Morris tribune., 1909-01-02
HUNDRED
THOUSAND
n.ERISHED
Loss Of Life in ItaI-
ian Earthquake.
entire CITIES IN RUINS
Terrible Devastation Wrought
in Calabrian Region.
SURVIVORS ARE IN DISTRESS
Suffer From Lack of Both Food
g. and Clothing.


thousand dead; Messina, in Sicily,
and Reggie and score of
other towns in Southern Italy
overwhelmed: the entire Gala
brian region laid waste-this is the
earthquakes record so. far as is at
present brown from the reports that
are comirg slowly into Rome on ac-
count Of tie almost complete destruc-
zion of lines Of communication to the
stricken rln2es.
The death list in Messina ranges
from 1900 to $4,000; that of Reggie
which, with its adjacent villages,
numbered $4,000 people, includes al
most the entire population. At Palmi
1900 are reported dead; at Cassano
1000; at Casenza 500; and half of
che population of Bagnara, about A.
900. Tie Monteleone region has been
devastated and Riposto, Seminara
San Giovanni, Scilla, Lazzaro and
Cannitello and all other communes
and villages bordering on the straits
are in ruins
1t is feared that many foreigners
have been killed. as number of the
hotels at AIessina and doubtless at
other places were crowded with tour
lists. Little is known of the fate of
the diplomatic representatives of the
foreign powers stationed at these
posts, although the Italian govern
ment is using every effort to relieve
the anxiety felt on their account.
There is the grayest danger that a
peetilence will follow the destruction
OF the towns where on account of the
vast havoc wrought bodies will lie
unburied for days and weeks. Those
who escaped death, many of whom are
badly injured, are making their way
by the thousands to the nearest place
OF refuge. Their sufferings even now
must be intense, as they are without
food or clothing.
Latest reports received here state
that 1000 soldiers in the various bar
racks at Messina were buried under
the ruins. The rock of Charybdis
now blocks the entrance to the Strait
of Messina. The tidal wave wrecked
the lighthouses in the strait, including
Faro Beacon, and they crashed into
the sea,
Messina's Destruction Complete.
Messina, whose tragic history has
been marked by tidal waves and war
and which was the center of the ter
restial maelstrom, was shaken to
ruins. Flames burst forth to complete
the citys destruction and to burn
alive untold numbers helplessly pin
aoned beneath fallen walls and bro
ken timbers. The strait of Messina
was shaken and twisted by the earth's
trembling, for mariners report the
channel altered beyond recognition
The ports and villages on both the
continental and Sicilian sides were
wrecked or inundated, and all light
houses along the coasts were swal-
lowed up. Navigation now is danger
GUS and in some places impossible.
In the Calabrian district, which was
only beginning 10 recover from the
effects of the earthquake of 1905, Reg
gio was the center of the earth's up
heaval. The seaport of Reggie is
reported 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 enormous.
Starving, bleeding from injuries and
almost insane from their terrifying ex-
periences, Messina's survivors are
fleeing in all directions. The specta-
Gle presented by the ruined seaport is
described as terrifying Tumbling
Buildings both killed and mutilated,
while hundreds of the injured i'm
prisoned in the wreckage were aban-
doned to their fate by the fleeing
populace.
Already British and Russian squad
rons have arrived at Messina Sail
ors and marines have been disem-
barked and they have performed
courageous acts in rescuing the in
jured and removing the wounded. A
large number of survivors have been
transferred to the warships, which |
are transformed into great floating |
hospitals. 1t is imperative that the
dead be removed from the ruins in
order to avoid pestilence. Steamers
with doctors, druggists iremen and |
workmen have arrived at Messina !
from Catania and other places.