The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-05-14
l83 DIE IN QUAKE
NEAR MT. ETNA
SiciIian Villages Destroyed BY
Seismic Disturbance.
$50 PERSONS ARE INJURED
Peasants Working In the Fields Saw
Their Houses Collapse, Burying
Wives and Children-Work
OF Rescuers.

Catania, Sicily.-A great earthquake
brought death and destruction to many
villages near Mount Etna. The num-
ber of dead so far is officially placed
at 1873, with about $50 injured, but as
yet large portion Of the devastated
territory has not been inspected.
The affected zone extends from
Zaffarana the highest village on Mt.
Etna, to the sea between Aci Reaie on
the south, and Giarre on the north. It
includes Llnera, the center of the dis
turbance, Pisano and Santa Venerina.
In Linera alone 10 persons were
killed and 300 injured. In the village
OF Bongiardo l3 dead and 27 injured
have been taken from the ruins. AT
Cosentini 16 were killed and many in
jured. These villages and many
smaller places were practically
leveled.
At Passopomo II persons were kill
ed; at Malabi, IL; at Santa Veneria
6; Canta Telca. 2; Santa Maria
Vergine, s; Garbati, 4.
Automobiles which made the trip
through the devastated region were
often forced to make long detour
owing to the deep issures across the
road. The enormous force of the
earthquake was evident everywhere
and the entire district presented n
spectacle of desolation, ruin and death
Peasants rushed to meet the auto.
mobiles, imploring aid. From the
debris agonizing cries could still be
heard. Others asked that their in.
juried relatives be transported TO
Catania, as all train service has been
abandoned owing to the collapse of
bridges, broken tracks and obstructed
tunnels
For centuries this region has suf-
fered from earthquakes, owing to the
activity of Mount Etna. Yet IL is
relatively thickly populated as the
land is most fertile, vineyards grow
ing with little attention. Near the
central point of the disturbance dozens
OF bodies were observed lying along
the road Many of them were un.
recognizable, as they were badly
crushed. Heart.rending lamentations
arose on all sides, and the injured lay
IN the open awaiting assistance which
has been sent to them.
Saw Their Houses Collapse.
Where Linera stood is a mass of
ruins. Those houses which did not
collapse entirely were so broken as to
emphasize the completeness of the dis
aster The village consisted of shout
500 inhabitants. A majority of the
people escaped because the shock oc-
Cured when the men and some of the
women were still working in the fields
From the vineyards they saw their
and when they arrived, breathless, at
their homes, they found only wreck.
age with some of their people buried
beneath II. This accounts for the fact
that most of the victims at Linera were
women and children. The men, wild
with terror and grief, attacked the
debris with their bare hands in an ef.
fort to save their wives or children
Generals Trabucchi and Moccagatta
are in command Of the work of rescue,
which is being expedtiously performed
by soldiers, firemen, policemen and
Red Cross volunteers. 1t is expected
however, that weeks will pass before
the full extent of the disaster can be
Ascertained, as 1t is believed many
peasants are buried under their homes
In the isolated country districts.