The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-01-15
Catastrophe CT The CENTURY
City After City Wrecked and Tidal
Waves Add TO Horror-king
and Queen to the Rescue.

Rome. Gable: Fifty thousand per-
sons were killed. accoi ding 10 one es-
l innate. by an earthquake which de-
stroyed most Of the human habitatlons
on the island OF Sicily and in the de-
partment OF Calabria, Italy. Monday IL
is believed 10 be the greatest disaster
OF modern times.
Reports all tend 20 confirm the state
ment that the catastrophe possibly will
equal that which occurred In 1888,
when 10000 perished at Messina
Thousands are believed 10 have been
killed in other places.
According 10 late advices the city OF
Messina. in Sicily. was terribly dam
aged by the first shock at O'Clock.
and later three-fourths OF the town
practically was swept from the earth
by vast wave from the sea. Few
living things escaped from the inunda-
ton.
Calabrian towns. Palmi. Reggie,
Scllla. and Bagnara are reported to
have been destroyed entirely. being
now merely masses Of ruins Many
hundreds OF persons were killed or in
jured in each place. II is reported
that Reggie met the same fate as Mes
sina.
Mount Aetna seems TO have been
the center Of the disturbance and that
portion Of Sicily within a radius OF
forty miles seems 10 have been laid
waste. II is not known whether the
volcano is in action, as that section OF
the island is completely cut of from
the world. even the railroads of the
entire eastern half Of Sicily being de-
strOyed.
The region devastated is subject to
earthquakes and probably 100000 per-
sens have been killed by these phe-
nomena in Sicily and Calabria in the
last three centuries.
Vandalism OF the worst kind has
broken out. and the government has
adopted the most energeu. and most
severe measures for its repression.
Robbers and hooters are shot on sight
The prison az Messina collapsed
Some OF the prisoners were killed, but
the survivors made their escape and
joined the hooligans who were sackine.
the city. Such confusion reigned that
the robbers met with no resistance.
The local chief OF police was killed
In his Office.
The robbers pillaged the ruins OF
the shattered buildings and even stole
clothing and valuables from the
corpses OF the victims They were not
deferred by the flames that broke out
In several sections of Messina. but
took advantage OF the light for their
vandalism. The night in Messina was
one Of horror indescribable-fir rob-
berry. dead and dying on every side,
and the city in utmost confusion and
the people panic-stricken and under a
spell OF terror
King Victor. who has been shooting
near Naples. has cut short his holiday
and is Fastening preparations for a
journey TO Calabria on a mission OF
rescue such as he took under similar
circumstances three years ago when
Mount Nesuylus was in eruption.
Queen Helena has refused 10 allow
her husband. the King. to 20 alone to
the scene OF the disaster She said
she would not give up her privilege
Of sharing her husbands dangers and
consequently both King and Queen
have left Rome for the South.
IL was announced here that the Pope
Will inaugurate the establishment OF
an international committee Of Roman
Catholics the world over TO assist the
survivors of the catastrophe. The
4 NlF AtaAr NAt subscription isl WITH
one million lire $500 .0O0) II is un-
derstOod that King Victor Emmanuel
will give two million lire for the relief
Of the victims
Upon the kings command the gov
eminent has teiegraphed TO Sardinia
the battleships Regina Elena.
Vittorio Emanuel. and Napoli TO has
ten 10 Messina and render whatever
aid is possible and establish wireless
In the mountainous regions inland
The population has taken refuge i'm
yrottoes and caves. where peasants
and priests. soldiers and persons OF
gentle birth are living in common.
Their bed is the ground. and fires burn
% keep off Wild animals. In Abb
llone 1000 people are homeless.
Calabria has suffered frequently
rom earthquakes OF greater or less
severity. The most severe shock OF
ecent years was that OF September
S95. which appears to have affected
IN area almost identical with that OF
he disturbances Of Monday. At that
line more than 1900 persons wefe
iilpd and MANY injured