The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1913-12-20
M

these classic straits on the
morrow of the most topa-l
ing catastrophe In ,h,rzan
history, writes Austin West. CORE
spondent of the London Chronicle. In
less than half minute at that dull
December dawn, what the v.orld of
today talks of as "the Mcssiea earth
quake" had shattered inte dust no
| fewer than twenty-four towns along
| the Siculo-C alabrian seaboard. The
devastation caused by shocks. by tidal
wave and devouring flames extended
over an area Of 100 square miles.
With just one swipe of his scythe
Death had moved down nigh upon a
quarter of a million members OF hui
mainly.
Here. banked by mountains and ly-
Ing snug between the fiery breasts Of
Etna and Vesuvins. slumbers the new
twentieth century Pompeii.
On approaching its magnificent
sickle shaped harbor-suggestive Of
Messina's ancient name of Zankle-
one sees that the long, stately sweep
which formerly seemed to be playing
hideous joke in belying the utter
destruction hidden behind, has lately
been In part demolished, exposing WV
idly to view that vast metropolis
where almost every crumbled edifice
Is at once an altar and tomb. The
harbor works, which ought to have
been among the very first concerns
In reconstruction. are instead the
most neglected The government
gave OUT 100000 of repair work
nearly a year ago, but the contrac-
tors have not yet started on the job.
I found the port much as I had
left 1t. Yet, so lucky is Messlna by
virtue of its natural position that, de-
spite all drawbacks. the worlds ships
prefer dropping anchor here In in
creasing numbers, and its port trade
is greater than before the disaster.
Neptune Alone Remains. ct
Wavelets ripple over the sunken
wharves, the quayside and adjacent
streets remain rent asunder in mighty
gaps; the Parade all uphoven,
smashed, and incumbered with rub
bish as when the tidal wave, $50 feet
In height, retired after its vent of
herculean casitgation. One object
rivets attention. The giant form of
Neptune. trident In hand, surveys the
scene serenely from the summit of
his superb fountain. The sea has re-
spected its god. Pious folk pointed
me to the survival OF this and like
pagan memories, in contrast with the
humiliation Of their own sacred
shrines. as proof positive that the
quake was the handiwork of demons. ,
Among the most artistic fanes of
Old Messina was the fourteenth cen.
fury church Of San Niccolo. Several
months before the calamity a commits
sion OF civil engineers reported the
building to the authorities as being
In an exceedingly dangerous condi-
ton, and an order was issued for its
immediate closure to public Worship.
San Niccolo Is the one solitary church
which the great earthquake spared!
! The grand old Norman cathedral
which bravely withstood the upheav.
ais of 500 years presents an unfor-
gettable appearance. Cleared Of its
mountain OF debris, the interior-3o5
feet long and 145 feet across--looks
as though It had fallen prey to the
iconoclasm Of barbarian horde.
sculptured fragments Of its glorious
baptistery. pulpit and royal tombs are
piled In the nave. twenty-five gigan-
tic pillars OF granite that upheld the
clerestory. lie smashed and tumbIed
about the pavement in Impressive
chaos
What wonderful history has been
theirs! Centuries before Christ trod
the earth these c1iRmns feared their
heads aloft In the famous Temple d