Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-12-31

Rome, Dec 31.-Slowly the meas
ure of the disaster which has depopu-
lated Calabria and the eastern part
of Sicily is being taken and as the re-
ports accumulate it is evident that the
first estimates have in no sense exag-
gerated the extent and horror of the
visitation The official estimate places
the list of dead at 10000, but there
is reason to believe this will be great
ly exceeded.
Today the pitiable plight of the sur
vivors claims universal attention and
the relief of their sufferings calls for
the united efforts of all nations. The
dead are dead but countless thous-
ar,ds OF half aer7eptsa, I.skod * ss
starving survivors, some wounded,
some uninjured. are crying pitifully
for food, water. clothing, shelter and
medical attention.
No word has yet been received con-
cerning the fate of the Americans
thought to have been in the devastat-
ed district excepting Rev. David Ses-
sums and his daughter Alice, who
were believed to be at Messina. They
are at Rome, safe. 1t is reported that
several Americans lost their lives in
Jthe wreck of a hotel at Messina and
{ ambassador Griscom is about to go
to the south to endeavor to secure
news about other Americans who are
reported missing.
1t is estimated that hundreds of
!. thousands of people have fed from
the desolated territory in fear of fur
ther disturbances. The latest esti-
mate of the dead at Palmi and lag
mare is 1900 and $4,000, respect
lively. Two thousand soldiers were
killed at Reggie. The survivors say
that for half an hour before the
quake the heavens were filled with a
gorgeous display of light, resembling
the Aurora Borealis 1t is declared
that not less than $4,000 people are
needed to rescue the living who are
still entrapped in the ruins, and to
rury the dead.
A dispatch from the observatory at
Ripostov says that the center of the
earthquake was probably in the sea
in the southern part of the strait of
Nessina. The seismograph at Mileto
continues to record slight shocks.
Signor Stancei, distinguished scien-
tist attached to the Florence observ-
atory is of the opinion that the ca =
sclysm was geological rather than
volcanic. He believes the trouble
was caused by the subsidence of a
lower strata and as a result OF this
depression huge cracks appeared in
the form OF semi-circle, the center
Of which was the focal point OF the
disturbance.
Rome Dec. 31.-To the terrifying
spectacle of death, caused by the
earthquake of Monday, has now been
added the horror of starvation and
the fear of pestilence. In the ruins
Of Messina, Reggie and various other
towns in Sicily and Calabria lie count
less bodies. which it will be impos-
Eble to extricate, while everywhere
thousands of homeless throng the lit
tered thoroughfares.
Words are inadequate to express
the horror of the ruin and desola-
sion that has overwhelmed Calabria
and Sicily, where the trembling of
the earth and fire and water combip-
cd to change a smiling, verdant cOun-
try into a desert.
Messina no longer exists and at
least hirty years will be necessary to
repair the ruin that natures violence
Aoo NANhShA NANA'. II - dS stN IN
possible to obtain news of the fate
Of dozens of little villages along the
coast, many of which, it is believed,
kave been entirely wiped out
In many cases entire buildings were
swept into the sea and no trace OF
them remains. Flourishing villages
have been wiped out of existence and
the topography OF the country in
In some Of the smaller towns, such
"a Palmi, only a few score people are
alive today where a few days ago
were thousands Of happy, eontented