Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-01-06
DEATH AND DESTRUC-
TON IN THEIR wake


of Messina which flank the harbor,
covering them with a thick layer of
mud which rendered more difficult the
succoring of the wounded. many OF
whom could be seen lying under the
wreckage. 1t is reported that the vii
lagos Of Faro and Ganazirri, adjoining
Messina, have disappeared. The eff
fects of the earthquake are aggravated
by fire, through the explosion of gas
flames, sweeping several streets.
In Calabria, the region around Mon
teleone is most affected. The village
of Stefanaconi the inhabitants of
which number 2.600 was practically
destroyed. Only five persons were
killed, but many were injured. In
Prizzo, Cotrone, Santa Severina and
Piscopio, people entered churches al
most while they were falling, and car
ried out saints. They bore these in
procession invoking the mercy of God.
In the mountainous regions inland,
the population has taken refuge in
grottoes and caves, where peasants
and priests, soldiers and persons of
genteel birth are living in common.
Their bed is the ground, and fires
burn to keep off wild animals. In
Abb alone, 1000 persons are home
less.
Sea hre-e in Tremendous Waves.
Extraordinary scenes are reported
at Catania. Following the violent
shock at $40 a. m., the sea arose in
a tremendous wave. which wrecked
many smacks. 1t then suddenly re-
tired from shore and returned as
quickly, causing further great dam
age and wreckage. Awakened by the
shock, the inhabitants fed panic
stricken from their homes into the
streets and squares. Professions were
organized, and soon all the churches
were filled with weeping crowds, i'm
ploring Divine mercy
Midnight reports state that Reggie,
eight miles from Messina on the OPP
posite side of the strait, met the same
fate as Messina, but these reports
have not been confirmed owing to the
lack of Geographic facilities.
The pope was greatly distressed at
hearing of the earthquake and decided
to go to the scene to comfort the suf-
ferers, but his physicians and those
in attendance upon him insisted it
would be impossible for him to under
take such fatiguing expedition in the
present condition of his health.
At midnight a regiment of soldiers
left here for Calabria.
Evil Report From Palermo.
Palermo. Dec. 29.-Reports from the
towns and villages around Messina
!, state that serious damage has been
done by the earthquake and the mum
Der Of victims is large. The gravest
damage was done to public buildings
| and churches at Florida Noto, Chiara
monte, Vitroria- Palermo, Terranova
Marianopoli and Mario. At Agosta
| the tidal wave wrecked the govern
ment salt works. Serious havoc was
wrought at Barcelona and 10 persons
were killed at Costroreal and Monta
gano.
Santa Maria college at Ali. between
Messina and Catania, was overthrown
several of the girl students being
buried in the ruins.
Nine Dead, Others Injured
Great Falls. Mont. Dec gas a
result of a collision between freigh.
and work trains on the Great Northern
yesterday afternoon, eight men are
dead and number of others badly in
jured.
| Hundreds Dead and Wounded.
Catanzaro. Dec 29.-Advices from
Paami and Bagnara. which are but ]
short distance from Reggie, state that
the effects of the earthquake shocks at
+ these places was terrible Many
houses were levelled and the dead and
wounded number several hundreds
Most Serious in Years.
| London, Dec. 30.-John Milne, the
well known seismologist of the Isle O.
Wight. said his records showed the
italian earthquake to be the most Sc
we're experienced in Europe in many
J yCoio. lIO IOdi IidI " ACn tnS Iull GI
fects are known the loss Of life will
prove to be even more appalling than
present reports indicate. The shocks
were as severe as those which devas
tated San Francisco and Valparaiso.
Lasted Only % Seconds.
| Rome, Dec 30.-The report of the
technical observations from the OBJ
servatory at Messina says that the
earthquake lasted % seconds only
This was accompanied by a remarKa
BILE atmospheric phenomena. The sub
charged air was filled with sparks and
flashes of flame which flared up until
the heavens seemed afire The crest
lof the earth appeared suddenly to
drop. These phenomena were fol
lowed by distinct lateral oscillations
that threw the panic-stricken people
off their feet as they rushed to the
streets
A Pitiful Scene.
/ The work of rescue at Messina, &C
cording to the meager details re