A TERRIBLE EARTHQUAKE

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1, 7 January 1909, Page 24

A TERRIBLE EARTHQUAKE

DISASTER IN ITALY AND SICILY •

■ A terrible earthquake occurred in -Sicily and in the proviiice of Calabria in the south of Italy last week,- resulting in great destruction of property and loss of life.-. Cable messages received on Wednesday stated that tftvothirds of Messina was destroyed, and thousands of people were killed. Extensive damage was done in k Bagnara, Gioia, Palmi, and 'other .towns. The shock was of very long duration and of frightful intensity. A tidal wave* over-ran most of Messina, leaving a layer of mud and rendering it very difficult to extricate the injured". Fires also occurred owing to gas explosions. Violent shocks occurred between half -past 5 and 6 in the morning. >ab Catanzaro, and. Reggio di Calabria. The terrified inhabitants, half-clothed, poured into the streets in the rain. Messina, the second ' city of Sicily (its population ' is about 160,000) stands on a good harbor opening upon" the straits of the same name. It occupies a narrow strip. of land between the sea and the hills. Messina is an important trade centre. Reggio stands on the Italian coast of the Straits of Messina. It has a fine cathedral and museum. Its population- is about 45,000. Bagnara is on the coast of Calabria, north-east of the Straits of Messina. Its population is about 10,000. Catania is a large city -of about 120,000 people, situated near the foot of Mount Etna. It lias been often ruined by earthquakes, and eruptions of Etna, and its streets are paved with lava, and its public buildings built of the .same material. • Of the 45,000 residents of Reggio 40,000 perished. The deaths at- Messina number 135,000, including '200 visitors. Two-thirds of the Palmi district was destroyed, the deaths there numbering 14,000. Of these 3000 were interred in a common grave. Twelve- thousand perished at Bagnara. The town of Scylla has vanished. Therewere 1500 deaths at Seminara. The railway station at. Reggio in falling crushed 400 and the . barracks 2000 soldiers. Immense fissures were opened at Reggio. Refugees declare that Reggio was not only wrecked by the shock, but that the lower parts were* swallowed up by the earth opening with a tremendous detonation like the firing of a hundred guns. Simultaneously 'the sea, with a terrific roar, rose to a tremendous height, and, running in, swept away the most beautiful part of the town ■ (including the Cathedral, the Prefect's Palace, and all the main thoroughfares). British and Russian bluejackets performed wonders in the way of rescue work at Messina. Out of 200 Customs guards at Messina only- 41 escaped, and out of 280 railway employees, only eight were saved. Out, of 100 post office employees only six were saved, and the garrison has "been reduced to a' small number. For 11 miles south of Reggio the v face of the country has been completely altered. A few of the refugees report -that the greater part of Reggio is in ruins. Most of the public buildings, including the barracks, which in falling killed hundreds of the troops, are destroyed. The dead 'number at least 18,000. The Prefect reports that the centre of Reggio settled down to the sea level, and only the villas situated on the highest points remain^ Most of the pupils of the Lyceum ,perished, also the Bishop of Reggio. The earthquake swallowed the railway between Lazzaro and Marino. .The King and Queen of Italy visited Messina, and Queen Helena worked devotedly in the local hospital. < Messages of sympathy have been received by the Italian authorities from all parts of the world. On Thursday last Sir Joseph Ward sent a cable message to Italy conveying the sympathy of the people of this Dominion. Subscriptions are now being raised in all parts of the world for the relief of the sufferers. The Holy Father, according to the Temps, has opened' a credit of one million lire (£40,000) in addition to his other gift, and is also establishing a hospital of 500 beds at San Marco. President Roosevelt has asked Congress to appropriate 500,000 dollars, in addition to which both Housos voted 300,000 dollars, representing the steamers Celtic and Culgoa's supplies. The American Red Cross Society telegraphed 390,000 dollars to the American Committee at Rome to chartor a steamer with supplies and "to fetch the survivors "*to safety. The. London Mansion House fund amounts to £40,000. The Italian Parliament intends to voto £1,200,000. ,'" The ' Government of New 'Zealand has for- ' warded £5000.