The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-12-29
in
SICILY KILLS 800.
INJURIES THOUSANDS

Y NlUU9AND9
CONTINUED from Nrst#Page.D
probably more than any other place,
the latest information coming direct
from that quarter stating that two
thirds Of the town was destroyed, and
several persons killed.
People Panic Stricken.
The reports as vet are incomplete
but the people were thrown Into a
condition Of panic.
At Caltanissetta, a Sicilian town Of
10000 people, a number OF houses
were shaken down and the inhab.
itants fled for safety to the streets.
Vast crowds gathered in the parks
and the churches are filled.
At Mineo. q small town 100 miles
southwest OF Cathanda, several houses
collapsed and the scenes OF panic
were repeated.
At Catania, the. docks and shore
front were overwhelmed BY a tidal
wave. $a&$
Much damage was done to. ship.
ping, several steamers being dam.
aged.
At Catania the shocks lasted 90 sec.
onds.
At Agosta, in the province Of SYRIA
cuse, two churches and several houses
We're demolished, but no lives lost.
The prisoners in the local jail made
their escape to liberty through the
praying crowds on the street.
Troops were called out and quiet
was restored.
There were shocks also at Lindua
Gloass, SAGA Caverila and Motto, in
Sicily.
The latest reports from Catania say
that three dead and 60 wounded have
been recovered from the ruins from
Stefanceni.
Soldiers have been called in to car
~ on the work Of succor.
The troops have been ordered also
to tear down damaged buildings, in
order to diminish the danger OF fall
! ing walls.
Sixty persons are said to have sus.
tanned injuries at sannofrio and the
population is camping out In the open
air. Troops are engaged in the work
of rescue.
Vessels swamped.
Where the sailors could get ashore
at Catania boats of all kinds were
abandoned. The waters came and
left confusion and damage in their
wake. It is not known how many
lives were lost. A number Of fishing
boats were swamped and three steam.
ers in port were more Or less dam.
aged. An Austrian steamer, the Bug.
atawo, was nearly overwhelmed.
Much merchandise piled on the
docks was washed away.
Reports have been received here
from Palermo, the capital Of Sicily
The, shocks there lasted SO seconds.
The telegraph and telephone systems
were put out of commission and rail
road communication was Interrupted,
but the submarine cables from Paler-
mo are still working.
People Terrorized.
The steamers Washington and Mon
tebe1lo, which were in that harbor,
later proceed to Catania, loaded with
injured who were so Supplied by ter
for that they seemed unable to realize
what had happened, simply saying
that it looked as though the end Of
the world had come.
Hundreds OF Vessels Sunk.
The tidal wave sunk 500 boats
there and did great damage to sew
eral large vessels and steamers I'M
Guiding the Austrian steamer Buua.
Not only did Catanja suffer from
the effects of a tidal wave by a SINH
lar body of water inundated the hand
some streets of Messina, which flank
the harbor, covering them with a
thick layer of mud which rendered
more difficult the %succoring of the
wounded, many of whom could De
seen lying under the wreckage.
Villages Disappear.
1t is reported that the village Of
Faro and Ganzirri, adjoining Messina,
have disappeared. The effects of the
earthquake were aggravated through
an explosion of gas. The flames
swept along several streets adding
terror upon terror. In Calebria the
region around Montleon was the
most affected.
Town Destroyed.
The village OF Etefenaiconi, the in
|habitants of which number $4,000,
was practically destroyed. Only five
persons were killed but many were in
jured. Monsignor Morabito, the
bishop Of Mileto, who distinguished