The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-30
HALF POPUL ALTON DEAD;
SURVIVORS WEEPING
Continued From Page One.)

mented persons deliberately plunging
| into the burning ruins and perishing in
the flames. In one place five children
were found around their mothers
corpse, themselves only just alive. The
| torrents of rain have helped to check
the fires. but make it difficult for the
rescuers to make progress. The down
pour also aids in the decomposition of
the bodies.
Crowds Hide in Caves.
Crowds of destitute people. too much
hurt or too much dazed to help them
selves, huddle on the higher part of
| the town. Many have fed into the
country, seeking refuge in caves and
crevices in the mountains. Deputy
Ludovico Fuici has been for hours
searching for the body of his brother,
Nicolo.
| Although almost exhausted, and
with hands bleeding from overhauling
wreckage, he declares that he will not
quit until his brothers body is found.
| Nicolo Fulci was a member of lamar
delli's Cabinet
Reports from numerous places in Ca
labria and Sicily bring tales of disas-
| ter, any one of which would alone
cause a sensation. At Riposto the sea
| suddenly receded and as suddenly re-
| turned in wave of enormous height,
overwhelming everything for dis
lance Of a quarter of mile inland, and
| in its ebb sweeping hundreds of inhab-
itants into the sea. 1t is stated that
the dead are lying by thousands at
Monteleone and in that neighborhood.
The news aroused the deepest emo
ton in Rome, where many have rela-
tives in the devastated area. A large
number of the residents of the CAPT.
tai have taken train for the south, not
withstanding assurances that it is i'm
possible as yet to reach their destina-
tions. Some hundreds Of students
from Calabria and Messina have left
with the intention of going by train
as far as possible and then walking
the rest of the way to learn the fate
Of their relatives.
There is similar CONSERVATION in
Naples. and, indeed, throughout Italy.
Subscriptions have been opend in
every town of the peninsula.
Messina is deserted save for some
panic-stricken survivors and the sol
diers and sailors who are engaged in
the work of rescue.
Soldiers Fight Flames.
The soldiers have bent every effort
to stop the sweep of the flames. They
are also kept busy with the convicts
who escaped from the prison after it
had been demolished. Several of
these who were caught footing have
been shot.
Out of 200 men employed in the
customs service at Messina only Al
escaped, and out of railway force of
ESQ men, but s survive.
Buildings that are completely de-
stroyed include the municipal offices.
the Bourse in Messina, buildings of
the Post Telegraph Companies, the Ca
thedral and nearly all the churches.
Monuments and statutes in the pub
lie squares were thrown down and
carried away like so many pebbles.
The Italian flying squadron has ar
river at Messina. The Russian and
British Mediterranean squadrons also
anchored off the SicilIian coast and
sent warships to Messina to render
aid.
The victims at Palmi are said to
number 500. Gioja, with a popula-
ton of 1000, is almost otally destroy
ed
Nothing has been as yet heard as
to conditions in Taormina, the great
winter resort for foreigners.
All along the Sicillian coast smaller
towns have been wiped out by the IT,
DIAL wave which followed the earth
quake. ... .
Only the toughest estimate of the
tidal wave may be had from a descrip-
ton of its sweep on Messina. 1t
looked as though great wall of water
so feet high had plunged on the town
and inundated the whole area.
The governments dispatches state
that in several of the towns where gar
risons were maintained the horror
was increased by explosions of ammu-
milton magazines, while in almost ev-
cry town through the affected district
where gas is manufactured fires were
widespread. Such was the panic of
the Inhabitants that little effort was
made to stop the ravages Of these
fires. The CONGREGATIONS are believ-
ed to have added greatly to the SWELL
ing of the death rate
Military in Control.
Troops are being rushed from Roma
and some other sections of Italy. Sup
ply ships have already been sent on
their way carrying many nurses. pro-
visions and medical supplies. Re-
ports concerning the catastrophe have
been gathered from different points
along the southern section of the
country, for direct wire communica-
ton through Messina and Reggie was
cut off by the earthquake.
General Fecia Di Cossato, comman-
der of the Rome army corps. has been
sent to Messina with full powers. The
pope has inaugurated with 1000. O0e
lire ($200,0o0) an international relief
fund. The king. it is understood. has
given 100000 lire ($400, 000) to the