Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-09
DISASTER Is AT NIGHT
Soldiers Aiding in Securing
Those Still Alive in Debris
Saddening Scenes.

,inas that number Military and
naval forces in the district were or
dered 10 give all possible assistance
concentration of soldiers was ordered
md commanders directed to take with
,ban tents. provisions and clothing.
Tas,rnction Of telegraph and railroads
rendered il most difficult for authori-
ties here TO obtain accurate details OF
the catastrophe
Catania. Sicily, May 9.-An earth
ouake and volcanic eruption followed
by FIRE destroyed many villages on the
slope of Mount Etna last night, caus-
ing death TO at least a hundred The
number OF injured will reach several
hundred. Refugees declare the prop
erty loss viii be as great as IN the
Messina disaster Of 1903.
ohicial reports placed the dead at
135 and the injured al 2S3. The tig-
ures probably will be increased by
complete adyices.
Railroad tracks were torn up,
churches RACED TO the ground, houses
shaken TO ruin, and telegraph poles ov-
erturned for a radius OF several miles
Of Catania Terror-stricken people
rushed from the village to Catania be-
fore daybreak. bringing stories Of the
disaster
For several days earthquake shocks
have been felt at frequent intervals,
accompanied by eruptions Of Mount
Etna- No particular attention, how
ever was paid to the occurrences, as
frh lh
these aSitations, and the shock was
not exceptionally violent. The first Sc
we're shock was at last evening. The
center Of the disturbance was the viii
lage Of Linera- The property damage
was very great in other villages.
Churches and public buildings were
destroyed and hundreds of houses fell
10 the ground Nevertheless IL is be
heTed by those in charge OF the work
Of rescue that the death list will not
be as heavy as first reported.
IN Heap Of Ruins
Catania. Sicily. May 9.-An earth
quake greatly resembling that at Mes
sina in 1908 late last night destroyed
about dozen villages in this vicinity.
No estimate OF the casualties has been
beea made. but Il is known the dam |
age is enormous
The villages of Linera and Consen- |
u1i were transformed into a heap Of
ruins. At Zafferena every house was
Destroyed. There was enormous dam
are at Santa Venerina, Ammalati. I
Garico, Guardia, Mangano, Santa |
Tecla and Bongiardo. The village of
santa Maria Virgine. Catania, was 4
rszed 10 the ground.
Fifty persons are known 10 have
been killed in the village of Linera,
Which was destroyed. Among the
ruins OF PassOpono and Malaff 20
oodies were found this morning.
Along the principal highways OF the
stricken district the scene of dosola-
tlon was heartrending this morning
Onoups OF refugees we're frequently en-
oountered. Many OF these we're bur
eened with improvised Iitters made OF
branches OF trees and bushes, on which
taey were carrying injured and dying
Iei2tives 10 temporary surgical sta
IONS established by surgeons and
nurses. In the neighborhoOd Of Santa
Fenerina the number of injured is
very great
Authorities commanded all autos TO
assist in the work OF rescue. Soldiers
are aiding IN the endeaVor TO rescue
nose still alive beneath the ruins ana
ne extricate the dead from the debris.
nurses are gathering homeless and
e--oren who have los. their parents.