Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1909-01-02
Earthquake
In South Italy

western extremity OF Italy, or the toe
of the boot were devasted Monday
by earthquakes, the far-reaching effects
of which were felt almost throughout
the entire country. The town of Mes
sina, in Sicily was partially destroy
ed, and Catania was inundated. In
Messina hundreds of houses have fallen
and many persons have been killed.
The havoc has been great and the
destruction to life and property more
terrible than Italy has experienced in
many years. The uncertainty of the
situation for many thousands has filled
Italy with deepest distress. for they
still have fear that the day may come
hen their part of the country, which
seems to have been most blessed by
nature, will be destroyed by the blind
forces of that same nature which near
ly 10 centuries ago overwhelmed Pom
peii and Herculaneum.
All reports show that the present Ca
tastrophe embraces larger area than
the earthquake in 1905. The tidal
wave which followed the earthquake
shocks on the eastern c)ast of Sicily
sank vessels and inundated the lower
part of Catania. 1t is known that a
number of persons were a that place,
but the rushing waters carried every
thing before them and caused such an
Undesirable confusion that it will be
impossible for some time to estimate
the damage and the lives lost.
Later Report.
Rome, Dec. 30-One hundred thous-
and dead; Messina in Sicily and Reggie
anu score of towns in southern Italy
overwhelmed; the entire Calabrian re-
lyon laid waste. That is the earth
quake s record so far as at present
known from reports that are coming
slowly into Rome on account of the al
most complete destruction of lines of
communication to the stricken places.
The death list in Messina is from
1900 to so, 900; that of Reggie, which,
with its adjacent villages, numbered
As, 900 people, includes almost the en-
tire population. AT Palmi 1000 are re
ported dead; at Cassano 1000; at Co.
senza 500, and half the population of
Bsgnara-about 1000. The Monteleone
region has been devasted and Riposa,
Seminara, San Giovanni, Scilla, Lag
FARO and Cannitello and all other COM
munities and villages on the straits are
in ruins.
The king and queen of Italy are now
at Messina. The pope has shown the
greatest distress at the calamity and be
himself was the first to contribute q
sum amounting to 5000. 900 to the re-
lief of the afflicted.
French and British and Russian wal
ships are steaming toward the south
and already several ships of Grea'
Britain and Russia have performed
heroic service in the work of rescue.
1t is feared that many foreigners hav,
been killed at Messina and doubtless al
other places, which were crowded with
tourists.
There is the greatest danger that 6
pestilence will follow the destruction
of the towns. On account of the vas
havoc wrought bodies will lie unburieC
for days and weeks. Those who escap
ed death, many of whom are badly in
jured, are making their way by tn
thousands to the nearest place of ref
uge. Messina, whose tragic histor,
has been marked by tidal waves ant
war and which was the center of Mon
days terrible maelstrom, was shaken t.
ruins. Flames burst out forth to com
plete the city's destruction and to bur
alive untold numbers helplessly piniOn
ed beneath fallen walls and broker
timbers. The strait of Messina wa
, twisted by the earthquakes trembling
for mariners report the channel altere
beyond recognition.
The ports and villages ON both tn
continental and Sicilian sides wer
wrecked and inundated and all light
houses along the coast were swallowe
up.
The seaport of Reggie is reported o
no longer existing, and the city propt
is III ruins. The loss of life on bot
q sides of the strait and in eastern Sicil
I was enormous.
+ From Boston, Maine, comes a repoi
that there are about 400 New England
ers in southern Italy.
That Arthur S. Cheney, America
consul at Messina. Sicily. and his wi
lost their lives in the earthquake disa
ter that devasted that city, there is l
doubt.
President Roosevelt, through I'll
state department, has sent King Vict'
Emmanuel of Italy dispatch expires
ing his horror and that of the Amer
u can people over the disaster which hi
. befallen southern Italy, and tenderir
3 sincere sympathy. The president al
Q notes that the American National RI
- Cross has issued an appeal for conti
,, buttons TO aid the sufferers and th
u the organization has notified him tn
. it i'll Immediately communicate wi
% the Italian Red Cross.
10 King Edward wired his sincere co
10 dolence to King Victor Emmanuel.
~ Heney to Pittsburg.
" Pittsburg, Pa, Dec. 2s.-There is
Of rumor that Francis J. Heney, who l