Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-12-29
ITALIAN CITIES DEVASTATE
HUNDREDS KILLED BY
EARTHQUAKES
GIANT TIDAL WAVES SWEEPS
STREETS OF STRICKEN TOWNS
Telegraph Lines Prostraed Impossible 10 Accurately ESti
mate Number of Dead and Wounded; Catastrophe Believed
to Be Worst in History of Southern Italy and Sicily; Red
Cross Organizes Relief Work.
fBY THE MORNING 10

fBY THE MORNING JOURN
Rome, Dec 2S.-The three pro.
Vinces of Coscnsa, Catanzaro and Reg
gio hi Calibrla. comprising the depart
ment of Calibria, which forms the
southwestern extremity of Italy OF
"The Toe of the Boot" was devastated
today by an earthquake. the far-reach-
ing effects of which were felt almost
throughout the entire country. The
town Of Messna, Sicily, was partially
destroyed ana Cantania was inundated
In Messna hundreds Of houses have
fallen and many persons have been
killed. owing, however to the fact
that telegraphic and telephone com
munications were almost completely
destroyed, it is impossible to obtain
even an approximate idea of the vast
damage done. The fate of entire re-
gions within the zone Of the earth
quake is unknown but reports re-
ceived here up to u late hour tonight
indicate that the havoc has been
great and the destruction of life and
property more terrible than Italy has
experienced in many years. The un-
certainty of the situation for many
thousands has filled all Italians with
deep distress for they still fear that
the day may come when that part of
the country, which seems TO have been
the most blessed by nature, will be de-
stroyed by the blind forces of that
same nature which nearly nineteen
centuries ago overwhelmed Pompeii
and Herculaneum.
All reports show that the present
catastrophe embraces a larger aera
than did the earthquake in 1905. The
tidal wave which follo.ed tire earth
shocks on the eastern coast of Sicily
sunk vessels and inundated the lower
part of Catania.
Rome, Dec 28-The latest dis
patches from Messna, Sicily, state
that tWo-thirds of the city was de-
stroyed by an earthquake. Many
persons were killed and injured.
The gravest news has also been re
ceNed from the province of Reggie,
where the earthquake wrought great
havoc.
Southern Italy was visited by a Sc
rious and fatal earthquake this morn
ing. The center of the disturbance
was in Sicily and the greatest loss of
life and property occurred on that is
land Reports are as yet incomplete
and the extent of the destruction is
unknown.
The people We're everywhere
thrown into a state of panic. At Cat
lannissetta, a Sicilian town of 10000
people, number of houses were
shaken down and the inhabitants fled
into the streets, congregated at street
corners and open places. Vast crowds
gathered in the parks and the
churches were filled. At Mineo,
small town southeast of Cauuia,
several houses collapsed ana lhe scene
of panic was repeated Al Cdtant
the docks and shore fro, were over
whelmed by tidal wave, Much dam
age was done to shipping, but details
are lacking.
AT Agosta two churches and sev-I
eral houses were demolished, bul nu
lives were lost. The prisoners in tnH
local jail made their escape when the
building was damaged. and dashed to
liberty through the praying crowds in
the streets.
Troops nave been called out to re-
store quiet and everywhere the sol
dicrs are engaged in the work Of res
cue. Latest reports from Calabria say
that three dead and sixty wounded
have been removed from the ruins at
Stcfanconi. Sixty are said to be in
jured at Sannofrio.
1t is known that number Of per-
sons were killed at that place, but the
rushing waters carried everything be-
fore them and caused such an inde-
scribable confusion that it will be i'm
possible for some time to estimate the
damage and the lives lost.
-or a time the town of Messna and
the whole province of Reggie were
completely isolated through Interrupt |
tions 10 the telegraph and telephone, /
and by landslides that obstructed the
railways. Absolutely nothing was
heard from Reggie throughout the /
DAY. while the first news from Mes /
sina came in the form of dispatch I
which a torpedo boat. flying at full
speed along the coast of the PENN
suia. carried from point to point. al 1
ways finding the wires down until it F..
reached Nicotera. There the tele-
graph lines were found to be intact
From this point the dispatch was
sent It briefly stated that the sit
ustion was desperate and after sum
marizing the immensity Of the catas-
trophe. ended with the announcement .
that Captain Passino. commander of F.
she local station for torpedo boats /
was buried under the debris. after
having. with other officials. perform
cd heroic work in trying to save 9TH I
frs.
The Italian government proceeded 4
energetically 10 relieve the widespread .
distress concentrating at the points
of greatest need. troops and engin-
eers Members of the Red Cross were
dispatched 10 various places and .