The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-01-07
100000 ARE DEAD
italian Cities Ruined; Sea
tnguIfS Survivors
EARTHQUAKE HORROR GROWS
Nessina, Reggie and Scores Of other
Towns Wiped out-Tidal Waves
and Flames Add to catacIysm-
Relief Work In Progress.

Rome. Dec. 30.-Stunned at the mag.
nitude OF the calamity which has over
taken its fellow countrymen, all Italy
nourns for the stricken province Of
0alabria and the island of Sicily. Ac-
eustomed for centuries to earthquakes,
italy stands ever in dread, but none
vas prepared for the disaster which in
he fraction of a minute Monday dew
lstated cities and towns and caused
The death of thousands. Late esti-
mates put the number of dead at 2O0,-
900.
Messina, whor tragic history has
been marked by tidal waves and war,
and which was the center of Mondays
terrestrial maelstrom was shaken to
'uins. Flames burst forth to complete
he city's destruction and TO burn alive
untold numbers helplessly pinioned be-
cath fallen walls and broken timbers.
rhe Strait of Messina was shaken and
twisted by the earth's trembling, for
mariners report the channel altered
beyond recognition. The ports and vii
ages on both the continental and Sicil-
an sides were wrecked or inundated
and all lighthouses along the coasts
we're swallowed up. Navigation now is
'angerous and in some places impos
3ible.
Seaport Of Reggie Wiped Out.
In the Calabrian district, which was
only beginning to recover from the ef
'ects of the earthquake of 1905, Reggie
vas the center of the earth's upheaval
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.
One of the refugees from 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 a peninsula port. In describ-
ing his experience he said:
The sea was strangely, mysteriously
agitated, and the heavens we're ablaze.
Nearing Sicily, the clearing smoke re-
vealed the mystery: Messina was In
flames. In the frenzy of despair,
turned my boat back to Calabria."
Terrible Scenes at Messlna.
Starving, bleeding from injuries and
almost insane from their terrifying ex-
periences. Messinas survivors are fee
ing In all directions. The spectacle
presented by the ruined seaport is de-
scribed as terrifying. Tumbling build
ings both killed and mutilated, while
hundreds of the injured imprisoned in
the wreckage were abandoned to their
fate by the fleeing populace One OF
those who escaped said:
THE earth seemed suddenly to drop
and then turn violently on its axis.
The whole population, who practically
were precipitated from the houses, rent
In twain, were spun around like tops
as they ran through the streets. Many
fell crushed TO death and others. bewii.
dored. took refuge for breath beside
the tottering walls, where they soon
met the fate of their companions"
Relief Work Progressing.
Rome, Jan. Although graphic
stories are coming into Rome Of the
horrors In southern Italy and Sicily.
these are but repetitions of individual
tragedies already recorded, What
chiefly concerns the government and
the people is the progress that is be
ing made towards the relief OF those
who have suffered by the dreadful visi-
tation
Considerable advance in this respect
has been made az Messina where, &C
cording to Official reports received
here, the supply service Is beginning
to work satisfactorily. The different re
gions on the coast have been allotted
to various warships and other ships as
centers from which torpedo boats and
launches convey and distribute Gations
and water to the different villages.
The minister of justice has wired
from Messina TO Premier Giolitti that
large bodies of troops have arrived
and are now occupying all parts Of the
town. The appalling extent of the
disaster renders anything like a sys