New-York tribune., 1908-12-30
MANY FORE[GNERSDEAD
4 Hundred Perish in McSsind-
Strait TzciSted Into Ne1C Shape.

I7aIe-rno Dec 29-Refugees from MesSlna say
that one hundred foreigners at the Hotel Fri-
nacria, in the Via Garibaldi, lost their hVeS-
The building oblterated
Nayigators who have come in here from lhe
strait OF Messina report that the strait has
taken an entirely new shape since the earth
ouake. They describe it twisted" Many
villages and forts along the strait have been de-
stroved. Lighthouses have been swallowed up
bv the sea, and navigation is impossible at night
and dangerous by day.
The captain of the steamer washington
which was in the strait at the time of the SHOCK
saws his vessel shuddered as II she had run
aground A thick fog prevailed at the time and
II was impossible for him to see the Messtna
lighthouse or the Calabrian coast. The Wash
ington was soon surrounded with boats appeal
ing for aid The people were taken on board.
The sea was Uttered with wreckage in every
direction.
Among those who lost their lives at Messina
are Commandant PASSING and all the members
of his family. They were crushed in the ruins
Of their residence.
One of the men picked up by the Washington
was named Francesca Lojacono. He was
wounded and unconscious. On reviying he
called wildly for his wife and children. All ef-
forts to quiet him were useless. and he insisted
that the steamer put him ashore. Finally he
became insane, and, springing to his feet,
jumped overheard still calling for his wife and
babies He started swimming toward land, but
soon sank
A traveller returned here this afternoon from
the other side Of the strait. He says that Reg
gto. San Giovanni, Scilla Canntelo and all the
other communes and villages bordering on the
strait are in ruins. Great numbers of dead are
believed to be still under the wreckage.
The British steamer Ebro came in here this
afternoon from Messina. She has on board six
teen wounded, including Alfred ]. Ogston the
British Vice. Consul at Messna. Mrs. Ogston
lost her life but the consuIs daughter was
saved. Mr.. Ogston describes the destruction OF
Messina as 'frfghtfuI beyond words and ex-
ceeding In horror the widest flights of the I'M
aginatiOn."
One of the trains that came IN here from Mes
sina this afternoon brought the widow Of the
chief of police of that city and her son. Both
seemed half crazed with grief. They made
frantic but vain efforts to save the life of the
husband and father and the other children The
clothes of the widow and her son are in rags.
The reported deaths of Deputy Nicolo Fulci
and his wife have been confirmed. Ludovico
F-ulci, who also is a deputy, refuses to leave
the wreck of his brothers home. He is there
now, working with bleeding hands and half dead
from fatigue, determined to remain until ne
finds the body of his brother.
A trainload of refugees from Messina came IN
here this morning. most of them mad from
terror All agree that Messina has been de-
stroved and that the victims will be counted
by the tens of thousands.
tidal wave thirty feet high swept up three
streets OF the city IN the height of the con-
fusion following the shock Hundreds Of half
DIR. ssed men, women and children who had fed
from their houses to the streets were caught In
the onrush of waters and drowned
The refugees say that the entire country
around Messina has been devastated and that
several villages have disappeared.
Telegraphic reports have been received here
from all parts of the island of Sicily. They say
the habitants everywhere are terror stricken
and praying IN the streets and churches.
Reggie is described as a vast sepulchre.
A trainlOad Of doctors, nurses and hospital
equipment has been sent out from here for Mes
sina and the steamer Marguerita loaded TO the
guards with persons who had relatives in the
doomed city and others who will join in the
work of relief also has left here. A naval hos
pttaI ship has also started for that port. The
Russian warships at Syracuse are on their way
to the stricken city.
The news that the King and the Queen of
Italy are coming down with medicines and dress
ings for the care of the wounded has created a
splendid impression here.