Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-10
Total Of 1873 Persons Killed
Near Mount Etna by
Earthquake.
EXTENT OF THE DISASTER
is NOT YET AsCERTAINE
Wide Area of Sicily Devastated.
Homes of Peasants Destroyed
Towns in Ruins.

CATANIA. Sicily. MAY "a great
earthquake last night brought death and
destruction TO many villages near Mount
Etna. The number of dead up to this
evening is officially placed AT lS3. with
about $50 injured. but "A large portion Of
the devastated territory has not been in
spected.
The affected zone extends from Zaffara-
na. the highest village On Mount Etna To
the sea between Aci Reale. on the south.
and Clare. on the north. 1t includes Ii
nera. the center of the disturbance Pisa
no and Canta Nenerina.
Late reports from the stricken dis
trict add to the death list At Passo-
pomo twelve persons were killed; at
Malati. twelve; at Santa Nenerir. six;
Santa Teela. two: Santa Maria Nergine.
eight: Garbati. four.
In I.inera alone 10 persons were klle,,
and 800 injured In the village of Bon
glardo thirteen dead and twenty seven in
jured have been taken from the ruins.
Al Cosentini sixteen We're killed and many
injured. These villages and many smaller
places We're practically leveled.
Effect of Disturbance in Catan1a.
AT Catania the strongest shock lasted
six seconds Electric lights We're eXtin-
guished and the street railways We're put
out of service. The people rushed from
the houses. shops and cafes. Many of
| them jumped into boats and others
| crowded into the squares. At the hospi-
| tails patients ran to the courtyards i'm
! ploring help
| Many pitiful episodes occurred. At
Bongiardo an old woman. the only sur
| vivor of a family of eighteen, re-entered
1 a half-Wrecked house to search for her
grandchildren.
She returned with q little girl alive and
| persisted in tempting Providence by again
rushing in. Almost Immediately the
| house collapsed, burying her under the
| wreckage.
| At Consentini young soldier, who
| should have left Thursday on his return
| 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.
| Mgr Eigo. bishop of Aci Reale. re
| manned for twenty-four hours i'll attend
ance on the injured villagers.
| Automobiles which made the trip today
| through the devastated region were often
| forced to make long detour. owing TO
| the deep fissures across the road. The
| enormous force of the earthquake was
| evident everywhere. and the entire dis
| trict presented spectacle of desolation,
| ruin and death
| Peasants Beg for Aid.
| Peasants rushed to meet the automo-
biles. imploring aid. From the debris
agonizng cries could still be heard. 9th
ers asked that their injured relatives be
transported to Catania, as all train serv-
ice has been abandoned, owing TO the col
lapse of bridges, broken tracks and OBJ
i structed tunnels.
For centuries this region has suffered
/ from earthquakes, owing to the activity
| of Mount E,tna. Yet it is relatively thick
| ly populated. as the land is most fertile
! vineyard growing with little attention.
Near the central point Of the disturbance
! dozens Of bodies were observed lying