Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1914-05-09
PROPERTY Loss is IMMENSE
WILL EQUAL THAT CAUSED BY
THE GREAT QUAKE IN MES
siNA IN 1908
DEMOLISRES WHILE VILLAGES
TOWN OF cATANlA is BADLY Y
DAMAGED; VOLCANIC ERuP-
TON FROM AETNA

Catania, May 9.-An earthquake and
volcanic eruption, followed by fire.
| destroyed many villages ON the slopes
of Mount Aetna last night. The dis
patches report the death of at least
100 persons. The number of injured
will reach severs, hundreds. Refugees
declare the property loss as great as
in the Messina disaster of 1908. Rail-
road tracks were torn UP. churches
razed, houses shaken to ruins and
telegraph poles overturned over ra-
dius of several miles around Catenia.
Official reports late today placed
the number OF dead at 1876 aud the
injured at 2S3. These figures will
probably be increased by more com
Eplete advices from the wresked vii
lagos.
The great gravity of the disaster
was not realizsd unt1f THIS morning,
when reports dame in from the sur
rounding country, The villages of
ILinera and Gonzentini were trans
formed into heaps Of ruins.
AT Safferana. every house was de-
stroyed. EnoFasss4s damage was caus-
ed at Santa Venerina.
Roofs fell in and walls collapsed in
the hamlets of Santa Maria ANNA
lati, Carico, Guardia, Margano, Santa
iTecla and Bongiardo.
The village of Santa Maria Vergine
Catenena was razed to the ground.
Fifty persons are known to have been
killed in the village of Linera, which
was destroyed Among the ruins of
Passopomo, Bongiardo and Malati 20
bodies were found this morning.
| Demonstration people rushed from
the villages in Catania before day
break today, bearing stories of ruin
and disaster. Their reports caused
the authorities to take immediate
steps to start measures of relief. The
army, the navy and the civilian au-
thorities received orders from Rome
to render aid in the work of rescue.
The aid of the Red Cross was quickly
enlisted. Interruption of railroads
and telegraphs made it impossible to
obtain any accurate details as to the
loss Of life.
Prefect Minervini of Catenia and all
the officials under his superintend-
Iency were called together before day
break and received orders to do their
utmost to aid the afflicted inhabi-
tants. They have since been working
indefatigably.
The soldiers in the district are aid
| ing in the endeavor to rescue those
still in the ruins and to extricate the
dead from the debris.
All available nurses were mobilized
and are assisting in gathering the
homeless and the children who have
lost their parents. Temporary shelter
is being provided here ror the refu-
gees.
| Along the principal highways in the
stricken district. the scene of desolar
tion was heartrending. Groups Of ref
ugees were frequently encountered
Many of these were burdened with inn
provised litters made of branches of
tires and bushes on which they were
carrying injured and dying relatives
to the temporary surgical station es-
tablished by the surgeons and nurses.
In the neighborhood of Santa venoya
the number of injured was great
| The authorities have commandered
all available automobiles to assist in
the work of rescue.
The vicinity Of Catania, the scene
of last nights earthquake. probably
has suffered more than any other
section in the world from volcanic
erutions and earthquakes. Catania
itself is built on bed of lava at the
foot of the volcano of Aetna, and
most Of its streets are paved with
lava.