MESSINA EARTHQUAKE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 455, 13 March 1909, Page 4

MESSINA EARTHQUAKE.

PATHETIC SCENES IN NAPLES. DESCRIBED BY A NEW ZEALANDER. In some personal notes from London which appeared in The Dominion oh Jlarch 3, refer-; cuco was mado to the fact (hat Mr. Thomas Allen, of Auckland, was in Naples at tho time of Iho Messina earthquake. Hearing that Jlr.'Allen is now on a visit to Wellington, and staying at tho Hotel Windsor, n representative of The Dominion interviewed him on the subject of his travels. , In reply to various questions, Mr. Allen said that, although the earthquake took place on Monday morning, December 2S, at 5 o'clock, tho news did not reach Naples until Tuesday, and from Wednesday morning tho steamers were continually arriving with the sick, wounded, and dying. Strong-looking men and robust women were carried from the steamers on stretchers, with their faces bandaged, num. bers of them with many scars, and they were placed in carriages or automobiles for conveyance to th<> various hospitals. The streets and squares were lined wild sobbing women, and men with tears coursing down their cheeks, as some friend or relative was .brought on shore. It was a harrowing scene, and continued from Wednesday, December SO, to Monday, January J, on which day Mr. Allen joined his stoamor, the Fricdrich der Urosso, nt Naples, for the return journey to New Zealand. In reply jo further questions, Mr. Allen said Hint ho had enjoyed his visit of last year very much indeed. ]lc had spent a fortnight in a our (o Iho Western Fiords of Norwnv, and titer nail visited tho northern capitals of huropo. llus tour included visits to Chrislaiini, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Cronsladt St Petersburg. Moscow, Hie Kiel Canal, and'Aiiiiilerdaui. He also visited Paris, and spent some line near Lako Geneva, thence to Florence, Homo, and Naples. On the return journey, tho s oiiinur passed to the west of Sicily, Die owners thinking it unwise to risk the danger of a possible dtsliirbaneo or impediment t0 safe navigation in (ho Straits of Medina.