Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-12-29
HUNDREDS DEAD
IN EARTHQUAKE
TEMBL0R AND TIDAL WAVE
RAE WHOLE CITIES
THREE PROVINCES OF ITALY IN
RUIN AND ASHES
Reports from Rome and Palermo ln-
dictate Fearful Loss of Life and
lnestimable Damage to
Property
fContinued from Pare one

CONTINUED from Page Onel
guished himself in the earthquake Of
1905, did valiant work again today.
He rushed into places where the ruin
was greatest and brought aid and en-
couragement to all.
Flee in Storm
Thousands of persons abandoned their
homes, although a terrific rainstorn
prevailed, and filled the air with lamen-
tations and prayers.
In some places, such as Prizzo, Co
trone, 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
population has taken refuge in grottoes
and caves, where peasants, priests, sol
diers and persons of gentle birth are
living in common.
They sleep on the ground, and fires
burn to keep off wild animals. In Aloi
alone 1000 persons are homeless.
Extraordinary scenes are reported at
Catania. Following a violent shock al
500 o'clock, the sea rose in a ire
mendous wave which wrecked many
small boats.
1t then suddenly retired and returned
as quickly, causing further great DAM
age and wreckage.
Awakened by the shock, the inhabi-
tants fled panic stricken from their
homes into the streets and squares.
Professions Organized
49,. 49,. ...-o,.tzo7 80 -aoy-
all the churches were filed with weep
ing crowds imploring divine mercy.
Cardinal Nava, bishop of Catania
exhorted the people to be calm. He
promised that the body of Saint
Agatha should be carried in process
sion.
Saint Agatha is regarded as the spe-
cial deliverer for all scourges, and ac-
cordlng to history the pious inhabi-
tants of Catania diverted the course
OF the lava stream in 1863. when q
fearful eruption of Mount Etna took
place, by extending the veil of Saint
Agatha toward it, thus saving the city
as the lava was turned aside near the
Benedictine monastery and descended
into the sea.
While the number of deaths at thai
place is not believed now to be large
there were several terrific occurrences
Torn from Mothers Clasp
Among the children swept away by
the wave was a boy Is months old
who was torn from the arms of his
mother.
The mother, too. was overcome by
the force of the water and lost con-
seriousness, but her body was caught
by a railing and she remained there
until she was rescued.
Midnight reports state that Reggie
the capital of the province OF Reggie
di CaIabria, eight miles from Messina
on the opposite side of the strait, ha:
met the same fate as Messina, but
these reports have not been confirmed
owing to the lack of Geographic faclll'
ties.
A very severe shock was felt at Cal
tanissetta, a city of Sicily, ana al
though much damage was DONE no one
was killed.
The shock created great alarm, and
notwithstanding the downpour of rain
the whole population remained In the
streets throughout the day anC
marched in religious procession.
His Holiness GrieVed
Pope Plus x was greatly distressed
at hearing of the scourge that hao
afflicted the loyal population in the
He could hardly credit the truth Of
the dispatches describing the devasta-
ton and fatalities as ten times greater
than in 1905.
After kneeling fervently in prayer
His Holiness arose and said, as he sale
three years ago, that he felt his place
was among the suffering children.
IT was his firm intention TO ordel
that instructions be given for begin
ming the journey, but his physician
and those in attendance upon him in
sisted that it would be impossible fol
him to take such a fatiguing eXpedl'
tion in his falling health. At midnight
a regiment of soldiers left here fol
Calabria.
Flying Squadron Out
A flying squadron composed OF the
battleships Vittorio Emanuele, Regina
Elena and Napol1 mas peeh olueieo ~
proceed to Messina.
The squadron will arrive there Tues
day morning, together with steamers
of the italian Navigation company
CARRYING supplies and troops
The troops will be sent to various
points to keep down the lawlessness
Senior Rertolini, the minister of pub
lie works, left tonight for the south
where he will represent the govern
ment.
several companies of engineers also
left for the south.
Altogether 5000 troops have been sent
from this city in the last eighteen
hours while, from other military posts
about $1,000 men are on their way to
Calabria and Sicily