ITALIAN EARTHQUAKE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 135, 9 June 1910, Page 5

ITALIAN EARTHQUAKE.

. .. i NO SWEEPING DESTRUCTION. THE 'WRATH OF A SAINT. THIRTY LIVES LOST. (By Cable.—Press Asoctation.—Copyright.) (Received 8.45 ajn.) ROME, June 8. The number of killed in the earthquake is fortunately much less than was at first anticipated, and there was no sweeping destruction like that at Messina. The fallen houses were most old and badly built. Some churches were wrecked. Most of the houses in Calitri were cracked. Many were built on the slopes and crown of a hillside, and these suffered . most.

So far twenty-four bodies have been recovered from the ruins, while the total death-roll is estimated at thirty.

Some seven thousand people fled from the towns into the country.

A mob of fanatical peasants attacked several American missionaries visiting Calitri, alleging that they were responsible for the earthquake. They were in danger of being torn to pieces when rescued by the soldiery. Telegrams from Naples state that the disaster is there attributed to St. Januarius, whose blood is preserved in the Cathedral, and which did not liquify according to the traditional miracle. A great procession is being organised to appease St. Januarius.

Queen Helena is at the Avellino Hospital attending the injured, while King Emmanuel is visiting the stricken villages.

St. Januarius was a Christian martyr, who was beheaded under Dioclcian. He was Bishop of Beneventum. Relics, which arc ascribed to be his head and some of his blood, are preserved in the Cathedral of Naples. The blood is supposed to have the miraculous power of becoming liquid when brought near the Head, a miracle which is performed for the edification of a large number of people several times every year. His festival is kept on September 10.