Gilpin observer., 1908-12-31

| Rome.-One hundred thousand dead.
Messina in Sicily, and Reggie and a
score of other towns in southern Italy
overwhelmed. The entire Calabrian
region laid waste. That is the earth
quake's record so far as at present
known from the reports that are com
ing slowly into Rome on account of
the almost complete destruction on
lines of communication to the stricken
places.
The death rate in Messina ranges
from 10000 to $4,000; that of Reggie
which. with its adjacent villages, num-
bered $4,000 persons, includes almost
the entire population. At Palmi, 1000
are reported dead; at Cassano, 1000;
at Cosenza, SOC. and half the popula-
tion of Bagnara-about 1000 The
Monteleon region has been devastated,
and Riposa, Seminara, San Giovanni
Scilla, Lazzaro and Cannitello, and all
other communes and villges on the
straits, are in ruins.
The King and Queen of Italy are
now on their way to Messina, having
sailed Tuesday night from Naples
aboard the battleship Vittorio Emman-
uel.
The Pope hes shown the greatest
distress at the calamity, and he him
selrf was the first to contribute a sum
amounting to 100000 to the relief of
the afflicted
British, French and Russian war
ships are steaming toward the south,
and already several of the ships of
Great Britain ard Russia have per-
formed heroic service in the work of
rescue.
1t is feared that many foreigners
have been killed as number of the
hotels at Messina, and doubtless at
other places, were crowded with tour
lists.
Little is known of the fate of the di
plomatic representative of the powers
stationed at these posts, although the
Italian government is using every eff
fort to relieve the anxiety felt on this
account.
There is the gravest danger that a
pestilence will follow the destruction
of the towns where, on account of the
vast havoc wrought, bodies will lie
unburied for days and weeks.
Those who escaped death, many of
whom are badly injured, are making
their way by the thousands to the near
est place to refuge. Their sufferings,
even now, must be intense, as they are
without food or clothing.
Stunned at the magnitude of the ca
lamity which has overtaken their fell
low-countrymen. all Italy mourns for
the stricken province of Calabria and
the island of Sicily.
Accustomed for centuries to earth
quakes, Italy stands ever in dread, but
none was prepared for the disaster
which, in the fraction of minute
Monday devastated cities and towns
and caused the death of thousands.
Messina, whose tragic history has
been marked by tidal waves and war,
and which was the center of Mondays
terrestrial maeistrom. was shaken to
ruins. Fires burst forth to complete
the city's destruction and to burn alive
untold numbers. helplessly pinioned
beneath fallen walls and broken tim
bers.
and twisted by the earth's trembling,
for mariners report the channel altered
beyond recognition. The ports and viii
lagos on both the continental and Sicil-
ian sides were wrecked or inundated.
and all lighthouses along the coast
were swallowed up. Navigation, now,
is dangerous, and in some places i'm
possible.
In the Calabrian district, which was
only beginning to recover from the eff
fects of the earthquake ~ 1905, Reg
gio was the center of the earth's up
heaval. The seaport of Reggie is re-
ported as no longer existing, and the
city proper is in ruins.
The loss of life on both sides of the
strait and in eastern Sicily was enor-
nous. One of the refugees from Reg
gio, who was the first to bring the
news of the city's destruction. tried TO
make his way to Sicily in a sailboat,
but was compelled to return, and fin
ally found safety at a pennsular port.
Describing his experiences, he said:
"The sea was strangely, mysterious.
ly agtated. and the heavens We're
ablaze Nearing Sicily. the clearing
smoke revealed the mystery; Messina
was in flames. in the frenzy OF despair
turned my boat back to Calabria."
Starving, bleeding from injuries, and
almost insane from their terrifying
experiences, Messina's survivors are
fleeing in all directions. The spec
tacle presented by the ruined seaport
is described as terrifying. Falling
buildings killed and mutilated many.
while hundreds of the injured. impris-
oned in the wreokage, were abandoned
to their fate by the fleeing populace.
One of those who escaped. said
THE earth seemed suddenly to drop