Willmar tribune., 1909-01-06
Horrors of Disaster That
Befell Calabria and Sic
lily Increased.
ALL ITALY is MOURNING
MesSina Shaken to Ruins, Regqio
and Its Seaport Destroyed, and
Scores of Towns Shattered.

fell crushed to death and others, bewil-
dered, took refuge for breath beside
the tottering walls, where they soon
met the fate of their companions"
Brave Work Of Rescuers.
Already British and Russian SQUAD
rons have arrived at Messina. Sailors
and marines have been disembarked
and they have performed courageous
acts in rescuing the injured and re-
moving the wounded. A large number
of survivors have been transferred to
the warships, which are transformed
into great floating hospitals. It is i'm.
perative that the dead be removed
from the ruins in order to avoid pes
thence. Steamers with doctors, drug
gists, firemen and workmen have ar
rived at Messina from Catania and
other places.
Special dispatches received here
from Calabria confirm the destruction
of Reggie. They report that the situa-
tion there is as bad, if not worse, than
at Messina. The streets in Rome are
jammed with people. who snatch the
special editions from the newsboys.
The people are plunged in grief and
lamentations are heard OH all sides.
Here and there one asks another:
when will end this awful repetition
of devastation and death in our coun-
try?"
All Nations Offer Aid.
The hands of all the nations have
been extended to Italy in her affliction.
From rulers have come messages of
coincidence and from the peoples spon-
taneous promise of that aid which
brings the world closer together in
times of great calamity. Great Britain,
France and Russia have sent their war
ships quick as the flash of the tele-
graph could carry the orders to lend
assistance to the stricken cities. Re-
lief funds have already been started
and hundred ships and trains are on
their way carrying supplies and rein
forcements to the south. Rome, Milan.
Florence, Naples and other cities are
sending physicians, police and firemen.
Yesterday all the ambassadors and
ministers expressed sympathy with. NJ.
Tittoni, minister of foreign affairs,
whose emotion was profound.
The bourses and theaters have been
closed throughout Italy and dispatches
of sympathy continue to pour in from
all quarters of the globe.
Described by Naval Officer.
At the time of the earthquake the
torpedo boat Sappho was lying in the
harbor of Messiah and one of the off,
GERS told of the occurrences as fol-
lows:
AT half-past five in the morning the
sea suddenly became terribly agitated.
seeming literally to pick up our boat
and shake it. Other craft nearby were
similarly treated and the ships looked
like bits OF cork bobbing about in a
tempest. Almost Immediately tidal
wave of huge proportions swept across
the strait, mounting the coasts and
carrying everything before it. Scores
of ships were damaged and the Hun
garian mail boat Andrassy parted her
anchors and went crashing into other
vessels. Messina bay was wiped out
and the sea was soon covered with
masses of wreckage, which was car
ried off in the arms of the receding
waters"
Many prisoners from the jails made
their escape and looted right and left.
Hundreds engaged in the work Of rob-
bing the banks and business houses.
King and Queen Go to Sicily.
King Victor Emmanuel and the
queen, who left for the scene of the
calamity, reached Naples last night
and proceeded at once to Sicily. A
large number Of people saw their
majesties depart from Rome and one
among the number of deputies at the
station observed to the king: 1.-THE
presence of your majesty will suffice
to console the stricken population
The king turned sharply upon the
speaker and said abruptly: Don't
talk nonsense"
Horrible Scenes in the Ruins.
The work of rescue at Messina. &C.
cording to the meager details received
here, presented narrowing scenes.
Hundreds of people were pinned under
walls and rafters alive, but terribly
injured, for 30 hours. One of the res.
cuers found under the ruins of house
five children, alive, but unable to
speak, clinging around the corpse of
their mother. In some cases heroic
rescuers met death in the falling de.
bris. In one house 20 persons sus-
pended Oh the fifth floor and unable
to reach the street because the lower
floors had been torn away, were res
cued with rope by a sailor. Six
criminals were killed while attempting
to loot the Bank of Sicily, where cash
amounting to half q million dollars
lay in plain view.
and was not far from universal. When