The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-01-08
The Earthouake.


the overwhelming catastrophy tina
figures add nothing to the horror
Superhuman efforts are being made
to relieve the sufferers and ever,
open channel of the government is
being utilized. Other nations were
quick to respond before the cry fol
aid went up.
Ship loads of refugees are being
carried out of the stricken region
to Naples and Palermo. At Cata-
MIA the most important question is OF
the living for the thousands who
escaped the sweep of the tide and
falling walls are now starving.
The latest report states that there
are numerous intermittant shocks.
A British warship reports two severe
numerous shocks at Messina last
night.
The horror grows with every dis
patch. One correspondent has plac-
ed the death list as high as three
hundred thousand although the min
lister of marine holds that there
were but one hundred ten thousand
lost. The Calabrian coast for thirty
miles is torn and twisted. At Bag
nara, superficial operations are be-
ing performed with pruning knives.
Thieves infest the country and
pillage and rob with shocking vio-
lence.
Rome, Dec. 31.-Scenes that beg
gar description followed the earth
quake, according to Admiral Makha-
rolf, who reached Naples today:
ut is impossible to give even a
faint idea of the scenes Of desola-
tion," said the admiral. Hearing
of the disaster, l fastened to Messina
and lost no time in beginning the
work of rescue. Open air hospitals
were established and thousands
treated. An estimate of the deaths
at Messina is conservatively placed
at $4,000. Thousands of the injur-
ed are still in the ruins and count
less numbers of them must die.
The sailors saved the treasure of the
Bank of Sicily.
"The tidal wave lasted longer
than the earthquake, and the vessel
shivered intermittently as though
shaken by hugh marine monster.
Under the wreckage of the city,
inclosed in cubby hole protected
by heavy beams, we found two bah
les safe and comfortable as possible.
There was no trace of the parents
and they had undoubtedly been kill
ed Many mothers had dead babies
in their arms and many were crazy
from grief"
Rome, Dec. 31.-The foreign
office has completed arrangements
for Ambassador Griscom to leave
Naples tomorrow for Messina to
gather information regarding Ameri-
cans supposed to have persisted in
the disaster.
There are numerous villages from
which no reports have been received
and when reports arrive it is fear
ed that they will only swell the list
of fatalities. Every dispatch is a
monotonous recital of death and des-
olation.
The Capurno monks at Reggie es-
capped and did brave work rescuing
the less fortunate. Seven out Of
twenty one nuns in the convent of
Saint Vincent di Piale escaped and
are now nursing the wounded.
The naval observer says the four
tidal waves were twelve to thirty
feet high. Heavy rains followed
with nights of freezing temperature.
King Victor Emanuel today visit
ed the wrecked cities and villages
on the Sicilian coast and says that
water is now most needed.
Reggie, via Catania, Dec. 31.-A
state of frightful anarchy prevails
here. Mobs Of ruftians roam among
the ruins, giving full vent to the
vilest instincts, pillaging wrecked
stores, banks and not hesitating to
shed blood of opponents. A few
soldiers, who escaped, have organ
ICED patrols and are trying to pro-
tect property and lives. Many bat
ties have occurred.
Rome, Dec. 31.-The Vita states
that a wireless message from the
straits of Messina reports the Lii
pari islands, near the Sicilian coast
as having disappeared. The total
population of the islands numbered
$4,000 and they must inevitably
have persisted. The minister of ma
rine has rushed a torpedo boat to
ascertain facts.
Rome, Dec 31.-The king and
queen, who left Messina yesterday,
arrived a Riggio this morning. At
ter visiting the town they re-em-
barked on their warship and the
king sent the following wireless tele-
gram to Premier Giolotti:
81 have returned from Reggie,
which 1 found in a condition no less
disastrous than that at Messina. The
project of Riggio says that grave in
jury has been done the property of
his province. A Russian Warshrip
with 500 wounded on board will ar
rive at Naples this morning and
everything must be prepared for
their landing and housing. Another
Russian ship will carry the wounded
to Syracuse. 1t is desirable to pro-
V1ue At Naples tie russian sup Au
vance with medical supplies.
Reggie, Dec. 31.-As precau-
tionary measure against the out
break of pestilence the bodies Of per-
sons killed in the earthquake are be-
ing burned as rapidly as they can be
gathered, and strong disinfectants
are being strewn over the city.
Troops have set up field kitchens and
are baking bread in the streets.
Reggie, Dec. Sit is new be-