Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-12-03

IN CESSNA. Nov. 2l.-"ln less than
50 seconds this grand old Sell
" ian city was completely wiped.
out. Nearly two years have
elapsed since that tateful December
morning. yet you will find that we are
barely on the threshold of its rehabili-
tation."
Thus spoke MIR. Bayliss Hcynes, the
British vice consul at Messina, as we
crossed the famous straits which d.
vide Sicily from the mainland In Ca
labr!a. How different was the scene
which met my gaze as we neared the
landing stage from that which / had
behcld only two short years before.
Then the port and town were instinct
with life and movement. a great city
reared its proud head over the waters
OF the Mediterranean, pulsating with all
the Importance OF u big beehive of in
dustry. The beauty of the town, it,,
stately cathedral, its historic palaces,
and handsome public buildings had I'M
pressed me as few other cities in south.
crn Italy had done. in 80 seconds
all was in ruins The most disastrous
uphcavnl of modern times had convert
ed Il capital of 10000 inhabitants into
COLOSSAL sarcophagus of heaped up
remains. memento of nearly 5000
years of existence.
But signs of vitality are not wanting
IN the new Messina. the style and ap-
pearahce or which may best be likened
10 a primitive American mining camp
with its wooden huts and long one
stored hotel-stoop and rocking chairs
all complete. The contrast IL pitirul
III the extreme, but much has been done
by the generosity of the world at large
the present comfortable little home
stoads being in large part due to the
splendid gift OF the American people in
aid OF the homeless refugees at the
time of the disaster.
EMPTY SHELLS OF PALACES.
Approaching Messina from tho Villa
san Giovanni side OF the straits ones
first impression Is that the whole story
OF the terrible disaster is a fniry-talc
Seen across the glittcring waters beau
tlful Mcssina appears to be still on the
ilushtide of prosperity. Her snow-white
palaces and stately municipal buildings
seem to bcckon tho visitor hospitabie
welcome us he draws nearer to the
shore. But appearances in this sun
blessed cline are deceptive. Tho new
arrival soon pcrcelves that the long line
of shining facadcS are but the empty
shells OF Il mighty city's former splcn-
dor. y drive through tho main streets
of the city showed me the wholesale
devastation which had taken place.
Here. great stacks of shattered building
material almost blocked the way; there,
huge pipes ana girdors twisted into, n
thousand fantastic shapes; cylinders
and parts OF floors and structures were
scattered in all directions The huge
classic fancs in southern Europe, now
lies tumbling mass OF ruins, all bar
ricaded around to keep ut bay the curl
Gus and, still more. tho miSchievous.
In some Of the side streets central PAS
sagcs are cleared SO that ncoplc can
pass up and down. but many others
sim are closed.
Passing along the Marina one Gomez
upon remnants OF tho National thcatcr.
the City Hall and some sf the most
splendid palaces OF the rich merchants
of Mcssina. The same terrible havoc
has been wrought here. Tho only rem
nant left of the once historic play
hnusc Is the front wall surmountcd by
Thcspis. nnnkcd on either Side by tn,
twin goddcsScs OF the arts ana drama
a moment later we are In the midst
Cf the ruins OF the once imposing City
hall In the great court yard lie In
heaps tho remains OF exquisite statu-
airy, solid masonry and the broken PHI,
lars which once supported the ancient
building.
ONE LONE BUILDING