davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07
"INFERNAI.,' SAYS WOMAN SURVIVOR
a-seo TELLING OF EARTHQUAKE HORE Olss

Catania, Sicily. The following
graphic story Is told by a woman who
arrived here from Messina. She was
herself badly injured. She describes
the horrors that accompanied the dis
aster at Messina in these words:
Internal is the only word that
will adequately describe the fearful
and terrifying scene," she said.
When the first shock came most
OF the city was fast asleep. / was
awakened by the rocking of the
house. Windows swayed and ratified,
and crockery and glass crashed to the
floor. The next moment I was vic
lently thrown out OF my bed to the
floor. i was half stunned, but knew
that the only thing to do was to make
my way outdoors. The streets were
filled.
Everybody had rushed out in their
night-clothes, needless of the rain
falling in torrents. Terrified shrieks
arose from all sides, and we heard
heartrending appeals for help from
the unfortunates pinned beneath the
ruins.
Walls were tottering all around
us. and not one of my party expected
to escape alive. Ny brothers and sis
ters were with me and, in frenzy of
terror, we groped out way through
the streets, holding our own against
the panic stricken people. clambering
over piles of ruins, until we finally
reached a place of comparative safe
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07

ty. But this was not done before I
was struck down and badly injured
by piece of furniture that fell out
OF the upper story Of house.
"All along the road we were JOS
tied by scores OF fleeing people, half
clad. like ourselves. The houses
seemed to be crashing to the ground
In whatever direction we turned.
Suddenly the sea began to pour
into the town. 1t seemed to me that
this must mean the end OF everything
The oncoming waters rolled in a huge
wave, accompanied by a terrifying
roar.
THE sky was aglow with the re-
fiection of burning palaces and other
buildings, and as If this was not
enough there suddenly shot up into
the sky a huge burst OF flame, fol-
lowed by crash hatseemed to shake
the whole town. This probably was
the gas works blowing up.
Eventually we reached the princi-
pal square of Messina. Here we
found 1000 or 5000 utterly terrified
people assembled. None of us knew
what to do. We waited in an agony
OF fear. Men ana women prayed and
groaned and shrieked. / saw one of
the big buildings fronting on the
square collapse. 1t seems to me that
scores OF persons were buried be-
meath the ruins. Then / lost con-
sciousness and / remember no more. b"
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07
DEAD BY EARTHQUAKE and tidal WAVE
NOW ESTIMATED AT over 100000
RELIEF WORK IN AMERICA.
Movement to Express Sympathy in
Financial Terms is General.

Washington, D. C.-From all the
large cities of the country come re-
ports OF prompt action for the relief
or the survivors of the devastation
wrought by the earthquake in South
ern Italy.
Governor Guild, of Massachusetts.
issued an appeal to the people of that
state Tor money to be sent by cable
to the Italian Government, and Bos-
ton citizens began a response imme-
diately. Mayor Reyburn, of Phila-
-delphia. called meeting of the Citi-
zens' Permanent Relief Committee.
and, upon receipt of a message from
President-elect Taft, national head of
the Red Cross, that organization be-
gan to raise funds. In New York.
Chicago, Cincinnati, st. Louis, Louis
vile and other large centres plans
for the relief of the Italian sufferers
were under way soon after the news
of the extent Of the disaster was re-
ceived.
Italians all oyer the country were
greatly stirred by the tidings, a large
proportion of them having relatives
or friends in the stricken portion of
their native land.
San Francisco.-Mayor Taylor is
sued proclamation calling on San
Franciscans and all Californians for
aid for the sufferers.
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07
NEGRO CAUGHT SATURDAY.
Man Named Johnson Arrested on the
Charge of Committing Criminal
Assault at Hartsville.

Hartsvillc, Special.-It semes that
the negro brute who committed the
outrage at this place on Monday
night last has been apprehended and
is now within the penitentiary walls.
1t has been terrible week of waiting
and disappointment to every good
citizen of Hartsville as the days pass
ed and the many clues gave no re-
suits and the many suspects failed
to be Unidentified by the lady. Enrag-
ed and determined that the crime
should not go unavenged if any hui
man agency could accomplish the de-
lection and arrest of the criminal.
every man has felt more and more
hopeless and batlled as each succeed
ing day was fruitless. Every instru-
ment of the law and every means that
could be employed with any hope OF
success have been used TO get to the
bottom of the outrage and quietly, but
constantly, the town and county au-
thorities have worked day and night
every hour And added to the efforts
of the authorities has been the volun-
tary work of many persons in their
private capacity. Through this latter
source came the first clue, which has
finally led to the arrest of the brute
against whom the evidence is very
positive. a negro named Johnson was
arrested at Effingham Saturday morn
ing by Sheriff Burch, of Florence,
acting with Policeman Seegars of this
place and Mr.. Ed Perry, brother Of
the victims husband. The negro was
taken TO Florence and thence to Dar-
lington, where he was turned over
Saturday night to Sheriff Blackwell
at s o'clock. 1t was proposed to
bring him here for Identification, but
tho authorities here feared trouble
and advised Sheriff Blackwell to keep
him at Darlington. Later on, acting
on further advices from here that
threatening crowd was waiting to get
sight of the negro, Sheriff Blackwell
drove TO Florence at 2 O. oclock in the
morning and there took the 4 clock
train for Columbia. A crowd met the
train coming in here at O'Clock Sat-
urday night and it is pretty certain
would have made short work Of the
negro at once. Indeed, many of them
believed that the negro had been TAX
en- off the train on the outskirts Sof
town and was somewhere around, and
all night ond all day Sunday crowds
Of men haze been congregated around
town amaiting developments and afixs
ious to locate the brute. There was,
never any intention Oh the part OF
the town authorities to allow the man
to be brought here.
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07
SOUTH CAROLINANFWS lTFMS'
News OF Interest Cleaned from All Sections of the State and
Arranged Fer Busy Readers

be instituted; and that the directors
Go give careful attention to pushing
the prosecution.
The body then elected as new direc-
tors, r. L. CASTOR, Cheraw; Campbell
Courteney, Newry; T. w. Berry.
Latta; E. j. Etheridge, Leesville; A.
NJ. Kennedy. Williston; j. b. Wat
kins, of Florida; Julian S. Carr, of
North Carolina; S. Nj. Smith, of West
Virginia; c. M. Smelling of Athens,
Ga.
Much blame is attached to the
trustees of the Seminole Company
whose names gave confidence TO the
public The examination of the
trustees revealed the fact that Mr..
Clark had applied for 1000 shares
of stock but had never paid anything;
that Mr., Bryan never had any stock
and that General Jones subscribed
for only 200 shares. Already at
torneys are being smploycd to bring
individual suits against the three.
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07
THE WORK OF RESCUE.

Rome.-The first stories of the res.
cue work at Messina reveal to the full
the horrors which accompany such
catastrophes. In addition to thou
sands of corpses, often hideously
mangled, hundi eds of injured are ly.
Ing beneath the wreckage.
Many of these are women and chill.
dren in their night clothes. Shrieks
and cries OF pain are heard on all
sides. Now and again some unhappy
wretch, mad from terror or grief, Is
seen sitting in the mud the sea de-.
posted In the streets, or clingine
with useless energy to some support
fearing the sea will return and wash
him away.
Instances are recorded of such de-
mented persons deliberately plungine
into the burning ruins and perishine
in the flames. In one place five chill
dren were found around their moth.
er's corpse, themselves only just alive
The torrents Of rain have helped tc
check the fires, but make 1t difficult
for the rescuers to accomplish any.
thing. They are also aiding the de.
composition Of the bodies.
Crowds of destitute, too much hurt
or too dazed to help themselves, hud.
die IN the higher parts of the town.
Many have fed into the country seek.
Ing refuge In caves and crevices in
the mountains.
, Reports from numerous places in
Calabria and Sicily bring tales of dis.
aster, any one of which would alone
cause a sensation. At Riposto the
sea suddenly receded, and as suddenly
returned In wave of enormous
height, overwhelming everything fol
a distance OF quarter of a mile in.
land, and IN its ebb sweeping hun.
dreds Of Inhabitants into the sea. II
1t stated that the dead are lying ir
thousands at Monteleone and through.
out that neighborhood.
All kinds of reports OF robbery in
Messina have reached here. The pri,
son was demolished and many of the
prisoners were killed, but Others
made their escape and started to Join
the vandals who were looting the city.
These robbers. undeterred by the
appalling sights around them, robbed
the collapsed buildings and took valu.
ables from the bodies Of the dead.
The fear Of the pestilence that usu-
ally follows such disasters confronts
those in charge of the situation.
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07
Moving Pictures Immoral.

New York, Special.-Moved by the
protests of ministers of every de-
nomination complaining that the
great majority of the 500 moving
picture shows of Greater New York
were exhibiting pictures detrimental
to the morals of the youth of the
city mayor Mcclellan issued dras-
tic order revoking almost every pic
ture show license. The order of the
mayor intimates that this revoca-
tion is only temporary, but the con-
ditions under which new licenses will
be issued are such that hardly a
third of the licenses revoked will be
re-issued.
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07

Rome. Saccarese. COM
mander OF the torpedo boat Sappho.
which arrived at Porto Santa Venere
thus describes the seaquake at Mes
sine:
we were anchored OF Messina
when, at $40 yesterday morning.
there was fearful upheaving move
ment which, coming from the bottom
or the sea, struck violently all the
ships anchored in the harbor.
Then the sea suddenly arose into
a mountain of water which, running
down the strait, struck with a thun-'
derous crash on the piers and jetty.
Ships Sunk at Anchor.
THE bridge giving communication
between the breakwater and the shore
was swept away. Many ships at an
chor in the harbor were totally
wrecked; the Austrian steamer An
Grassy was torn from her moorings
and ran amuck, greatly damaging
other steamers.
In few moments all the harbor
works were destroyed. The sea be-
came less agitated, and its surface ap-
peared to be absolutely covered with
barrels, casks and pieces of broken
boats. Then black cloud came over
and hid the town.
Only when dawn broke wps it pos
seible to get an idea of what had hap
pened on land-a disaster whose hor-
ror and tragic magnitude no one can
describe. The whole town was re-
duced TO ruins, among which stood
the sinister skeletons of the Town
Hall and of the Hotel Trinacria. All
the splendid palaces and villas which
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07
Christmas at Walterboro.

Walterboro, Special.-Christmas
passed off quietly in Walterboro, with
no casualties reported so far. The
closing of the dispensary by Mayor
Fishburne forced the majority of the
people who are accustomed to imbib-
ing on this occasion to do without,
and consequently pass a sober Christ
mas. On all sides one hears words
Of commendation for the stand taken
by Mayor Fishburne, and it has been
an excellent prohibition argument.
The merchants did a record
business and many of them asclibe
this to the closing of the dispensary.
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07
THE CALABRIAN CALAMITY.
City Of Reggie Disappears Under the
Sea and is One Vast Sepulchre.

Naples.-Latest information re-
ceived here says Reggie, in Calabria,
is vast sepulchre, having been utter
ly destroyed. No part of the province
escaped the awful calamity.
The ominous absence of details
concerning Reggie proves to be due to
the fact that not only the city itself
but its whole population, with the ex-
ception of a mere handful, has disap-
peared.
The warships which were ordered
to relieve the survivors were unable
to approach the coast owing to the
changed conflguration of the Strait of
Messina. Ultimately a torpedo boat
ran close to the shore, but was un-
able to discover trace of the city.
Where an aggregation of buildings
and busy streets stood two days ago
there was nothing but rocks and
earth. The city had vanished as COM
pletely as Aladdin's palace under the
magicians spell.
Only five of the city's 1900 in
habitants have yet been accounted
for. These unhappy wretches reached
Cattenzaro and Palmi half demented
by fright. They were scarcely able
to talk intelligibly, but their inco-
herent stories are sufficient to con-
III Ill tue uOTIlDIe tate OIL the city.
In view OF this latest development
of the catastrophe the death roll may
we'll reach 1875, 200. One estimate is
100000 dead.
The Ministry of Marine has re-
ceived wireless reports of the OBJ
struction of the Strait of Messina,
showing that its safe navigation will
be impossible until it is recharted,
while its future navigation is likely
to be extremely difficult. The news
has caused deep impression here,
for it's consequences, from commercial
and military points OF view, will be
incalculable.
The strait was of great strategic
Importance and the Government has
spent immense sums in fortifying it.
IL is now anticipated that such forti-
tications as may be undamaged will
be useless. Moreover, the strait
formed the shortest route from Mar
seilles, Genoa and Naples to Egypt
and India, and it it be found imprac-
ticable voyages to and from those
countries will be heightened by many
hours.
Even Scylla and Charybdis, the
great whirlpools in the Strait of Mes
sina, which have resisted the forces
of nature for centuries, we're moved
by the tidal wave, thus rendering
navigation dangerous and preventing
aid from reaching the stricken cities
by sea. The whole channel of the
Strait of MeSsina is altered.
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07

will prove to be even more appalling
than the present reports indicate.
The shocks were as severe as those
which devastated San Francisco and
Valparaiso.
Vienna, Austria. - Professor Ed
ward Suess. the celebrated geologist,
says he believes the earthquake in
Calabria and Sicily was not due to
volcanic eruptions, but to the subsi-
dence OF the earth's crust, and that
1T is likely to be followed by volcanic
movements. Should this settling
down of the earth's crust continue,
says Professor Suess, the granite hills
of Scylla and great portion of the
Peloritan Mountains will be SUBJ
merged by the sea.
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07

at irregular intervals. The whole of
that section OF the country seems to
be sinking in pieces. and personally
am inclined to think that the shock
was due to this general dropping
down of that portion Of the earth's
strata"
London, England. John Milne,
the well known seismologist of the
Isle OF Wight, said that his records
showed the Italian earthquake to have
been the most severe in Europe in
many years. He fears that when the
full effects are known the loss of life
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07
Shot His Sister to peafh

Manning, Special.-A wii51eS assn
named Frank Driggers Saturday shot
his sister, Mrs. Mamie Bosuit,ani with
a gun, inflcting wound ffom which.
she died in about an hour Mrs.
Boseman lived at Alcolp but had
been on a visit TO her brc ther. on
Major w. T. Lessesne's pibce. FglI
particulars are not obtainsysle, but it
is said there had been soule mis-
understanding betwefa Ke parties
on account of horse that Driggers
had, which belonged b tisi sister.
Mrs. Boseman had saia RQodzbye and
started for home when f)rieEers shot
her in the back ofythehsad.
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07
SCIENTISTS SAY DISASTER WAS CAUSED
BY SINKING OF THE EARTH,S CpIISr

Baltimore, Md.-Dr. Harry Field
Ing Reid. professor OF geological
physics in the Johns Hopkins Uni
versity, and one of the leading au-
thorities in the. United States on seis-
mic disturbances, attributes the
earthquake in Southern Italy to a
general dropping down or sinking of
the earth in that locality. Speaking
of the shock and the reports concern
ing 1t, he said:
Southern Italy seems to be what
may be termed earthquake territory.
Seismic shocks occur there frequently
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07
Invited to jamestown.

Norfolk, Va, Special.-Telegrams
have been sent to the members Of the
Congressional Committee on Naval
Affairs by Harry L. Maynard, inviting
them to come to Norfolk on Thurs
day for an inspection of the James
town Exposition grounds, TO see their
value and advantage to the Navy De-
oartment as a governmental training
and coaling station.
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07
Minus to Stay at Clemson.

Washington, Special.-There will
be no change in commandants at
Clemson College for the present, al
though Capt. J. c. Minus recently
vent before an examining board and
was declared eligible for retirement
because of poor health. In orders is
sued by the war department Capt.
Minus, while being placed on the re-
tired list, will continue TO act as pro-
fessor of military science at Clemson.
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07
Fatal Christmas Frolic.

Lexington, Special.-Garfeld Hot
to lies beneath the sod and Thomas
Craft is languishing behind the bars
In the Lexington Jail as result %
the Chritmas frolic and the Christ
mas dram. A gloom has been cast
over two households, which genera
tions cannot wipe out, and the lie Of
young man once so full Of lpronSise,
has been bhghted forever. !
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07
Shot at Mark, Killed Boy.

Lancaster, Special.-A negro boy
about eight years old, son Of Nettie
Evans, was accidently shot and kill
ed in the suburbs of town Saturday
by Anon Lindsay, young white
man. Mr.. Lindsay was shooting at
a mark, and did not see the child.
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07

London.-The measure of the
greatest tragedy which has ever be-
allen the Christian world cannot yet
Sc calculated. 1t is known in general
;erms that out of a population of
100000 in the devastated area OF
Southern Italy and Sicily at least
100000 perished
The appalling news that the city
,f Reggie di Calabria has been total
y engulfed by the sea may make it
Necessary to largely increase that es-
innate.
Besides, the figure given takes no
account OF dozens of towns near the
centre of the disturbance whence no
word has come and where there is
only too good reason to fear there are
no survivors to describe their fate.
The destruction of property cannot
be so great as at San Francisco, for
Messina and Reggie. the two princi-
pal cities destroyed, were not rich or
magnificent from metropolitan
point of view.
AS great cataclysm of nature,
however, this disaster is on far
vaster scale than the California phe-
nomena. The whole face OF the coun-
rry and the coast line have been
Uttered. Even Scyila and Charybdis
rave changed the positions they oc-
upied since the legendary voyage Of
Aeneas
The three provinces where the
yreatest damage was done are Mes
'ina and Catania in Sicily and Reggie
ii Calabria on the mainland They
comprise about 44O0 square miles.
Several hundred persons perished
md much damage was done outside
hese provinces, but with them the
devastation was so complete that
,carcely a human habitation remains.
1t will be days yet before the story
Of their destruction can be known.
All accounts now agree that the time
occupied by natures gigantic spasm
was but thirty-two seconds. It was
some minutes later that great wave
came from the sea to complete the
havoc In the Ill fated coast towns.
The violence of the shock SEEMS
to have been unprecedented, except
In volcanic eruptions of limited area.
The buildings in Messina were not
merely shaken down. Their founda-
tions were literally wrenched from
beneath them. To one side or the
other they were toppled from the
perpendicular and fell IN ruins along
side their original sites.
This was the experience Of Messina.
That OF Reggie. on the opposite side
OF the strait, must have been even
more violent, for scarcely one stone
remains on another of what was a
fourishing city only two days ago.
No one has yet been found to recount
the fate of this town and its inhab-
itants.
! Messina probably will not rise
again from her ruins and ashes. This
last overwhelming calamity will alter
the future history of Sicily and
Southern Italy. 1t may be regarded
as certain that a considerable portion
OF the population OF this fair land
Will bow before the wrath of the gods
and seek homes elsewhere.
Next to Italy itself America will
feel the effect of this calamity more
than any other country, for large
proportion of the stricken population
will seek refuge there as soon as the
means of flight can be secured.
Although there was no eruption of
Mount Etna at the time of the earth
quake, ii became active Immediately
thereafter and continues to threaten
an eruption.
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07
NEOUF$TAEN OF WATER HIT
SHIPS IN THE HAls1ssR
AorFeuo ftoat Commander of Fraror
t'-T'o Wrought by Tidal Yy,xe ot rYoss S- AAt''"'

graphically Tells OF Havoc
Wave at NIessiua.
had risen on the sea front and Corse
Garibaldi had disappeared; the streets
were full OF debris, and at various
points the town was reduced to n
mass of horrible ruins, from which
arose flames and smoke.
Petty OAicer Dennini landed in q
small boat manned by eight sailors.
after long struggle with the angry
waves, and entered the town.
Means Greet Sailors Ears.
"Cries, means and desperate ap-
peals for help arose from the ruins
with disheartening insistence.
Meanwhile convicts and other
prisoners escaped from jail began to
plunder the ruins OF the Bank of
Sicily, the Military College and other
public buildings; nothing could be
done against them at first.
"Dennini and his few men. work
ing from o'tsock until noon, were
able to dig out $50 injured people
and keep life in many others by Civ
ing them liquor; unhappily their force
was inadequate to the needs of the
moment. Officers and men of the
cruiser Piemonte also accomplished
miracles of valor and self-abnegation.
AT least half the population must
have-perished. The survivors wan
der about the ruins stupefied and half
naked, fmploring aid
Italy needs several millions of
dollars even to partially relieve the
suffering and want.
Mourning women and men fill the
railroad stations here, trying tor prde
ceed to the devastated region"
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07
RUFF GETS FOURTEEN YEARS.
Former Boss OF San Francisco Sen.
teEced For Bribing Supervisor.

San Francisco, Cal.-Fourteen years
in the penitentiary. the maximum SEN
tence provided for bribery of Su-
pervisor, was the penalty meted out
to Abraham Ruef. who for years di-
rected the political destinies of San
Francisco as adviser OF the admins
tration OF Eugene e. Schmitz, former
ly Mayor.
Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-01-07
Embezzler Lowe Caught.

Detective Flood brought back to
New York City from California Theo-
dore G. Lowe, accused of robbing the
United States Express Company of
$500, whom the detective found
with the wife OF an Amsterdam ave-
nue. butcher.