The Detroit times., 1909-01-04
EARTHQUAKE



portion of Sicily, yesterday. II was
followed by a rumbling noise. Many
houses are reported collapsed, includ-
ing a school and a church. the sex
ton and his son being buried in the
ruins OF the latter.
There was Il bowling storm, the
growing OF thunder and a noise like
the clanking of heavy. iron chains.
Then there was terrific noise like
the crashing of enormous masses of
glass. The ground moved and the
buildings were wrecked. There were
large landslides and assures appeared
in the earth. The thirty thousand In
habitants are terrified and refuse to
re-enter their houses, from which they
fed. They are camped in the open
country.
The Stromboli volcano began erupt.
ing following a violent shock, running
north. southwest and east-northeast,
which continued for three seconds.
The phenomenon was accompanied by
prolonged and dull rumblings. The
houses on Stromboli island were bad.
ly damaged and the populace fed to
the streets in panic.
Other shocks. slighter In their In.
|tensity. were felt at Fano and Pesaro,
and also In the Messina and Reggie
area. Several tottering buildings col.
lapsed at Palmi.
King Victor Emmanuel and Queen
Helene, who did valiant work In the
earthquake district, have returned to
Rome. Learning that the populace
planned big demonstration. they en-
tered the city by automobile and were
almost un-ecognized. The enthusiasm
III front OF the Quirinal. however, was
bled and cheered the sovereigns. The
king and queen came out on the bal
cony and bowed their recognition
They looked extremely fatigued from
their continuous work for the relief
OF the sufferers to the south
Reports came from Reggie and Mes
sina all day yesterday and this morn
Ing concerning looters. Several Rus.
sian sailors landed from a battleship
for relief work. gave way to the temp
tation to carry off some sacred relics
from half.ruined cathedral at Mes
sina and were shot by the armed
guards. The greatest danger comes
from the convicts who were released
from the Messinian prison by the
earthquake. They are all reckless
fellows possessing fear OF neither God
nor man in their hearts. A score OF
them have been shot while pillaging
and others have persisted In conflicts
among themselves over divisions of
spoils, but still their work continues.
Hand of America.
The strong practical hand OF Amer.
lea is now felt above all others in
the relief work.
Ambassador Griscom Is the most
active spirit In the relief movement.
Today he reported that his special
committee Is closing negotiations for
a two-weeks contract for use Of an
Austrian Lloyd steamer Of 5000 tons
capacity which will be used to carry
food and medicine, and bring refugees
from stricken towns and hamlets not
yet approached. This project will
cost $4,000.
Archbishop Ireland, of ST. Paul.
Mimi, Is still in Rome and today
spoke feelingly of the grave disaster
In addition he denied a rumor that he
would be sent to Messina to lead the
spiritual labors Of the priests now
stationed there.
THE best possible impression has
been made in Italy by the splendid
generosity OF the United States" said
the archbishop today.
1T is well that the United States,
now great world power, through its
territorial and commercial expansion,
can show itself also to be a great
world power by the munifcence of its
charity"
The vast wealth OF the vatican has
been placed at the disposal Of the re-
lief workers. The papal doctors have
been sent into the stricken zone and
they are assisted by sisters and
nurses.
A rigid censorship is In effect today
affecting all outlet points in southern
Italy and the greatest difficulty Is ex-
perienced by the correspondents in
sending both Geographic and tele-
phonic reports.
Funeral masses were said in the
church Of Rome yesterday for the
dead. They were continued today.
People Live In Open.
The Sicilian fields about Stromboli
today resemble the camping place OF
a great army. Rudely constructed
tents house families and many are
living In the open. These are resi-
dents OF towns and villages which
were shaken yesterday by the addi-
uonal earthquake shocks. Indirectly
there have been a number OF deaths
from exposure.
Southern Italy and Sicily are suffer
ing their winter period now and the
hardships inflicted upon the people by
being driven into the open cannot be
calculated.