AWFUI EARTHQUAKES

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 765, 30 December 1908, Page 2

AWFUI EARTHQUAKES

m> ■ Itfllions in Terror. — i THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED. i Towns and Villages Said to have Disappeared. : THE PILLAGING FIEND AT WORK. WARSHIPS AND TROOPS TO THE RESCUE. SYMPATHY OF KING, POPE, AND PEOPLE. i 500 FISHING BOATS LOST. LATEST ESTIMATE— 6O,OOO DEATHS. MESSINA DESTROYED. A GENERAL AND ARCHBISHOP VICTIMS. |ay ELEUIEIC TEIiEQBAPE- — COPYRIGHT. J [PEE PEESS ASSOCIATION .J Home, December 29. Two-thirds of the town of Messina is destroyed and thousands of people are resported to have been killed. Much pillaging followed the disaster, during which hundreds of houses collapsed. The captain of the frigate Passino was buried in the ruins. All the warships lying at Naples have been ordered to Messina with relief.* King Emmanuel is ako proceeding there. Extensive damage was done at Bagnara, Gioio, Palma, and other towns, where the residents are encamping in tho fields. The shock was of very long duration and of frightful intensity. It is feared that there will bo arepeti- | tion of the disaster of 1905. A tidal wave overran most of Messina,-leav-ing a layer of. mud, thus rendering it very difficult to extricate the injured. Another trouble was caused by the fires which occurred, owing to a gas explosion. It is reported that Fero and Ganzini, suburbs of Messina, have disappeared. Violent shocks occurred between half-past five and six this morning at Catanzaro, Reggio, and Dicalabria, which terrified the inhabitants, who half-clothed and aroused from sleep, poured into the streets, where rain was falling. The prisoners in several gaols became panic-stricken, and smashed the doors and windows. The soldiers had to be summoned to restore order.Terrible scenes were witnessed a* Catania, where the hospital patients became panic-stricken. (Received December 30, 9.20 a.m.) Rome, December 29. British warships have gone to Messina to the relief of sufferers by the earthquakes. Troops were compelled to shoot 2 il— lagers. The fire destroyed the prisons, I ut till* prisoners escaped. Several barracks collapsed. Troops numbering 4000 have started from Rome for Messina. The Pope is greatly distressed concerning the disasters. He wished t«go to Messina, but the doctors forbade him owing to the poor state cf his health. The majority of the villages hor„i»j*ing on the Straits of Messina (which ar© twenty-two miles long) have ; oon destroyed. Ono hundred victims perished .tt Calabria, and 500 at Palma. ' In all, 500 fishing boats and three steamers lying at Catanias were ?uiik. It is feared that Reggiodi and *'alabria are destroyed. ' Signor Caruso, the famous Itaii i.-i singer, who is at present in 'Vow York, has sent £500 to aid the Messina sufferers. . (Received December 30, 8.8 a.m.) London, December 29. Roman newspapers state, that the deaths caused by the recent earthquake total 60,000. (Received December 30, 10.50 a.m.) Rome, December 29. It is officially reported that Messina is practically destroyed. The Town Hall, churches, and other buildings collapsed. The Trinacria Hotel, at Messina, with its staff and ninety visitors, was destroyed. It fell like a pack of cards. Thousands of people are dead, including th© general in command of the garrison and the archbishop, •— — — — —