The searchlight., 1909-01-01
THOUSANDS Of
LIVES LOST IN
SOUTHERN ITALY
i
Earthquake Devastates Prov.
inces Which Form 1.-THE
Toe Of the Boot"
MANY TOWNS ARE IN RUINS
Destruction to Life and Prop.
erty Worst Italy Has Ex.
perienced in Years.
EXTENT Of DISASTER UNKNOWN
EXTENT Of DISASTER UNKNOWN
breaking Of Wire Commssic atiop
Leaves Fate Of Large Ares
Yet to Be Learned.

/
inces OF Cosenza. Catanzaro and Eeg.
eio di Calabria. comprising the de-
parfment of Calabria, which forms
the southwestern extremity of Italy,
or the toe of the boot" were deyas.
tated yesterday by an earthquake. the
| far-reaching effects Of which were felt
almost throughout the entire country.
The town OF Messina, in Sicily, was
partially destroyed and Catania was
inundated. Il Messina hundreds OF
houses have fallen and thousands OF
persons have teen killed. Owing.
however. to the fact that telagraphjc
and telephone communications were
almost completely DESTROYED, II is i'm.
possible to obtain even an approxi.
mate idea of the vast damage done.
Havoc 10 Great.
The fate OF entire regions within
the zone OF the earthquake is un.
known, but reports received here up
to late hour indicate that the havoc
mas been great and the destruction to
lie and property more terrible than
Italy has experienced In many years.
The uncertainty of the situation for
many thousands has filled all Italians
with the deepest distress, for they
still have fear that the day may come
when that part of the country. which
seems to have been most blessed Inv
nature. Will be destroyed by the blind
forces of that same nature which
nearly nineteen centuries ago over
whelmed Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Many Vessels Are Sunk.
All reports show that the present
catastrophe embraces larger area
than the earthquake in 1905. The
tidal wave which followed the earth
shocks on the eastern coast of Sicily
sunk vessels and inundated the lower
part OF Catania II is known that q
number OF people were killed at that
place, but the rushing waters carried
everything before them and caused
such an indescribable confusion that
II will be impossible for some time to
estimate the damage and the lives
lost.
The Italian government proceeded
energetically TO relieve the wide.
spread distress, concentrating at the
points OF greatest need troops and en-
gineers.
Messina Suffers Most.
The city of Messina has suffered
probably more than any other Mace.
the latest information, coming indi.
rectly from that quarter. stating that
two-thirds OF the town was DESTROYED
and several thousand persons killed.
Not only did catania suffer from
the effects Of a tidal wave, but d
similar body OF water inundated the
handsome streets of Messina. which
Hank the harbor. covering them with
thick layer Of mud. which rendered
more difficult the succoring of the
wounded. many of whom could he
seen lying under the wreckage. II
Is reported that the villages of Faro
and Ganzirri. adjoining Messina. |
have disappeared. The effects of the
earthquake were aggravated by fire
through an explosion of gas, the
flames of which swept along several
of the streets, adding terror upon ter
ror.
Fill Air With Lamentations.
In Calabria the region around Mon
lie Leona was most affected. The vii |
lase of Stefanaeoni. the inhabitants
of which number $500. was practical.
ly destroyed. Only five persons were
killed, but many were injured.
Extraordinary scenes are reported |
at Catania. Following a violent earth
shock at SEQ a. m. the sea rose in a
tremendous wave. which wrecked |
many smscks. II then suddenly re-
tired from the shore and returned as
quickly. causing further great dam.
age and wreckage.
Although a terrific rain storm pre-
vailed. thousands of people abandon.
ed their homes and filled the air with
and prayers.
People Are Panie-strieken.
Awakened by the shock. the inhab-
itants fled panic-stricken from their
homes into the streets and squares.
were organized. and soon
all the churches were filed with
weeping crowds. imploring divine
mercy.
Midnight reports state that Reggie.
the capital of the province Of Reggie
di Calabria, eight miles from Messina,
on the opposite side of the strait, has
met the same fate as Messina. but
these reports have not been conarm-
ed. owing to the lack Of telegraphlo