The citizen., 1914-05-15
1888 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, Buryins
Wives and Children-Work
Of Rescuers.

Catania, Sicily.-A great earthquake
brought death and destruction to many
villages near Mount Etna. The num-
Der of dead so far is officially placed
ut 183 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 MI.
Etna, to the sea between Aci Reale on
the south, and Giarre on the north. 1t
includes Linera, the center of the dis
turbance, Pisano and Santa Venerina.
In Linera alone 10 persons were
killed and 900 injured. In the village
of Bongiardo 13 dead and q 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, 8; Garbati,, 4.
Automobiles which made the trip
through the devastated region were
often forced to make long detour
owing to the deep assures across the
road The enormous force of the
earthquake was evident everywhere
and the entire district presented
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 it 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 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 about
300 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
housees falling like pack of cards,
and when they arrived, breathless, at
their homes, they found only wreck
age with some of their people buried
beneath 1t. 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 expeditiously 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 it is believed many
peasants are buried under their homes
in the isolated country districts.