Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-01-07
WOE is IMMENSE.
Earthquake Victims of Italy May Num-
ber Over 10000.

Der Over 100, 900.
Results of Earthquake.
Killed, 100, 900 to 200, 900.
|: Injured, 800, 900 to 100000
II Homeless, estimated at 1000, 900.
K Cities over 10, 900 population de-
stroyed, Is.
/; Smaller towns destroyed, estimat-
ed, so.
I Warships sunk, (torpedo boats) IL.
Ships sunk by tidal wave, 600.
Many American tourists among
: the dead
!. Formation of Straits of Messina
: changed.
|: Historic Scylla and Charybdis de-
stroyed. =:
Etna and Stromboli, volcanoes, in
eruption.
Second and third shocks felt in
Sicily.
/: Cable to Aeolian isles cut: disas-
ter feared.
Rome, Jan. 2.-The immensity of
the disaster in Southern Italy and ST.
cily can be measured only by the fact
that it is now estimated that no. 900
persons perished in Messina and Reg
gio alone. A score of other towns
have been devastated and thousands of
victims in these places must be added
to the roll. In the face Of these awful
totals all Italy stands appalled, Nor
has the full death list yet been report
ed.
Shiploads of fugetives have arrived
at Naples and other ports and the vast
majority of these are sorely injured.
Other thousands remain near the ruins
of their homes or wander half starved,
half naked over the land. The forces
that on Monday overwhelmed the cities
also destroyed the means of sustenance.
Telegraphic communication has been
established with Messina, the appara-
tus having been set up in railway
station. Messages that have come over
the line, though they have been meagre
in detail, show that hope is gone
Nothing remains of the city but mass
of ruins that have been swept by fire.
A mere handful of survivors is being
cared for by the rescuing forces, but
their distress is great and it has been
increased by the recent icy wind that
followed the deluge of rain. Destitu-
tion is appalling. There is little food
and less water.
OF Messina's 80, 900 population, it is
believed that fully 10000 perished.
Forty thousand people died in Reggie.
Catania, the largest city nearest the
scene of the disaster, is crowded with
refugees, and the continuous stream of
fugitives' coming in, the sight of the
wounded and the repetition of real or
earthquakes have so alarm
ed the population that they are becom-
ing uncomfortable. There is no longer
any place where the refugees may find
shelter.
The government is finding difficulty
in ascertaining the fate of many for
eigners who were in the earthquake
zone at the time of the catastrophe, in
luiries concerning whom are coming
from all parts of the globe. The COM
mander of the Russian battleship, Ad-
miral Makharoff, which arrived with
fugitives at Naples today, confirms the
report of the death of the American
consul at Messina, Arthur S. Cheney,
and his wife, who were buried in the
'uins of the consulate.
Late dispatches state that the city
If Palmi contains l 500 dead and twice
IS many injured. Two-thirds of the
own was laid waste. All the villages
adjacent are destroyed.
The king has telegraphed Premier
iioitti informing him that Reggie is
n the same awful condition as Messina
md announcing that Russian steamer
With 500 injured will arrive at Naples
omorrow. His Majesty asks that all
be made for their recep-
ion at the hospitals.
Dispatches from Catania describe
lessina as appearing like huge in
andescent furnace. The fire spread
o the buildings, that had not yet fallen,
the work of destruction.
he strait of Messiha is now choked
nth corpses of men and animal.
General Marazi, commandant at Ca
anzaro, has telegraphed to the gov i
that he has tried vainly for I
ays to reach Reggie by land and sea-
he roads are impossible and the shore
as been so torn and twisted, as far as
e travelled in Calabria, that it was i'm
ossible to approach by water.