Evening star., 1909-07-01
TEN EARTH SHOCKS
BLOT OUT MESS|NA
Population of City, Again Buf-
feted by Fate, Flee in
Terrified Panic.
DECEMBER DISTURBANCE
EXCEEDED IN SEVERITY
Casualties Probably Light Despite
Alarming Reports.
REGGIO IS ALSO AFFLICTED
Woman Killed by Falling Wall and
Child Severely Injured-Fugi-
tives Hide IN Rural
Districts.
Casualties Probably Light Despite
Alarming Reports.
REGGIO IS ALSO AFFLICTED

NJ ESSINA,- SICILY, July six months
after the devastating earthquake of De-
cember 2s. which laid waste over a score
Of cities and towns in Calabria and Sicily
and killed 100000 people, Messina and
Reggie were this morning again visited
by an earth shock which, had they been
rebuilt. would have laid them a second
time IN ruins.
II would seem that nature is determined
to blot out Messina, but recently one of
the fairest cities in the world.
While minor shocks have been of fire.
quent occurrence in Sicily in the last six
months, last night they became more seri-
Gus and caused considerable alarm. The
most severe quakes came at 7:2J and rs
this morning, and were similar to the
fatal disturbances of December, being ac-
ccmpanied by the same roaring noises
that added to the terror of that fateful
night. g..
Population in Mad Panic.
The population again fed in fear, and
cries Of terror rent the air. The people
hurried TO the open places Of the city
and the surrounding country. praying to
the saints that their lives might be
spared.
II is as yet impossible accurately to de-
termine the number of casualties. Some
of the reports are alarming, but they can
not be verified.
So far as Is positively known only
f,x p b,,rf npo NOR q n, w =
killed by a falling wall and a child was
seriously injured.
Gradually, as the confidence of the peo-
pie returned, Messina had acquired a
population of something over $4,000. But
today the people again are in terror and
do not feel themselves safe, even in the
temporary huts erected for their shelter,
and have fed to the country, preferring
the shelter Of trees and caves to the dan
ger from falling walls.
They lack food and covering, and are
camping .out in pitiful and desolate
groups.
Sailors, soldiers and policemen have
been sent out through the district to pre-
vent looting and give courage to the peo-
pie.
Ten Shocks Recorded.
Between O'Clock last night and .
O'Clock this morning eight shocks were
recorded. Instruments at the observatory
have registered a total of ten shocks of
varying severity since 7:2O o'clock.
News received from the provinces in
dicates that damage has been wrought
there. 1t is as yet impossible correctly
TO estimate the extent of the disaster.
Walls Of houses not completely demol-
srl,z lett tny of toC
were shaken down.
The earth shocks have been becoming
more intense recently and last night they
we're sufficiently severe to cause alarm.
The shocks OF this morning were undu-
Iating and vertical, and accompanied by
deep roaring sounds. The first one was
followed by explosion like the roar
of cannon and lasted between eight and
ten seconds.
1t is said that this quake was Of
greater severity than the fatal one of the
night of December ~. The wooden houses
and huts erected for the accommodation
one side TO another. Cries filled the air
as the people fed in terror.
Circular Movement of Ground.
As on the night of December 2s. the first
shock was followed by a circular move
ment of the ground. Five minutes later
there came another quake, accompanied
by further roaring sounds.
This completed the destruction. The re-
mains OF wrecked houses collapsed. The
entire district was covered with dense
cloud of dust.
Detachments of police and caribineers
were dispatched for the protection of the
wooden huts built with American money.
but which had not yet been distributed.
The population. feeing in the districts
where walls threatened to fall upon them,
rushed toward the American huts with
rhe intention of taking forcible possession
of them.