The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1909-01-07
EARTHQUAKE
IN ITALY
About 300. 900 Dead in Sicily and
Many Wounded.
GREATEST DISASTER
ON RECORD

Wreck of Several Italian Cities
Food, Tents and Clothing Are Be
ing Rushed to the Suffering Sicil-
ians--This Country Sends Several
Warships and Funds for Relief OF
the Suffering-The Suffering from
Cold and Hunger is Intense.
Rome, Dec. 28.-All Sicily and the
southern extremity of Italy have
been devastated by an earthquake SO
destructive that the latest meager re-
ports indicate that it will prove to be
the greatest disaster of modern times
The ruin is SO complete and broad
cast that it will be many hours be-
fore its scope is fully known.
A late dispatch states that among
the dead at Messina are many SOL
diers, who were killed by collapsing
of the barracks.
The shocks began at o'clock in
the morning and lasted in the outer
radius of the disturbance thirty-two
seconds. The range of the disaster
from the point of view of serious
damage, is about 200 miles in diane
ter. The western end of the island
escaped with slight shocks. The dis
turbance extended through the toe
of Italy for about $50 miles toward
Naples.
Following the earthquake came a
tidal wave, thirty feet high, which
badly damaged the shipping at most
of the Sicilian ports. All communi-
cation has been destroyed through
out Eastern Sicily, where the dam
age is the greatest, and the only def
mite information received by the gov
ernment from Messina, by wireless
from Warship in the harbor, is that
that city is almost destroyed.
Mount Aetna seems to have been
the center of disturbance, and that
portion of the island within a radius
of forty miles seems to have been
completely laid in waste.
Rome, Dec. 30.-Another violent
earthquake shock occurred at Mes
sina this afternoon.
This second shock completed the
work of ruin.
The few buildings which were left
in the quake of Monday collapsed,
and it is feared that many more per-
sons were killed.
1t is believed that the ruin of Mes
sina is now complete and absolutely
irrevOcable. Practically all the sur
vivors who were awaiting conveyance
by warship from the scene were kill
ed. Many persons who were engaged
in the work of rescue were also
killed.
The latest reports from Sicily in
crease the number of deaths. One
places them at 10000 in Messina
and its suburbs alone. Pending the
| arrival of stores now on the way to
Sicily the wrecked survivors are suf-
fering the extremity of hungry. Re-
ports from Catania describe them as
vainly raking among the ruins for
scraps of bread Or anything else that
can be eaten. They are mostly half
naked and many bear shocking un-
dressed wounds.
Numbers of others wander pitiful-
ly about, appealing to passersby who
are little more fortunate than
themselves to help them. The wealth
er is raw and rainy. A piercing wind
| adds to the misery. There have been
many instances of robbing the dead
| The fingers of corpses and even ci
wounded persons have been cut of
in order to get the rings they wore
The Straits of Messina are blocked
with floating wreckage, mingled with
| which are the corpses of men and an
imals. On account of this wreckage
and the changes in the coast line
| navigation is most difficult.
All Communication Cut Off.
All land communication with the
town is cut off now, and with the
increased difficulty of communication
by sea the stricken city is a helpless
| prey of fire and famine.
| Subscriptions for relief are coming
in rapidly from all parts of Italy. Sew.
eral million lire have already beer
collected. A contribution from Ire
land was received to-day.
Rome, Dec. 31-A correspondent
who has just returned to this city
from Catania, and who made the
journey from Messina after the disas
ter, estimates that the number ol
dead in all of the devastated area a
no less than 100000.
The government is inclined to be
lieve that this figure is largely ex
laggerated, but officials in charge o.
the rescue work admit that the deatl
list will go considerably abov,
100000.
Signor Bertolini, minister of pub
lie works, telegraphs the govern
ment that the dead are buried unde
such a mass of material that grea
efforts are needed to remove them
Large numbers of troops are wantes
Immediately to aid in clearing th'
wreckage.
i A fatal epidemic is threatened. N,
water is available.
l. Food, tents, clothes, ladders
means of illumination. doctors, an
medicines are urgently needed. !