The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1909-02-11

over a calamity Hardened as ! was to catastro-
phes the piteous sights which met my gaze at
Messina. Reggie and other cities more than once
drew tears to my eyes.
1t my good fortune to be one of the mem
bers of the party of King Victor Emmanuel and
Queen Helena when the ruler visited the stricken
district and many times both the monarch and
his consort broke down completely upon Viewing
the awful sights which followed the earthquakes,
fires and tidal
Survivors were raving maniacs and they roved
the brck-strewn Streets in many instances nude
The stories told by unfortunate refugees who
retained their almost unbelievable.
A soldier named Emilio de Castro in the
military hospital He was awakened by a ire
mendous roaring sound He felt himself falling
and thought he in the grip of nightmare.
1t seemed to him that he had awakened In hell.
for the air was filled with terrifying shreks He
soon realized, however, what was happening. His
bed struck the floor below. and he was still on it,
1t paused moment and was again precipitated
He struck the next floor but this gave way at
once, and thus the man and bed came down from
the fifth floor of the hospital to the ground. The
soldier not injured
druggist named Pulco relates that at %
minutes past five Monday morning he was on a
ferryboat in the port of Messina going to Reggie
Suddenly gale of wind arose, bringing heavy
with it, Then great chasm seemed to open
in the water and the boat went down and struck
the bottom. But the waters closed in again ana
the ferryboat hoated safely top of the sue
ceeding Most of the people on board
however. swept off and drowned. The boat
was badly wrecked but it foated ashore. Pulco
was still on board. After the first panic he landed
and found Reggie like city of the dead. NC
body was moving in the streets. and the silence
was broken only by the means and groans and
shreks of the wounded. Pulco and several COM
panions tried to extlicate some wounded from the
wreckage, but this was almost impossible pc
cause of the crumbling ruins. In one of the
squares Pulco found group of people all com
pleey naked. One old man carrying little
girl in his arms. The child covered with
blood. is that your chd?' he was asked. NO,
he replied. Yesterday found her on the pave
ment in Messina picked her up and cared for
her No one claimed her and could not abandon
her. | have had her in my arms ever since.
With this touching explanation the old man be-
around him.
The Serapin brought into the port Of Naples rec
ords of numberess tragedies. Families separated;
mothers moaning and crying for their dead chill
dren husbands and wives lost to each other or
sole survivor wishing that he had not been
spared. There girl on board the steamer
her clothing tattered and torn who had saved
canary bird. She a music hall singer, and
had chung to her pet throughout the terrible
scenes of devastation The bird was the only
happy thing board the vessel.
One Of the Messina doctors sleeping IN a
room on the third floor when the first shock came.
and saved himself by gripping the roof of q
neighborng house.
A ferryboat moored at one OF the docks seemed
suddenly to be thrown high into the air. 1t landed
on top OF the dock safely.
The nerves of the unfortunates were in such
condition that at the least noise they were prone
To rush screaming from their rooms, seeking the
omen streats signor Birot. the MAYOR OF Brescia