The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-01-11
LAND AND SEA DISASTERS

Messina earthquake of seven years
ago, occurred January 13. A large dis
trict in central Italy, east of Rome,
was laid waste and nearly 10000 lives
were lost. At Avezzano, SO per cent
of the population was destroyed and
the property loss was more than $780,
00O0 600
February 10, earthquake, hurricane
and an accompanying tidal wave Wis
tied the American Samoan group and
caused great destruction On the Manua
islands. In the latter part of June,
severe earth shocks were felt through
the Imperial valley, in southern Cali
fornia. July Z a violent storm swept
over Missouri, Illinois, Ohio and In
diana and left wide destruction in it's
wake. July IA, southern China floods
destroyed $4,000 persons. Some parts
of Canton were ten feet under water.
August 3, a cloudburst at Erie, Pa,
flooded large area of the city,
drowned 25 persons and caused great
damage to property. August II, an
earthquake shock was felt in Italy,
and VesuviuS, Etna and Stromboli be-
came active. August Is, tropical
storm which developed into a hurri-
cane struck the Texas coast and ragged
violently for two days. Nearly 200
persons were the victims of it's fury
and the property loss was computed
in millions. September 20, a hurri-
cane dashed over the lower MISSISSIPPI
pi valley and gulf coast, destroying
800 persons and a great amount of
property.
January Fl, boiler explosion on
the armored cruiser San Diego off
the west coast of Mexico resulted in
the death of six American sailors.
March 2, there was an explosion of
gas in mine at Leyland, w. Va, and
over 100 men were killed outright
March 25 was the date of the shock
ing submarine accident which resulted
in the sinking of the United States
boat F-4 during maneuvers in Homo
lulu harbor. Her entire crew of Il
was drowned April 8, Dutch
steamer, the Prins Mauritz, foundered
off the Virginia coast and SO persons
lost their lives
On the last day Of April, big fire
at Colon, Panama, destroyed % blocks,
killed II persons and entailed a prop
erty loss of s3,50o,00O May %, Eng
land experienced the most consider
able wreck in the history of it's rail
way system. More than $50 persons,
mostly soldiers going into quarters
were killed near Carlisle.
Steamer EastIand Horror.
The most conspicuous horror of the
year for Americans was the overturn-
ing of the excursion steamer Eastland
at her pier in the Chicago river, July
"a In broad daylight, few feet from
the shore, 852 persons, largely women
and children out for holiday, were
drowned.
A tornado of huge proportions
swept over parts of Nebraska, South
Dakota, Iowa and Kansas, November
10, destroying much property and
causing the death of a dozen persons.
October %, parochial school at Pea
body, Mass, which was unprovided
with fire escapes, was burned and II
girls lost their lives. A factory fire
in Brooklyn, N Y, November 6, re-
suited in the death of IL persons. On
November 10 the gun plant of the
Bethlehem Steel company burned with
loss of 100000, and next day
there was a million-dollar fire in the
war material plant Of the Roebling
Sons company at Trenton, N. ].
Flames destroyed much of Avalon,
Catalina island on November 20. The
same day an explosion in the Dupont
Powder company plant at Wilmington,
Del, killed 81. On December the
Dupont powder town OF Hopewell,
Va, was burned down
Copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure Newspa,
per SynCicate)