Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-01-05
STORIES OF SURVIVORS.
Awful Scenes and Experiences of Es-
Caped Messnians.


The stories related by the earthquake
survivors in the hospitals at the food
supply stations where rations are is
sued twice a day, says a Messina dis
patch Of January 2, all reflect the hor-
ror of the fateful 2Sth Of December.
There were many miraculous escapes,
but the cases of bereavement are with
out number A cobbler named Fran
cesco MissianO relates that immediate
ly after the first shock he and his wife
and children rushed out into the street.
Fires were breaking out all around
them. Hearing groans from q pile OF
debris nearby, the cCbbler made a hur-
ried examination. He found two girls
open, while the chest of the other had
been crushed in. The cObbler picked
up a baby, but it expired in his arms.
Seized with mad terror the man fled
towards the sea. 1t took his party two
hours and a half to traverse the heaps
of ruins between his house and the wa
ter front. After placing his family in
safety he returned to seek his mother
and sisters, but he was obliged to give
up the effort. 1t was impossible to
make mis- way to his home. During
the SO hours the cobbler passed among
the ruins he did not see more than s.
O00 or 5000 survivors. This man owes
his safety to the fact that he lived in
a one-story house. He says that no
help arrived for 80 hours after the ca
taStrophe.
Signor Vidalia managed to get out Of
the street before the building in which
he had been, collapsed, and CROPPED his
way to the Place Cavour, which had
been transformed into huge crevasse.
The first ten minutes after the initial
.l~ 1N,,p ~ nn no oh
to rise from the city, then there was
comparative silence for a short while.
The worse shocks were over by o'clock.
Vidalia made his way to his home, and
found his family under the ruins.
AS Vidalia was telling his tale, wild
looking individual in strange clothing
came up to the correspondent and Vida
liza. II also am bereft of all my fam
ily," he interrupted. Il now am alone
in the world like you, Vidalia." 1t was
evident that this man was half crazy.
He had saved a daughter from the
ruins but his two sisters had been kill
ed. Later he died of his injuries.
A countryman who came into the
city after the disaster found his only
brother dead. He carried the body on
his shoulder back to his native village
and buried it in the church yard.
An actress named Flora Parma re-
cited that while she was lying half bur-
led in wreckage she heard the voice
of a lieutenant of artillery close at
hand. The man had recognized her
but his plight was worse than hers.
"Signorina, for PHYS sake save me-
Call for some one to rescue us. Don't
leave me. l was at the theatre last
night and applauded your singing. !
have a mother; don't leave me to die"
The woman was eventually dug out by
some sailors. She remembered the lieu
tenant and led her reScuers to where
he was pinned down. He also was
saved
The mother superior of the st. Vim
cent Military hospital saved a man
and q woman at the risk Of her own
life. She rescued, alone and unaided
Col. Mincci and his daughter from the
ruins of their home.
A major of infantry was disinteTed
with the greatest difficulty. Half of his
body had been freed when the major
told his rescuers that he was all right
for the night and that they could come
back in the morning. This programme
was carried out, and by o'clock Thurs
day morning the man was entirely
freed.
An infant clothed in night shirt
was rescued well and uninjured after
having lain Tor fOur days on square
ward Of flooring in a house that was
otherwise entirely demolished.
There were three fresh earth shocks
Yesterday at $50 in the morning, l.S5
and 1915 D. m. The last was the most
severe. causing widespread panic. The
neople encamped around the railroad
station started on mad flight, but
having no place to go, soon stopped, ir.
resolute The women prayed and
sang hymns. When the rumbling ceas-
cd, they turned to their temporary
abodes to pass the night in fear and
trepidation.