The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-01-01
MOURNS
her CALAMITY.
Succor For Earthquake Refu-
gees Being Rushed Forward.
ESTIMATED 100000 Persisted

stroyed-Channel Altered Eeyono
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Fleeing In
All Directons-Loss of Life Placed
at 100000.
Rome, Dec. 3O.-Stunned at the
magnitude of the calamity which has
overtaken fellow countrymen, all
Italy mourns for the stricken province
of Calabria and the island If Sicily.
Accustomed for centuries to earth
quakes, Italy stands ever in dread,
but none was prepared for the disaster
which, in the fraction of minute, de-
vastated cities and towns and caused
the death of thousands.
Messina, which was the center Of
the terrestrial maelstrom, was shaken
to ruins. Flames burst forth to COM
plete the city's destruction and to
burn alive untold numbers, helplessly
pinioned beneath fallen walls and
broken timbers.
1t is estimated that 100000 persons
are dead
The death list in Messina ranges
from 10000 to $4,000; that of Reggie,
which with it's adjacent villages num-
bered $4,000 people, includes almost
the entire population. At Palmi, LOCO
are reported dead; t Cassano, 1000;
at Cosenza, 500, and half of the popu-
lation of Bagbara, about 1000. The
Monteleone region has been devastat-
ed and Riposto, Seminara, San Clio
vanni, Scilla, LaZZaro and Cannitello
and all other communes and villages
bordering on the straits are in ruins.
The king and queen of Italy are
now on their way to Messina, having
sailed from Naples aboard the battle
ship Vittorio Emmanuel. The pope
has shown the greatest distress at
the calamity and he himself was the
first to contribute sum amounting to
100000 to the relief of the afflicted.
Strait Is Twisted.
The Strait of Messina was shaken
and twisted by the earth's trembling,
for mariners report the channel al
tered beyond recognition. The ports
and villages on both the continental
undated, and all lighthouses along the
coasts were swallowed up. Naviga-
ton now is dangerous and in some
places impossible.
In the Calabrian district, which was
only beginning to recover from the
effects of the earthquake of 1905, Reg
gio was the center of the earths up
heaval. The seaport of Reggie is re-
ported as no longer existing, and the
city proper is in ruins.
The loss of life on both sides Of
the strait and in eastern Sicily was
Reggie, who was the first to bring
the news of the city's destruction,
tried to make his way to Sicily in a
sailboat, but was compelled to return,
and finally found safety at peninsula
port. In describing his experience,
he said:
"The sea was strangely, mysterious.
ly agitated, and the heavens were
ablaze. Nearing Sicily, the clearing
smoke revealed the mystery; Mes
sina was In flames. In the frenzy of
despair, I turned my boat back to
Calabria."
Survivors Flee.
Starving, bleeding from injuries and
almost insane from their terrifying ex-
periences, Messina's survivors ale
fleeing in all directions. The spec
tacle presented by the ruined seaport
is described as terrifying. Tumblirg
buildings both killed and mutilatet,
while humid eds of the injured impris-
oned in the wreckage were abandoned
to their fate by the fleeing populace.
Already j.ritish and Russian squad.
rons have arrived at Messina. Sail
ors and marines have been disem-
barked, and they have performed
act in rescuing the injured
and removing the dead. A large mum.
Der Of the survivors have been taken |
aboard the ships, which have been
into floating hospitals. It |
is imperati' that the dead be re- |
moved from the ruins in order 10
avoid pestilence. Steamers wit" |
doctors, druggists, firemen and work
men have arrived at Messina from |
Catania and other places.
Special dispatches received here |
from Calabria confirm the destruction |
Of Reggie. They report that the sit
uation therc is as bad, IL not worse,
than at Messina. The streets in Rome |
are damned with people, who snatch
the special editions from the news
boys. The people are plunged in |
grief, and lamentations are heard on
all sides.
The hands OF all the nations have
been extended to Italy in her affiic-
ton. From rulers have come mes
sages of coincidence and from the
peoples spontaneous promise of that
aid which brings the world closer to-
yether in times OF great calamity.
Relief fund subscriptions have al.
ready been started, and ships and
rains are n their way carrying sup
,lies and achievements to the south.
A great national committee has been
ormed to collect funds for the ass;s.
ance Of the sufferers. The committee
p headed by the Duke OF Aosta and
Includes tn. presidents Of tho senate