New-York tribune., 1910-06-08
SHOCKS BRING DEATH
AND HAVOC TO ITALY
Panic and Suffering the Fate of
the Southern Province
of AveIIino.
RULERS HURRY TO SCENE
Frenzied Mob, Attributing Re.
newed Disaster to American
Clergymen, Seeks to
Hang Them.

quake, characterized by one severe shocLr
and several minor shocks. which oc-
CURED soon after 3 o'clock this morn
ing. wrought great havoc through the
province of Avellino, in the Compart-
ment of Campania The entire region
for radius of fifty miles was thrown
into a panic
While the city Of Avellino practically
escaped damage, the town of CaIitri.
some thirty-five miles distant. suffered
severely. Reports received here indicate
that half the buildings in Calitri have
been wrecked. The number of killed in
five to fifty, while scores have been badly
injured.
From many other towns and villages
come stories of fallen homes. death and
suffering. At San Sele. in the province
of Potenza, six persons were killed and
five injured. The convicts in the prison
at Benevento became panicstricken and
tried to force their way past the guards.
but they were overpowered by the
troops.
King and Queen Rush Thither.
King Victor Emmanuel and Queen
Helena arrived here at 10 o'clock this
evening. but remained on the train,
where they spent the night. They will
proceed tomorrow morning to Calitri
and other stricken towns, and later will
be joined by the Duke of Aosta, who is
now on his way here.
Tonight the people Avellino, although
somewhat treasured by the fact that the
shocks did not recur through the day,
are remaining in the open. Crowds are
gathered in the squares and the fields
around the town, where fires have been
lighted. about which are gathered pitiful
groups. who fear to return to their
homes.
Ten persons are said to have met
death at San Sossio. where the sulphur
waters with which the district is rich.
were released from bounds by the dis
turbance and flooded the vicinity. From
the food noxious gases arose
At Chianche a house fell burying and
killing an aged man. One person was
killed. and several were injured at Cas-
teIbaronia Calabritto was badly dam
aged.
Squads of workmen, together with de-
tachments of soldiers. were dispatched
from this place to assist the suffering
From Sleep to Panic. ~
II was in the darkest hour of the
morning when the shock was felt here.
The sleeping town was aroused by shak
ing walls. the rafting of furniture and
the falling of plaster from the ceilings.
III moment panic had seized the twenty
thousand inha bitants, who live in daily
fear Of a seismic disaster.
Half naked men, women and chilc-en
fed from their homes screaming with
terror. They had in their minds visions
of Messina and the horror OF Reggie.
Recently there was gossiped about in
this region a prediction that the ap
proach Of Halley's comet portended the
end Of the world
The authorities kept their heads, but
they could not stay the mad rush for
the squares and open districts outside
the city. The widest confusion pre-
vailed. and the frightened ones could
not be reasoned with nor stopped. In
the squares hundreds threw themselves
upon their faces and implored the mercy
of the Almighty Then the religious
fervor found expression in half organ
lied professions TO the shrine of st.
Andrew, the protector of the town.
Others climbed TO the sanctuary on
Monte Vergine.
Excitement Kills Old Man.
After several hours of frantic entreaty
the authorities succeeded in re-estab-
fishing a semblance Of calm, and relief
squads we're organized. II was then
found that no one had been killed.
though one aged man had died on ac-
count of excitement. Many houses were
damaged. as were the belfries of the
churches.
Throughout the day the police were
busy bringing together the scattered
members of families and reassuring the
frightened ones Word that the King
snd Queen were on the way here served
10 afford new courage to the people and
had a good eIeCt IN Restoring oIuei-
Nsples, June 7-An earthquake of un-
,,s,lal intensity was experienced through
ont Southern Italy, including the island
of Sicily, at 3:07 o'clock this morning.
The extent OF the damage wrought had
not been determined this afternoon, but
&, is believed that some thirty seven per-
cons we're killed and that property losses
IN certain districts will be heavy,
THE disturbance disrupted telegraph
communication generally in the prov
incse most affected and further details
IN awaited with apprehension.
renort received from Avellno de-
.c,ibed the narrow escape from death at
-. hands Of supersttious mob of a
of American clergymen who hap
oA m lie i'm the province when the
f.,,,uake occurred. Some of the
.ontcstricken populace believed that the
It, ves due TO the presence of the
..,,e,, and attacked the latter with
,,,n avowed purpose of hanging them.
,-.,nateIy. the police learned of the
a,,It and rescued the Minister'S after
.,orting them 10 a safe distance
erom the village
Il % ebock was felt for ten seconds in
o,,ince of Avellino. Ii was also
-. s,rongly for s.-orter period at
'-eaaorza Paola. Catanzaro, Reggie Po-
I7eneyento, Capua and Melh. but