New-York tribune., 1908-12-30
PUBLIC GARDEN AND PREFECTs PALACE At COsENzA

himself and his family who were pnioned by
the walls They stole the treasures and set IRE
TO the ruins
The first official news concerning Reggie
reached the Home Office this evening from
Cerace Marina from which point an army OF
fcer. who escaped from that place, telegrapheo
rhat the town had been entirely destroyed anu
that the dead were numberless. Five earth
shocks all terrible in their effects, had oeen
felt
c,a,-ers1 hundred soldiers were killed at Catan-
zsro and many policemen were killed and
wounded. Thousands Of charred bodies have
been seen floating in he strait. Al Palml three
hundred eorpses have been discovered ana
many hundred more are still beneaIh lile
wreckage Every house in Bagnara was lev
eIled AL the railway stations between Messlha
and Rometta were destroyed Every little VII
1aga has its quota Of dead
BEFORE the departure Of the King from Naples
on the battleship VittoriO Emmanuel, his maj
estv received a telegram from President Roose-
welt expressing the sympathy of the United
States The King highly appreciated this ez-
preston Of concern
reror1 from the observatory at Messina says
the earthquake lasted for only twenty-three sec
onds It was accompanied by remarkable at
rnospheric phenomena The air was filed with
sparks and ashes Of flame which flared up until
the heavens seemed afire. The crest Of the earth
appeared suddenly 90 drop. These phenomena
were followed by distinct lateral oscillations
which threw the people off their feet as they
rushed 20 the streets
large number Of people saw their majesties
depart from Rome. and one among a number
OF Deputies at the station observed to the King:
The presence Of your majesty will suffice to
console the stricken population" The King
turned sharply on the speaker and said abrupt
ly: Don't talk nonsense
Reports indicate that the ply Of the
Strait Of Messina has been so changed TO
cause apprehension OF serious commercial and
strategic difficulties It IS believed that naviga-
ton has become extremely dangerous, in which
case the fortifcations. which the government
in recent years spent large sums, viii be useless
The famous whirlpool OF Charybdis, it is said.
has shifted its position.
Desperate calls have been made from Rome
20 Nessina but these remain unanswered, and
fears are entertained that Fort Spuria, near
Nessina. has been destroyed as the wireless
station installed there, one of the most power
ful in Italy. is evidently not working The
catastrophe has excited the superstitions Of the
entire populace who running about the
country calling on all the saints and imploring
the mercy Of heaven. Their superstition has
been increased By the rum0r that in the general
destruction Of Messina the statue of ST. Rose
remained uninjured.
The work OF rescue at Messlna, according to
the ueagre details received here tonight. pre-
scented narrowing scenes. Hundreds of persons
were pinned under walls and rafters, alive, but
terribly injured, for thirty hours One of the
rescuers found under the ruins Of a house five
children, alive. but unable TO speak, clinging
around the corpse Of their mother. In some
cases heroic resCuers met death in the falling
ruins. In one house twenty persons suspended
9n the fifth floor, and unable to reach the street
because the lower floors had been torn away
were rescued with rope by a sailor Six Grim
.nals were killed while attempting to loot the
Bank Of Sicily, where cash amounting to $780,
go lay in plain view
Refugees from Reggie VINO reached Catanzaro
this afternoon said that they could see huge
columns Of smoke rising from the ruins OF Mes
sins. They affirmed that Reggie, CannitelIo and
Lszzaro were destroyed. a tidal wave de-
rnolished the railroad between Lazzaro and Reg
gio and q small army of men is working des-
perately 20 re-establish Communications with
the latter place, for which a train with troops
and telegrapheTs has started.
Reports received from Cassanos and Coserzs
in Eala1oria, give 1000 dead and 500 wounded
In the former town. and say that 500 bodies