The San Francisco call., 1908-12-29

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ckarAA6oxETzz1Ee
could hardly credit the truth of the
dispatches describing the devastation
and fatalities as ten times greater than
in 1906.
After kneeling fervently in prayer.
the pope arose and said, as he said
three years ago, that he felt his place
was amid his suffering children. 1t
was his firm intention to order that in
structions be given for beginning the
journey. but his physician and those in
attendance upon him insisted that it
would be impossible for him to under
take such fatiguing expedition in his
present state of health.
At midnight a regiment of soldiers
left here for Calabria.
Ships and Troops Sent
A flying squadron composed of the
battleships Vittorio Emanuele. Regina
Elena and Napoli has been ordered to
proceed to Messina.
The squadron viii arrive there Tues
day morning. together with steamers
OF the Italian navigation company, car
rying supplies and troops The troops
viii be sent to various points to keep
down lawlessness. Signor Bertolini,
minister of public works. left tonight
for the south. where he will represent
the government.
Another regiment of infantry and
several companies of engineers also left
for the south. Altogether 5000 troops
have been sent from this city in the last
Is hours, while from other military
posts about $4,000 men are on their way
10 Calabria and Sicily.
Havoc on Coast of Sicily
The destruction along the east coast
of Sicily extended as far south as
Agosta, in the province of Syracuse,
where two churches and many houses
were demolished. The prisoners in the
local Jail made their escape and ran for
liberty through the praying crowds on
the streets. Troops We're called out and
quiet was restored. There were shocks
also at Lindua Gloss, Santa Saverina
and Notoall. in Sicily.
The latest reports from Calabria say
that three dead and sixty wounded
have been removed from the ruins of
Stefanconi. Soldiers have been called
in to carry on the work of succor
Troops have been ordered also to tear
down damaged buildings in order to
minimize the danger from falling walls
Sixty persons are said TO have sus-
ldincQ injuries dI CdIHClIlO lBC
population is camping out in the open
air. Troops everywhere are engaged
in the work of rescue.
Large Number of Victims
PALERMO, Dec. 2s.-Reports from all
the towns and villages around Messina
state that serious damage has been
done by the earthquake and that the
number Of victims is large. The
10 70 10
buildings and churches at Florida
Noto. Chiaramonto, Yittoria, Palermo
Terranova, Marianopoli and Naro. At
Mino there were a number of shocks.
At Agosta, which once before was de-
stroyed by an earthquake. the tidal
wave today wrecked the government
salt works. The prisoners employed
there mutinied but were eventually
suppressed. At Patti the shock was
accompanied by a binding flash of
light. while serious havoc was wrought
at Barcelona, and 10 persons were
killed at Castroreal and Monta gamo.
Professor Jicco, director of the Mount
Aetna observatory. says that the center
OF the earthquake was near the volcano.
1t is possible that further shocks will
follow, but these are expected to be of
minor force.
The Santa Maria college at Ali. be-
tween Messina and Catania. was over
thrown, several of the girl students be-
ing buried in the ruins The steamer
Piemonte, according to word received
here, has arrived at Milazzo with 800
women and children and so men who
were injured at Messina.
There is no doubt that a large por-
tion of Messina has been destroyed.
To add TO the disaster thieves were
soon setting fires at various points and
stealing everything they could lay their
hands on, even robbing the injured as
they lay helpless. and the dead. The.
stores We're broken into and great dis
order and even terrorism prevailed for
time. The authorities, however,
promptly took the most stringent meas
ures 10 maintain order and those who
were caught in acts of incendiarism
and robbery were severely dealtll with
Noted Cathedral Damaged
cATANIA. Dec. %. = Late tonight
communication with Messina by rail
jured were brought in, but the stories
they told of the disaster were very
confused. The reports seem to make
the damage less extensive than at first
reported. Several quarters of the
town were destroyed and the magnif-
cent cathedral of the Norman period
was damaged. the dome having fallen,
Dll SeNSfdi Oh the PUBIC bullOlngS are
standing. the palace OF the prefect be-
ing untouched.
Effects Are Terrible
CATANZARO. Dec. 2S.-Advices re-
ceived here from Palmi and Bagnara.
which are only a short distance from
Reggie. state that the effects of the
earthshocks at those places were
terrible. Many houses were leveled
and the dead and wounded number
several hundred.
Caruso Donates Salary
NEW YORK. Dec 2s.-Enrique Ca
ruso. the famous tenor. was much af-
fected tonight at the conclusion of
-Cavalleria Rusticana,'' in which he
sang AT the Metropolitan opera house,
when told of the earthquake that had
again devastated Calabria. He an
nounced that he would donate his en-
tire weeks salary 70 aid the survivors.
The weekly income of the singer is said
to be $500.
MESSTNA AND OTHER
HTSTQQTC CITIES IN