The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-01-08
LAND AND SEA DISASTERS

A seismic horror which recalled the
Messina earthquake Of seven years
ago, occurred January Is. A large dis
trict in central Italy, east OF Rome,
was laid waste and nearly 10000 lives
were lost At AYezzano, s6 per cent
Of the population was destroyed End
the property loss was more than $780,
600, 900.
February 10. earthquake, hurrfczas
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 II, southern China floods
destroyed $4,000 persons Some parts
d Canton were ten feet under water.
August 3, a cloudburst at Erie, Pa,
flooded a large area Of the city,
drowned 25 persons and caused great
damage to property August II, an
earthquake shock was felt in Italy,
and VesuEius, Etna and Stromboli be-
came active August 16, a tropical
storm which developed into a hurrf-
cane struck the Texas coast and ragged
violently for two days Nearly 200
persons were the victims Of its fury
and the property loss was computed
in millions. September %, a hurri-
cane dashed over the lower Mississip-
pi valley and gulf coast, destroying
300 persons and a great amount Of
property.
January 81, a boiler explosion on
the armored cruiser San Diego on
the west coast Of Mexico resulted in
the death Of six American sailors.
March 2, there was an explosion Of
gas in a mine at Leyland, w Va, and
over 100 men were killed outright
March % 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 Earbor. Her entire crew Of 81
was drowned April 3. a Dutch
steamer, the Prins Mauritz, foundered
OF the Virginia coast and SO persons
lost their lives.
On the last day OF April, q big fire
at Colon, Panama, destroyed % blocks,
killed IL persons and entailed a prop
erty loss OF $3,5OO,OOO. May p, Eng
land experienced the most consider
able wreck in the history Of its rail-
way system. More than $50 persons,
mostly soldiers going into quarters,
we're killed near Carlisle.
Steamer EastIand Horror.
The most conspicuous horror Of the
year for Americans was the oyerturn-
ing Of the excursion steamer Eastland
at her pier in the Chicago river, July
"a. In broad daylight, few feet from
the shore, $50 persons, largely women
and children out for a 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 %, q parochiaI school at Pea
body, Mass, which was unProvided
with IRE escapes. was burned and 81
girls lost their lives. A factory fire
in Brooklyn, n. 2. November 6, re-
suited in the death Of u persons On
November 10 the gun plant OF the
Bethlehem Steel company burned with
a loss Of 100000. and next day
there was q miIlion-dollar FIRE IN the
war material plant Of the Roebling
Sons company at Trenton, n. ]. |
Flames destroyed much OF Avalon, |
Catalina island on November %. 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 Syndicate)