Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-01-06

almost insane from their terrifying ex-
Iperiences, Messina's survivors are
fleeing in all directions. The specta'
Gle presented by the ruined sea port is
described as terrifying.
Rescue Work Is Prompt.
Already British and Russian squad
rons have arrived at -Messina. Sailors
and marines have been disembarked
and they have performed courageous
acts = rescuing the injured and re-
moving the wounded A large number
of survivors have been transferred to
warships, which are transformed into
great floating hospitals.
Special dispatches from Calahria
confirm the destruction of Reggie.
They report the situation there is as
bad. if not worse, than at Messina.
The hands of all nations have been
extended to Italy in her affection.
From rulers have come messages of
coincidence and from peoples spon-
taneous promises of aid. Great Brit,
ain, France and Russia have sent their
warships quick as the flash of the
telegraph could carry orders, to lend
assistance to the stricken cities. Re
| lief funds have already been started
and a hundred ships and trains are
on the way carrying supplies and re-
Inducements south. Rome, Milan,
Florence, Naples and other cities are
sending ply icians, police and firemen.
Yesterday ambassadors and ministers
expressed sympathy with Minister of
Foreign Affairs Tittoni, whose emotion
was profound.
Awful Fores of the Waters.
Al the time of lie earthquake the
torpedo boat. Sappho. was lying in
the harbor of Messina and one of the
officers told of the occurrences as fol
lows:
AT half past five in the morning
the sea suddenly became terribly agi
tated, seeming literally to pick up our
boat and shake it. Other craft nearby
were similarly treated, and ships
Hooked like bits of cork bobbing about
in tempest Almost Immediately the
tidal wave swept across the strait,
mounting the coasts and carrying ev-
erything before it. Messina bay was
wiped out and the sea was soon GOV.
cred with masses of wreckage, which
was carried off in the arms of the re-
ceding waters"
Eight sailors from the Sappho we're
landed and took up the work of res
cue. Officers and men from the Italian
and British steamers also went hore
as soon as possible. Many PR oners
from Jails escaped and looted right
and left. Hundreds engaged in the
work of robbing banks and business
houses. In the opinion of officers of
the Sappho half the population of Mes
sina persisted.
DepIorabIe Fate of Refugees.
Catania Dec. 30.-Refugees are
pouring into Catania They are half
naked and stupefied with terror and
suffering Some appear almost insane
from the horrors through which they
have gone Little by little some idea
OF the indescribable horror at Messina
is obtained from these unfortunates.
They declare that thousands of de-
mented survivors are still wandering
among the ruins of the city. A wound
ed soldier said:
THE spectacle was terrifying be
yond words Dante's Inferno gives
you but a faint idea as to what hap
pened Monday morning at Messina.
The first shock came before the sun
J., -1 l. - f&@
very foundations. Immediately the
houses began to crumbie. Those of
us not killed at once made our way
over the undulating floors to the
street. Beams were crashing down
through rooms and stairs were equally
unsafe
Il found the streets blocked by
fallen houses. Balconies, chimnegs,
bell towers. entire walls had been
thrown down. From every side Of
ME arose screams and meanings OF
wounded People We're half mad with
excitement and fear Most of them
had rushed out in their night clothes
In little while we were all shivering
under a ;orrentaf downpour of rain.
Everywhere there were dead bodies
nude disfigured and mutilated. In
the ruins could see arms and legs
moving helplessly, From every quar-
ter came piteous appeals for aid.
; Thai portion of the town down
near the water was inundated by the
tidal wave. the water reaching to the
shoulders of the fugitiYes and swept
them away
The city hall, cathedral and bar
racks were crumbled, and churches
and other public buildings and dwell
ings without number were literally
razed to the ground There were 200
customs agents at the barracks; only
Al of them were saved. At the rail
road station only eight out Of 2S0
employees have been accounted for.
Rain Added TO Horror
Many of those who succeeded in
! escaping with their lives are inca
J pable of relating their. experiences co
: herently questioned all who were
I'm a condition to talk Most of them
told the same story They said that
the first thing they knew they were
J thrown Out of bed. and amid crashing
ceilings and falling furniture man
. aged to make their way to the street.