Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-04
SEA ROSE UNDER SHIPS.
Captain of Welsh Vessels vividIy D

SCCiOe.> 0C0uCS III WCSSiud IldI0S's
Naples, Jan. 4.--Dhe first calm and
connected stories of the earthquake
disaster were brought here by officers
and passengers of the Welsh steamer
Afonwen, whose Unconditional! British
temperament enabled them to relate
in detail their experiences.
During the night before the catas-
trophe," said the captain of the At
onwer, Eve lay at anchor in the har-
bor of Messina under steam ready to
leave early the following day. 1t may
have been about o'clock in the NOR
ming when I heard low growing
sound like distant thunder. Day had
not yet dawned, but I was on deck
and the crew were stirring. The Pc
culiar sound made me glance anxious
ly at the sky and then at the sleeping
town of Messina, neither of which af-
forded any explanation.
Suddenly the Afonwen gave a ter
rife leap, that is the only word l can
use. The ship seemed to rise up from
the surface of the water as tho lifted
bodily by some mighty power under
meath. The anchor chains snapped and
we started to drift shoreward very
fast.
Walls Of Water Everywhere.
From the land came sounds of tre-
mendous crashing and falling of build
ings. The low, muttering thunder
which I first heard now become roar
Of destruction. All the lights along
shore went out in an instant. The
darkness was intense.
Instinctively 1 knew this was an
earthquake and that tidal waves were
dashing us about the straits. The first
thing to do was to save the ship for
other craft were being thrown about
on all sides and there was imminent
danger OF collisions. Another boat
swept down upon US before could get
the crew to their stations and the AZ
onwen under control, but luckily the
bump was slight and not much damage
was done.
Now the sea became tremendously
agitated with waves and walls Of water
rising on every side. The ship listed
to her beam ends. The deck heeled
grees, so that we scarcely could keep
our feet. For thirtyfive minutes 1t
was touch and go. Once a great wall
of water struck us With such violence
that thought all was over, but by q
miracle we came thru It.
Not Building In Sight.
ut was Hike a cyclone from all
points Of the compass. The wind
howled and the waves battered and
swept the decks. Amazing and terri
tying things were happening all around
us. Great holes opened in the sea it
self ana seemed to reach down twenty
to thirty feet and some to lesser
depths.
'The water at first appeared to grow
livid and then became white with foam.
"As soon as the worst Of the tidal
wave had passed tried to see what
had befallen the town Of Messlna, as
the first faint streaks Of daylight ap-
peared, but nothing was visible of
mole or buildings. I could sec at first
only the outline Of the hills and vast
eddying cloud of dust which speedily
enveloped everything and settled down
over the place like @ fog!
Messina Lay in Ruins.
with increasing daylight we could
see how Messina had been destroyed.
Before our eyes, houses and palaces
still were topping and falling to earth
with noises like 80 many exploding
powder magazines. Close beside Dan
ish steamer had gone down and the
surface of the water was Uttered with
all manner of wreckage from it and
other wrecked craft.
when we looked at the land again
it seemed to have taken on some fam
tastio coloring. something between q
yellow tint and an ashen gray. The
city itself was black with smoke, split
by ominous red streaks of bursting
flame.
Gradually the sea Gained down
and the roar of the wind and waves de-
creased. Then shrieks ana groans
reached our ears and we could see hum
dreds of terror stricken persons flock
ing down to the waters edge, waving
their arms and screaming frantically
for help. Many of them plunged into
the sea and swan out toward our ship.
We took on board as many as could
be accommodated.''
STRIKE Is OFF.
New York Cabmen and Chauffeurs