The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-29

body of water inundated the handsome
streets of Messina. which flank the har-
Dor, covering them with thick layer
of mud which rendered more difficult
the sucCoring of the wounded. many OF
whom could be seen lying under the
wreckage. II is reported that the vii
lage of Faro and GanZirri, adjoining
Messina. have disappeared. The ef-
fects of the earthquake were aggravated
through an explosion of gas. The flames
swept along several streets, adding ter
ror upon terror.
Village Totally Destroyed.
In Calabria. the region around Monte
leone was most affected The village
of StefanacOni. the inhabitants OF
which number %. 0O0 was practically de-
stroyed. Only five persons were killed.
but many were injured. MOnsignor
Morabito. the bishop of Mileto. who
distinguished himself in the earthquake
of 1905. did good work again today. He
rushed into places where the ruin was
greatest and brought aid and encour-
agement TO all.
Thousands of persons abandoned Their
homes, although terrific rainstorm
prevailed and filed the air with lan1en-
tations and prayers
Rescued the Saints.
In some places. such as Prizzo, Cot
rome, Santa Severina and Piscopio, the
people entered the churches almost
while the latter were falling, and car
ried out the saints. They bore these in
procession through the. open country.
invoking the mercy of God. In the
mountainous regions inland the popu-
lation has taken refuge i'm grcttoes and
caves where peasants and priests. SOL
Tor Of al
living in common. They sleep on the
ground, and fires bum to keep off wild
animals. In Aloi alone 1000 persons
are homeless
Extraordinary scenes are reported at
Catania Following a violent earth
shock at $50 o'clock, the sea rose IN
tremendous wave. which wrecked many
small boats. 1t then suddenly retired
and returned as quickly, causing fur
Their great damage and wreckage.
Churches Filled With Weeping
Crowds.
Awakened by the shock. the inhab-
itants fled panic-stricken from their
homes into the streets and squares.
Professions were organized and soon
all the churches were 6lle,l with weep
ing crowds imploring Divine mercy.
Cardinal Nava, bishop of Catania, ex-
horted the people TO be calm. He prom
Used that the body of Saint Agatha
should be carried IN procession. Saint
Agatha is regarded as the special de-
liverer for all scourges and, according
to history, the pious Inhabitants of
Catania diverted the course Of the lava
stream in 1869. when a fearful eruption
of Mount Aetna took place, by extend
ing the veil of Saint Agatha towrad it,
fnrrG he sasf Law
turned aside near the Benedictine mon
astery and descended into the sea.
Child Torn From Mothers Arms.
While the number of deaths at that
place is not believed now to be large.
there were several tragic occurrences
Among the children swept away by the
wave was boy - months old, who
was torn from the arms of his mother
The mother, too, was overcome by the
force of the water and lost conscious
ness, but her body was caught by a
railing and she remained there until she
was rescued. Midnight reports state
that Regg o. the capital of the province
OF Reggie di Calabria. eight miles from
Messina on the opposite side of the
strait. has met the same fate as Mes
sina, but these reports have not been
confirmed owing to the lack of tele-
graphic facilities.
severe shock was felt at CaItanis-
setta, a city of Sicily. and although
much damage was done, no one was
killed. The shock created great alarm
and. Notwithstanding the dowppour of
rain, the whole population remained in
the streets throughout the day and
marched in religious procession.
Pope Wanted to Visit Scene.
The pope was greatly distressed az
hearing of the scourge that had af-
fiicted the royal population in the
south. He could hardly credit the truth
Of the dispatches describing the devas-
tation and fatalities as ten times great
er than in 1905.
After kneeling fervently in prayer.
the pope arose and said, as he said
three years ago. that he felt his place
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