Morning Oregonian., December 30, 1908, Page 6, Image 6

THE MOKMMi OKEGOXIAX,
DECEMBER
so, iyos.
' QUAKE WREAKS TERRIBLE DESTRUCTION IN SOUTHERN ITALY AND SICILY
THOUSANDS KILLED ,,, ,,, " , AMERICA SHOWS
IH GREAT DISASTER kfeS k- . ' QUICK SYMPATHY
Vessina and Reggio Are Over
whelmedNumber of Vic
tims 100,000.
KING AND QUEEN TO RELIEF
HaM"n to Sonthrrn Italy on War
ship Pope I.rafl Subscriptions
With $200.000rVreiin War
ships Hasten to Rescue.
ront!n'jrd from First Pajr.)
report the channel altered beyond recog
nition. Thi ports nnd villas on both the con
tinental and Sicilian sides were WTeckcd
and Inundated and all lighthouses along
the coast were swallowed" up. Navina
tion now Is - dangerous and in some
places Impossible.
Keggio No Longer Exists.
Tn the Calabrian district, which was
only beginning- to recover from the ef
fects of the earthquake of 1905. Reggio
was the center of the earth's upheaval.
the seaport of Reggio is reported as no
longer existing and the city proper is In
ruins.
The loss of life on both sides of the
strait and in eastern Sicily was enor
mous. One of the refugees from Rlgglo,
who was the first to bring the news of
the city's destruction, tried to make his
way to Sicily in a sailboat, but was com
pelled to return and finally found safety
at a peninsula port. In describing his
experiences he said.:
Heavens Were Ablaze.
"The sea was strangely, mysteriously
agitated and the heavens were ablaze.
Nearing Sicily, the clearing smoke re
vealed the mystery;. Messina was in
flames. In the frenzy of despair, I turned
my boat back to Calabria."
Starving, bleeding from Injuries and
almost insane from their terrifying ex
periences. Masslna's survivors are flee
ing in all directions. The spectacle
presented by the ruined seaport is de
scribed as terrifying. Tumbling build
ings both killed and mutilated victims
while hundreds of Injured, Imprisoned
In wreckage, were abandoned to their
faet by the fleeign populace. One of
those who escaped said:
People pln Like Tops.
"The earth seemed suddenly to drop
and then turn violently on Its axis. The
whole population, who practically were
precipitated from the houses when
they were rent in twain, were spun
around like tops as they ran through
the streets. Many fell crushed to
death, and others, bewildered, took ref
uge for breath beside the tottering
nails, where they soon met the fate
of their companions."
Special dispatches received here from
Calabria confirm the destruction of Reg
gio. They report that the situation there
Is worse than at Messina. The streets
or Rome are jammed with people, who,
as soon as they heard the news, flocked
in the streets.
All Nations Rush to Help.
The hands of all the nations have been
extended to Italy in her affliction. From
rulers have come messages of condolence
and from the people spontaneous prom
ises of that aid which brings the world
closer together In time of great calamity.
Great Britain. France and Russia have
sent their warships as quickly as the
flash of the telegraph could carry the
orders to lend assistance to the stricken
cities. Relief funds have already been
started, and a hundred ships and trains
are on their way carrying supplies and
reinforcements to the South. Rome,
Milan. Florence. Naples and other cities
ar sending physicians, police and tire
men. ' The bourses and theaters have been
: closed throughout Italy, and dispatches
of sympathy continue to pour in from all
quarters of the globe.
Tidal Wave Sweeps Land.
At the time of the earthquake the torpedo-boat
Sappho was lying in the liarbor
tu Messina, and one of the officers told
of tiie occurrence as follows:
"At half past 6 in the morning the sea
suddenly became terribly agitated, seem
ing literally to pick up our boat and
shake it. Other craft nearby were simi
larly treated. Almost immediately a tidal
wave of huge proportions swept across
the Straits, mounting the coasts and car
rying everything before it. Scores of ships
were damaged and the Hungarian mall-
boat Andrassy parted her anchors and
went crashing into other vessels. Mes
sina Bay was wiped out and the sea was
t-oon covered with masses of wreckage,
which was carried off in the arms of the
receding waters."
Half or Messina Dead.
Eight sailors from the Sappho were
landed and took tip the work of rescue.
Officers and men from Italian and Brit
ish steamers also went ashore as soon
as posihle. the Britishers saving a fam
ily of five who were imprisoned in a
burning house. Many prisoners -from
the'jalls made their escape and looted
right and left. Hundreds engaged in
the work of robbing the banks and
business houses.
In the opinion of the officers of the
Sappho, naif the population of Mes
sina perished.
INFRNAL" OXL YWORD TO l"SE
Kje-AVitness of Messina's Ruin Tells
Story of Disaster.
CATANIA. Dec. 29. The following
graphic story ' told by a woman who ar
rived here from Messina this morning,
badly Injured:
'Infernal' is the onlv word that ade
quately describes the fearful and terri
fying scene." she said. "When the first
shock came most of the city was fast
asleep. It was awakened by the rocking
of the house. Windows swayed and rat
tled and crockery and glass crashed to
the floor. The next moment 1 was vio
lently thrown out of my bed to the floor.
I was half stunned, but knew that the
only thing to do was to make my way
outdoors. The streets were filled. Ev
erybody had rushed out in their night
rlothes. heedless of the rain falling in
UirrenLa. Terrified shrieks arose from ail
! ' liifflP WJlW. tTav, f yAf $Xt ,i Red Cross Soc.ety Calls on Na-
i ?U4lJjyin-6l'5 P M if T??li?:f'ThW--'J f?-S SB-'- lltiM'h'm- ! nt-Jll'l F J on to Aid Stricken
; W$N&3$&- 3sssB3l.f : ivcgy ywS? cf i-?4 - ; "aly-
...7- wfT i, mmbt'.-
f
SCENES
IN
EARTHQUAKE.
STRICKEN
DISTRICT
OF
SICILY.
sides, and we heard appeals for help from
those pinned underneath the ruins.
"Walls weer tottering all around us,
and not one of our party expected to
escape alive. My brothers and sisters
were with me, and In a freizy of terror
we groped our way through the streets,
holding our own against the panlc
strirken people, clambering over piles of
ruins, until we finally reached a place
of comparative sefety. But this was not
done before I was struck down and bad
ly injured by a piece of furniture that
fell out of the upper story of a house.
"All along the road we were jostled
by scores of fleeing people, half clad,
like ourselves. The houses seemed to
be crashing to the ground in whatever
direction we went.
"SutMenly the sea began to pour into
the town. It secerned to me that this
must mean the end of everything. The
incoming waters rolled In a huge wave,
accompanied by a terrific roar.
The sky was aglow with the reflection
of burning palaces end other buildings,
and as if this was not enough, there sud
denly shot up into the sky a huge burst
of flame, followed by a crash that seemed
to shake the whole town. This probably
was the gas v orks blowing up.
"Eventually we reached the principal
square of Messina. Here w found 2000
or 3C0O utterly terrified people assembled.
None of us kmvv whit to do. We were
all in an agony of fear. Men and wo
men prayed, groaned and shrieked. I
saw one of the big buildings on the
square collapse. It seemed to me that
scores of persons were burled beneath
the ruins. Ther I lost consciousness, and
I remembered no more."
Missouri Red Cross to Help.
ST. TXlIS. Dec. 29. Ughton Shields,
secretary of the Missouri branch of the
National Red Cross Society, took tame-
Pmabsaia .fill'-";
' '. ri.'T-. :. ' ' Aiij, - . . :v :va. : :::-. . I
4-4r ,
4
diate steps today toward the collection
of funds to be sent to the earthquake
sufferers in Italy. "The Italian Red
Cross Society responded nobly when San
Francisco was devastated." said Mr.
Shields. "We should do as much for
them."
MANY ENTOMBED MEN ALIVE
Xo Help Can eB Given Victims Still
Living In Mines.
ROME. Dec. 29. Many hundreds of
living persons are stll beneath the ruins
in Calabrlan towns, but it is quite im
possible to relieve them.
At Rlposto the tidal wave was ter
rific. At. first the sea receded for a
great distance from the shore and then
it swept forward with tremendous vio
lence. The water, advancing In a huge
wave, swept before it every house and
building for a thousand feet from the
shore line. The waters rushed through
the streets of Riposto to a depth of
from 10 to 20 feet.
ROYALTY GOES TO GIVE AID
King and Quen of Italy Leave for
Stricken Cities.
ROME. Dec. 29. Queen Helena has re
fused to allow her husband, the King, to
go alone to the scene of the disaster.
She said she would not give up her privi
lege of sharing her husband's dangers
and consequently both King and Qseen
left Rome for the South.
The Queen explained to a member of
her enourage that she considered it her
duty to do all In her power to comfort
and help her afflicted subjects.
It was announced here this forenoon
: . . . & n all
L
5
4 ? v
'' ' .
that the Pope will inaugurate the estab
lishment of an International committee of
Catholics the world over to assist the
survivors of the catastrophe. The Pope
heads the subscription with 1,000,000 lire
($200,000).
It is understood that King Victor Em
manuel will give 2,000,000 lire for the relief
of the victims.
Ambassador Griscom was the only
diplomat to learn of the departure of the
Ivlng and the Queen from Rome. He
hurried to the railroad station and offered
His Majesty condolences in the name of
the United States, saying that the San
Francisco disaster made it possible for
America to appreciate the calamity that
had overtaken Southern Italy. The King
and .Queen thanked Mr. Griscom warmly
and asked him to convey their apprecia
tion to the American Government and
people.
There was a great crowd at the ela
tion to see their Majesties off. The wom
en cried and said "God bless you!" as
they bade farewell to their Majesties.
CHICAGO ITALIAN'S DESPAIR
Many Seek for Xews of Relatives,
and All Are Downcast.
CHICAGO. Dec. 29. The earthquake
in Southern Italy has thrown Chicago's
Italians into a state of consternation and
despair. The Italian Consulate was
overrun with frantic visitors who clam
ored for direct news of friends and rel
atives and several Italian theaters closed
their doors. At the Bella Italia, a fav
orite gathering place on Desplalnes street,
several hundred Italians listened while
one of them translated the English col
umns into Italian. . His voice was fre-
quently drowned by cries and sobs and
the shrieks of hysterical women.
DISASTER GROWS
IX
SIZE
Report JFrom Palmi and Bagnara
Tell or Many Deaths.
MONTE LEON, Calabria, Dec. 29.
The town of Palmi has been practically
destroyed, as has also Bagnara. The
dead at Palmi number 1000 and it Is im
possible to estimate the number of in
jured. Large numbers were killed at
Bagnara and the list of wounded there
also will be heavy. The tital wave
inundated a villa at San- Giovanni, 2500
feet back from the shore line.
Palmi has 10,0- Inhabitants and
Bagnara 7500.
'FRISCO'
REMEMBERS
1 90G
Relief Will Be Sent to Italy From
California City.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 29. Mayor
Taylor issued a proclomation this after
noon stating that the response for aid
for the suffering people of Italy will
doubtless be quick and generous In this
city and requesting that all contribu
tions be sent to Allen Knight, treasurer
of the California branch of the American
National Red Cross. 502 California street,
San Francisco. Contributions will also
be received by Benjamin Ide Wheeler,
president of the California branch of the
Red Cross, at Berkeley.
British Squadron to Rescue.
MALTA, Dec. 29. The British battle
ship Exmouth and the cruisers Euryalus
4oS ' v
5i
7 s,
:.1
and Minerva, commanded by Admiral Sir
Asheton Curzon-Howe, left here today
for Messina to render every assistance
possible to survivors of the disaster.
The British cruiser Sutlej, which was on
her way from Messina to this port, was
intercepted by wireless last night and
sent back to Messina.
Opera Company May Give Benefit.
LOS ANGELES. Dec. 29. Local Italians
have started a relief fund for the enrtli
quake sufferers of Italy, and this morn
ing more than $HK was raised. Promi
nent Italians will' meet as soon as pos
sible and organize a relief committee.
Benefit performances will bo arranged to
raiso funds, and an effort will !;; made to
have the Lombarill grand oprra company,
now here, give a. performance for the
aid of the. earthquake victims.
France Sends Sympathy.
PARIS. Dec. 29. President Falleries
has sent a telesrani of condolence to
King Victor Emmanuel. Premier Ciem
enceau lias sent a similar message to the
Italian Premier.
French Battleships to Help.
PARIS, Dec. 29. The Minister of Marine
has ordered the French battleships Jus
tice and Verite and three torpedo-boat
destroyers to proceed to Messina to suc
cor the victims.
Boston Asked to Aid.
BOSTON, Dec. 29. A public appeal for
relief of victims of the devastation in
Southern Italy was issued by Governor
Guild today.
The famous I.ach'ne Rai.hls of the St.
Jjiwr-n.'o are to he spanned by a bridge and
Him nhnwwal -'" ,
TELLS OF COMING HELP
Message to Italian Red Cross Give:
Assurance of Assistance Roose
velt. Cables His Sympathy
to King Victor.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 29. The Amer
ican National lied Cross today sent out
telegraphic requests to all of its
brandies for relief funds to be ap
plied to the sufrerers from the earth
quake In Southern Italy.
The Red Cross Society also requested
the State Department to extend to the
American Ambassador expressions of
sympathy from the American society
to the Italian Red Cross, and to In
quire to what extent leliei measures
will ho necessary.
The Red Cross will have to wait
until contributions are received in re
sponse to the appeal sent out UmIhv.
as the balanue remaining: in the treas
ury is but $20HO. which will he kept
in reserve for emergencies wiiliiu the
I'nited States. On the occasion of the
eruption of Vesuvius JU.Odii was sent
to Italy by the American .society.
Sends Message to Italy.
The American National Red Cross to
day sent a telegram over the signature
of its president. William H. Taft, to
the Italian Red Cross in the following
language:
"The American Red Cross desires to
tender to the Italian Red Cross its pro
found sympathy because of the terrible
earthquake in Italy and Calabria. An
appeal has been issued by the Ameri
can Red Cross for contributions for
the reilef of the sufferers."
Miss Mabel T. Boardman. of the ex
ecutive committee of the society, today
replied to an Inquiry by Dr. Herbert L.
Burrell, of Boston, saying it was not
thought desirable to send clothing or
supplies at this time, but that relief
should be in the form of money con
tributions. Remittances may be made
either through the branches of the so
ciety or directly to the American Red
Cross, Washington, D. C.
There are no American naval vessels
in the vicinity of Southern Italy. The
Scorpion, a converted yacht, which is
at Constantinople, is nearer the scene
of the disaster than any other Ameri
can naval vessel.
Roosevelt Expresses Sorrow.
President Roosevelt today sent the
following cable message to the King
of Italy:
With all my countrymen. I am .ppalled hy
the dreatlful calamity which has befallen
your country. I offer my sincerpst sym
pathy. American National Red Cross has
issued appeals for contributions for suf
ferers and notified me that they will Im
mediately communicate with the Italian Red
Cross.
As private cablegram after cable
gram confirmed the frightful extent of
the catastrophe, the Italian Embassy
attaches freely expressed their grief.
EARTH'S CRCST IS SINKING
American Scientist Says This Has
Caused Italian Disturbances.
BALTIMORE, Dec. 29. Dr. Harry
Fielding Rels. professor of geological
physics at Johns Hopkins University and
one of the leading authorities in the
I'nited States on seismic disturbances,
attributes the earthquake in Southern
Italy to a general dropping or sinking of
the earth in that localits".
Quakers Ready to Help.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 29. This city is
preparing to offer assistance to the
earthquake sufferers.
LEAVES BLOODY TRAIL
ENRAGED ITALIAN ATTACKS
EN EMY'S FA M 1 L Y .
Kills Boy, Wounds Baby and Shoots
Workman in Back Tragedy
at Fort Blakcly.
SEATTLE, Wash., Dec. 29. A special
to the I'ost-Intelligenceh from Port
Blakeley says:
After quarreling with Jose Santos, a
fellow workman, Jose Nlcolos, an Ital
ian, tonight killed Santos' 4-year-old
son. fatally wounded his baby girl and
shot George B. Brown, a workman,
through the buck.
The attack on Brown, which was the
first of the shooting, occurred In the
Port Blakelely mill, where Nlcolos
was npparentl ywaiting for his enemy.
Santos. Nlcolos asked Brown the time
of day. and after Brown had replied
and walked past him. accompanied by
Mrs. Brown, the Italian fired without
warning. Nicolos then rushed to San
tos' house, jumped in through an open
window, shot out the lights and com
menced firing indiscriminately, appar
ently under the. impression that his
eneiiiv was at home. Santos followed
home behind Nicolos and ran for help.
The man was located at Pleasant
Beacli and.- an armed posse has him
surrounded.
FORAKER STILL RUNNING
Declares He Is Still In Race Sena
tor Dick Takes a Hand.
COLUMBUS, Or.. Dec. 29. The arriv
al of United States Senator Charles
Dick in this city this afternoon Is the
onlv new feature of the Senatorial
fight today. Senator Dick is extreme
ly interested in the outcome of the con
test as to who shall succeed Seiator
Foraker, in so far as it will have a
bearing on his own candidacy to suc
ceed himself in 1911.
All the surface indications seem to
point to a choice either of Mr. Burton
or Mr. Taft. Senator Foraker, how
ever, is active and declares that his In
fluence will bo keenly felt.
When Adr-llne rattf sang in the Russian
capital In isi.s more than $.i0O0 worth of
i-amHias wrre thrown at her In small
during m. mljiml jmrf ormsTin