The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-05-14
MANY TOWNS DESTROYED.
Dead are Numbered at 173, While
$50 Are Injured in Upheaval.

earthquake last night brought death
and destruction to many villages near
Mount Etna The number Of dead up
to tonight was officially placed at
173, with about $50 injured. A large
part of the devastated territory has
not been inspected.
The affected zone extends from
Zaffarana, the highest village on
Mount Etna, to the sea between Acl
Reale on the south and Giarre on
the north. 1t includes Linera, the
center of the disturbance, Pisano and
Santa Vernina. In Linera alone, ITO
persons were killed and 800 injured.
In Bongiardo, 13 dead and p in
iured, have been taken from the
ruins. At Consintini, 6 were killed
and many injured. At Passo Palmo,
two persons were killed. at Malati,
twelve; at Santa Veneria, six: Santa
Tecia, two; Santa Maria Virginle.
eight; Arbiti, four.
These villages and many smaller
places were leveled-
The entire district to-day present
ed spectacle of desolation, ruin and
death. Many of the injured had not
been taken from the debris. All
train service had been abandoned
owing to the collapse of bridges,
broken track and obstructed tunnels.
For centuries this section has suf-
fered from earthquakes, owing to the
activity of Mount Etna. Yet it IS
thickly populated as the land is fer
tile, vineyards growing with little at
tention..
Bodies Lying in Road.
At the central point of the dis
turbance dozens of bodies were lying
along the roads, many so badly
crushed they were unrecognizable.
The injured lay in the open, awaiting
assistance.
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
disaster. The village consisted of
about 500 inhabitants. Most Of the
people escaped because the shock oc-
Cured when the men and some of the
women were working in the fields.
3 From the vineyards, they saw their
houses falling and when they arriv-
ed, breathless, at their homes, they
found only wreckage, with some of
their people buried beneath it.
This accounts for the fact that
most of the victims at Linera were
women and children.
Gen. Trabucchi and Moccagatte
are in command of the work of
rescue, which is being taken up
) vigorously by soldiers, fremen, po-
licemen and Red Cross volunteers.
1t is expected, however, that weeks
will pass before the full extent of the
disaster can be ascertained; as it is
believed many peasants are buried
underneath their homes in the isolat-
ed country districts.
Shock at Catania-
At yCatania, the strongest shock
lasted six seconds. Electric lights
were extinguished and the street rail-
ways were put out of service. Peo-
pie were washed from the houses,
shops and cafes. Many jumped into
8 boats and others crowded into the
squares. At the hospitals patients
ran to the court yards imploring help.
Many pitiful episodes occurred. At
Bonglardo, an old woman, the only
survivor of family of eighteen, re-
entered a half wrecked house to
search for her grand children. She
returned with a little girl alive and
rushed in again. Almost Immediate
! ly the house collapsed. burying her
under the wreckage.
At Consentini, young soldier who
should have left Thursday on his re-
turn to Libya, obtained leave of
absence for three days to witness the
marriage of his sister, which was to
have occurred Sunday. He is among
the victims.
Monsignor Vigo, Bishop of Aci
Reale, remained for twenty-four
hours in attendance on the injured
villagers.
Refugees declare that the loss is
as great as in the Messina disaster of
1908.
ALLEGED CROOK CAUGHT.
E. j. Harrison Arrested by Police at