Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-31
BANDITS DEsPon THE DEAD
RObber Bands of Messina Get Rich
Treasure by LootIng Bank of
ItaIy's Vaults in Mes

ROME. Dec 30-The details OF one of
the most appalling disasters recorded in
the history of the world being un-
folded in the dispatches coming In today
from Calabria and Sicily. 1t is story of
indescribabe horror and calamity. The
earthquake of Monday morning wrought
havoc and destruction that cannot be esti-
mated. Italy is stunned by visitation
described as the greatest disaster in the
memory of living man. Yet the fun meas
ure of the catastrophe has not yet been
taken. The calamity grows with the re-
ceipt of every fresh dispatch from the
south Calabria is dotted with small towns
and villages and new localities are report
ing almost hourly casualty lists that run
from the hundreds into the thousands.
Death List May he 10000.
1t is still impossible to reach any accu-
rate estimate of the dead. but the total
number is placed anywhere between lOoOOO
and 10000. In some quarters 1t Is de-
clared that the final numbers Will be as
high as 100000 persons. One-haf OF the
population of Calabria and eastern SICILY
apparently has pertshed.
countless thousands OF wounded men,
women and children are lying in the ruins.
IT is impossible to succor all. Numberless
wounded of the survivors who have made
their way to other cities are still without
medical attention. The facilities for proper
care even in the cities that did not suffer,
are inadequate.
Tho devasted district is still filled with
half demented survivors, starving and
wandering, aimlessly in the rain. The
ruins are still burning. King Victor EN-
manuel and Queen Helena arrived in Mes
sina this morning They both personally
went to work to aid the injured. Their ex-
ample has been a wonderful inspiration to
the whole country. Every possible thing
Is being done to forward the work of re-
lief, but the railroads in the afflicted sec
tions have been put out of operation.
BagnarR AnnihiIated.
Bagnara, a town of 10000 people north of
Reggie is reported as annihilated. The
population is said to have perished. Reg
gio city of $1,000 people. has been prac-
tically demolished.
The detailed stories OF the refugees only
add horror upon horror to the calamities
Of the fateful day
Fresh earth shocks were experienced last
/ night at Pizzo, in Calabra aud Palermo
Sicily, last evening. They were not severe
Gable communication with the Aeoliou
islands twenty-five miles north Of Sicily,
/ is interrupted. 1t is evident that the line
is broken and It is feared that the islands
also have been devastated. The largest OF
the group is the island Of Lipari and the
capital town has a population OF 1900.
| 1t Is feared that vast treasures have been
looted at Messina. The local branch of
the Bank Of Italy had $1,000, 900 on deposit
there and other banks had large amounts
OF money in their vaults. There were also
countless treasures and articles Of value
In the sumptuous palaces and prosperous
shops OF the city.
Injured Cling to Ruined Homes.
Many terrible stories are related In con.
nectlon with the rescue work. The rescuers
had to contend with a superstition SO deem
rooted in the sicilian mind that in many
Instances injured men and women cIung 10
crumbling wallis refusing to let go their
hold and seek a safer position.
AS further facts concerning stricken
Messina become available they corroborate
in every detail the worst fears heretofore
expressed The cathedral municipalitv
buildings, barracks and prisons are all de-
stroyed, and presumably all the smaller
| buildings shared the same fate. OF 2a
! railway employees In the station at Messina
only eight arc known TO have survived.
| while at Reggie the silence OF death still
regns, leaving 10 the imagination the ter
rible havoc wrought by the catastrophe.
| with the horrible thrush Of the sea, the
swallowing up OF boats, the crushing OF
ships and the destruction OF bridges and
walls. The sea became almost instantly
covered with debris after the upheaval.
containing refuse Of every description and
dotted with human bodies
! When the day dawned the entire shore
line Of the surrounding country was utterly
changed In appearance. The coast line
was greatly altered while OF all the mag
nificent houses along the shore only a few
tottering ruins remained. From these
ruins from time TO time there sprang Jets
OF flame and smoke.
King Victor Emmanuel and the queen,
who left yesterday for the scene OF the
disaster. have won the hearts OF their sub