tion. of the stricken population will
seek refuge there as soon as the means
of fight can be secured.
TIE first stories of the rescue work
at Messina reveal to the full horrors
which accompany such catastrophes
In addition to tons of corpses. often
hideously mangled. hundreds of in
jured are lying beneath the wyeckage
many of the fair women and children
in their night clothing Shrieks and
cries of pain are heard on all sides.
Now and again some unhappy wretch
mad from terror or grief. is seen sit
ting in the mud the sea deposited in
the streets or clinging with useless en-
ergy to some support, fearing the sea
will return and wash him away.
Instances are recorded of such de-
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