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Show Mb j t-.la plire Calabrian- Region of itaSy and 1 Messina, Sicily, Laid Waste; Fire ;fl Adds to Horror, Burning I hose Caught in Riains, Mlfni . 2 eret M DUES Of VILLAGES UTTERLY DEVASTATED: t TERROR-STRICKEN REFUGEES FLEE TO ROME ojjVi 3noai " irrati fijgj rid-Wide Movement for Relief Promptly Begun; djj Rulers of Many Nations Extend Aid iwlj and Heartfelt Sympathy. cieeHBEF SUMMARY Or -I-aadl APPALLING DISASTER, i to'mi , tied Ia-5 of life, 100.000 or more. 'V appro; Estirc f'alabrian region of u-ybn devastated. ie bta fflie of Messina. Reggio, Pal- -r ve isj ; (atjauo and score of vil- -V paoi j;, pavc and fire added to -r 'JM i of life anil destruction of noiM-wiae movement for re- v ejj i cf refugees is now under - :19.,li?- ' ',1816 forccncTS. including or ph s.'rian, English and German corse? -"i- among the victims. v . Oil". Fj-makcs donation of $200.-eoldil $200.-eoldil 5 to r'licf fund. v oa) StB frtMje to proi)ertv will reach 1,-nlii a millions, but ejfnnot bo ! ad:it nratclv estimated. ocauM2E,De, 20.- Onc hundred tliou-'. tliou-'. boiw '' Messina in Sicil3- and Reg- lenlw iiKore o other lonis in south-jfl south-jfl aal , yes) Vovtrwlielmotl: the entire Cala- an e ii's iceord so far as at present Ivift :ffoath(; reports that .are coi!iinc ;coU; !u't Rome on account of tho al-mA al-mA tep,fe destruction of linos of St'SftJ 3Se"Jn i0 f,lft slr!ck(?ri Places, ted on, k& list in Messina is estimated oolSJ ?J?M0 10 '10-00; iliat of Ileffsio, , its aiaeenfc villages, num-r4 num-r4 G'Mpt"3ple- includes almost the 5C7"l,at'nn. Ar Palrai. 1000 arc 3 Si 'd?ld; at 5assano, 1000; al uB and 1,aIf tljc population oalvjni about 4000. Tho lonteleon It if' been devastated, and Ri-iavSf Ri-iavSf a ,C;'"1 Giovanni. Scilla, "teas !acd f'annUello. and all other of M1' aanl villages on the straits ttefW Hun'ics to Scene. tffSfena??een n,alyateM,f -ebnild " " ,0 resfiina, having sailed 'the'ff J8? -nles aboard tho battle-llSSi battle-llSSi T Elnman"el. The popo has sr;?4 distress i th c:i1- rttor-fi i"0 Imnsclf was the first to ion il o1,80"1 counting to $200,000 :ia1 ;iof .the aCcted. British. tt3& iH?LUSSIan warsiliPS aro stoain-9 stoain-9 rWBf wuth, and already sov-J6?ffl sov-J6?ffl 'if PB of Groat "Britain and M'S? Sr'erforD1?d h"ic service in 1 i-J that ,,,an' foreigners rh'd Mr ' as a ""'"bor of tho i&tiv j ,,CMlna. and doubtless at !ttl2 ' 17erc crodofl Tritli tour- -'1 rkaown of the fato of tho ' T, Ji'Vfir,escntat5ves of the powers ircfc'ofi J. l"Cc P5ls, although tho olar. nmnt is lisiu Pverv pf. iS;rNo"Thrcatcncd- IS, CirJl" follow the destruction of ffSs- " 4?".' acm of the vast J ' 1)0(1,05 wl He uuburiod fetf M'wks- Those who es. fS01 Wr"la,".y of wl,om aro badly -4 ? k,nr U,o5r .v l.y Ihn ftVo " V!!: Pln-e of ref- tfloflJS nS PVPn "O"- J""St seJSSnl thcv a without food or , .J HiJJ th.P nir'Knitudo of the cal-irtSjliTi cal-irtSjliTi ovcrlnl?n follow iqjg ifaiy lllonras ton3,llt for fll-o ? 6fT'-?C0 of Ca,'ria and for 'i , :thiuah0. Italy stands lES : V';Wa n the fraction of il '4 lnd",fty levflstated cities ca,wd the doath of $ Ads to Horror; bv ir?-Jc hitorr has nSSetl! " tho , I vnvCK a war. I DEATH ROLL IN GREAT ? : f EARTHQUAKES TOLD. T i" ?.&nr a)id l:lace Lives Lost. .1092 .lamaica s.ooO -I- T' t-o,'-?1.01 M.000 -r T U--i"-n,,a iS.OOO -r V Ji'b,on. 50,000 v !T U-xalabna uo.ooo :- T Ji.v' Q,,,t0 -....-11,000 v v L-M2 Caracas 12,000 v T Aleppo 21.000 v r oi Calabria 10,000 I ISb'O Mendoza 12-000 - t 5S,l?eri1 anl Ecuador. 2o!000 T 10-Manila i0!oOO v T lf. Tiaknro.u .15,000 v lssb Charleston 7 t JS' 'Pi'n 20.000 T J0i India 15,000 J JOOb .s.-m Francisco 5,000 J terrestial maelsironj, was shaken to ruin?. Flames burst forth to complete the cit3'-s destruction, and .to burn alive untold numbers helplessly pinioned beneath be-neath fallen walls and b'roktm timbers. The strait of Messina was shaken and twisted by the earth's trembling, for .manners report tho channel altered beyond be-yond recognition. The ports arid villages vil-lages on botli tho continental and Sicilian Si-cilian sides were wrecked and inundated, inun-dated, and all lighthouses along the coast were swallowed up. Navigation now -is datigcrous, and in somo places impossible. In the Calabrian district, which was only beginning to recover from tho effects ef-fects of the earthquake of J005, Reggio was tho center of the earth's upheaval. Tho .seaport of Reggio is reported as no longer existing, and tho city proper is iu ruins. The loss of life 'on bat li sides of the strait and in eastern Sicily was enormous. One of the refugees from Reggio, who was tho first to bring the news of the city's destruction, tried to mako his way to Sicily iu a sailboat, but was compelled to return, and 'finally found safety at a peninsula port. Iu describing his experiences, he j said: '"The sea was strangely, niysterionsi' I agitated, and the heavens wero ablaze. I Xearrng Sicily, the clearing smoke re-J I vealed the mystery; Messina was in I flames. Tn the frenzy of despair, 1 j turned my boat back to Calabria.'-" I Starving, bleeding from injuries, ami I almost insane from their terrifying e.-i e.-i neriences, Messina's survivors are fleeing flee-ing in all directions. Tho spectacle presented by tho ruined seaport is described as terrifying. Tumbling buildings hotli killed and mutilated xnanv. while hundreds of tiio injured, imprisoned in the wreckage, woro abandoned aban-doned to their fate by the fleeing populace. popu-lace. One of those who escaped sajdiv "Tho earth seemed suddenly to -drop, and then turn violently on its axis. The whole population, who practically were precipitated from the houses rent in twain, wero spun around like tops as' they ran through tho streets. Many fell crushed to death: and others, bewildered, be-wildered, took refugo for breath beside tho tottering walls, where they soon met tho fate of their companions." Aid Prom Other Nations. Alrcadv British and Russian squadrons squad-rons have arrived at Messina, seniors and marines have been disomliarkerl, nid thev have performed courageous acts in 'rescuing tho injured and removing re-moving the. wounded. A largo number of survivors havo been trausterred to the warships, which aro transformed into great floating hospital, hi earners with doctors. druggistM. firemen and workmen have arrived at Mcfsina from Catania and other places.. Special dispatches received hero from Calabria confirm tho destruction of Rc-'io. Thov report, that the situation the'e is as b'ad, if not worse, than nt Mussina. Tho streets in Romo arc ianimed with pcoph who as noon as they heard tho newh flocked into the StTheK,handK of all the nations havo been extended to Italy in her affliction. From rulors havo come messages ot condolence and from the people spon-taneous spon-taneous promise of that aid . w ueh brfe the world closer together :n ttmo of creat calamity. (front Britain, Franco and Russia' have Fent their warships quick as tho flash of the telegraph could carry the orders to lend assistance to" stricken 3tie. Heliftf "nd9 h3ve- alrcadvi hc-on Marled and a hundred ships and trams are on their way carrying supplies and reinforcements to tho south. Rome, M lan, Florence. Naples and other cities are sending physicians, police and fire-fnon fire-fnon AH the embassadors and minis-tors minis-tors expressed sympathy with M. lit- Continued on 'age Two. I. ' STORIES OF DEATH, DESOLATION AND ANGUISH TOLD BY HALF -CRAZED REFUGEES FROM STRICKEN DISTRICT I Continued from Pne One. toni, minister of "foreign affairs, 'whoso i emotion was profound. ' I The courses and- theaters havo been closed throughout Italy and dispatches J of sympathy continuo to pour in irom I nil quarters of tho plobe. A At. the timo of tho oarlhquako the i torpedo boat Sappho was lying in tho I harbor at Messina, and one of tho orti- I cers told of tho occurrence ns tollows: I "At 5:30 in tho morning tho sen. I ' suddenly became terribly agitated, seominjr literally to pick up our boat and shake it. Other craft noarby woro I similarly treated, and tho ships looked I like bits of cork bobbinp about in a tempest. Almost immediately a tidal wave of hueo proportions swept across tho strait, mounting tho coasts and carrying car-rying everything before it. Scores of ships were damaged and the Hungarian mail boat Andrassy parted hor anchors I and went crashing into other vessels, I Messina bay was wined out, and the sea was soon covorod with masses of wreckage, which wero carried off in tho arms of tho receding wators." Eight sailors from tho Sappho were I landed nud took up the work of rescue. I Officers and mon from Italian and Brit ish steamers also went ashore as soon as possible, the' Britishers saving a family fam-ily of five who were imprisoned in a burning building. Many prisoners from tho iails mude their cscapo nnd I looted rigiifc and loft. Hundreds en- I gaged in the work of robbing the banks anil business houses. In tho opinion of officers of tho Sappho half the population popula-tion of Messina perished. King Victor Emmanuel and the queen, who loft for tho scene of tho calamity, reached Naples tonight and proceeded at once to Sicily. A largo number of peoplo saw their majesties depart.. irom Borne, and ono among a number of deputies at. the station observed ob-served to the Icing: "Tho presenco of your majesty will suffieo to console the stricken people." The king turned sharply upon the speaker and said abruptly: "Don7i talk nonsense. 3 ' Geographical Changos. Reports .indicate that the geography of the straits of Messina has boon so changed as to cause apprehension of serious commercial and strategic difficulties. diffi-culties. It is believed navigation has become extreme! dangerous, in which case the fortifications will be useless. The famous whirlpool on Charybdis, it is said, has shifted its position. Desperate calls have been made from Rome to Messina, but these remain unanswered, un-answered, and fears are entertained that Fortspuria, near Messina, has been destroyed, as tho wireless station installed in-stalled there is one of the most powerful power-ful in Ttaly, and is evidently not working. work-ing. The catastrophe has aroused the superstitions of tho entire- nopulace, who. are running about the country calling call-ing upon all the saints- and imploring mercy. The superstition has been increased in-creased by the nimor that in the general gen-eral destruction of Messina tho statue f Saint Hose remained uninjured. The work of rescue at Messina, according ac-cording to the meager details received here- tonight, presented harrowing scenes. Hundreds of people . were pinned under walls and rafters alive, but; terribly injured, for thirty hours. One of the roscuers found under the ruins of a house live children alive, but nnablo to speak, lying arounil tho corpse of their mother.' Tn some cases heroic rescuers met death in the falling debris. . In one houso twenty persons suj-pended on the li ft H floor aid unable o reach tho street, because the lower floors Jiad boon torn away were res-cned res-cned with a rope by .a sailor. Six criminals crim-inals were killed while attempting to loot tho Bank of Sicilv, whoro cash amounting to half a million dollars lay in plain view. Saw City in Flames. Refugees .from Reggio, who reachod Catanznro. said that they could seo hugo columns of smoke rising from tho ruins of Mossina. Thoy affirmed that Roggio, Cannitolo nnd Lazzarro wero destroyed. A tidal wavo washed tho railroad between Lazzaro and Roggio and a small army of men are working dosperatoly to re-ostnblish communica-' ion with the latter place, for wluoh a train with troops and telegraphers has started. Latest reports received state that 4000 Vatican soldiers from the various barracks at Messina wero buried under un-der the ruins. Tho Tv'ock of Charybdis now blocks tho cntranco to tho Strait of Messina. Tho tidal wavo wrecked the lighthouso in tho strait, including Faro Beacon, and thev crashed into tho sea. WORSE TIIAN INFERNO THAT DANTE PAINTED CATANIA, Dec. 20. Refugees aro pouring in by trains, steamers and automobiles. TI1C3- aro half-nakod and stupefied with terror. Some of them appear almost insane from tho horrors through which they havo gone. In tho beginning they could only babble "Messina "Mes-sina has oeeu devastated; tho city has been annihilated." Little by little some idea of the indescribable in-describable horror at Mossina was obtained ob-tained from these unfortunates. They declare that thousands of demented survivors sur-vivors aro still wandering about tho ruins of tho city. A wounded soldier said: , "The spectacle 4was terrifying beyond words. Dante's 'Inferno' "gives you a faint idea as to what happened yesterday yester-day morning' at Messina. Tho first shock camo before tho sun had risen. It shook the city to its very foundation. founda-tion. Immediately tho houses begau to crumble. Those of us who wero not killed at onco made our way over undulating un-dulating floors to tho street. Tho ceilings ceil-ings wero crashing down through the rooms, and stairs were rendered unsafe I found the streets blocked by falling houses. ' Doad Everywhere. "Chimneys, bell towers, entire walls had been thrown down. From every side of mo arose tho screams and moaning? moan-ing? of the wounded. Tho peoplo wore half mad with excitement and fear. Most of thorn had rushed out in their night clothes. In a little while we were all shivering under a torrential downpour down-pour of rain. Everywhere- thero wero dead bodies, nude, disfigured and mutilated. muti-lated. In the ruins I could soo arms and legs moving holplcsslj". Prom every quarter camo piteous appeals for aid. "The portion of tho town down near tho water was inundated by tho tidal ' wave. The water reached to the j shoulders of tho fugitives and 'swept them awav. "The city hall, the cathedral and tho barracks crumbled, and churches, other public buildings and dwellings wero literally razed. There wero 200 , customs agents at tho barracks: only forty-one of them wero saved. At live . railroad station only eight out of 2S0 employees have been accounted for. "Manj' of rhoso who succeeded in escaping with their lives aro incapablo j of relating their experiences coherently. I questioned all who wero in a condition to talk. Most of them told tho same story. Thoy said tho first thing thoy knew they were thrown out of bed, and amid crashing ceilings and falling fur-nituro fur-nituro managed to make their way to tho slroel. Then in tho blackness of night and amid a pouring rain, that added to their horror and distress, thoy rushed blindly away amid tumbling buildings nnd the shrieks and groans of thoso buried in tho ruins. Many while trying to cscapo wero struck down by fnlnng balconies nnd .masonry, and still many others lost their reason, and arc today wandering aimlessly in the open fields outside the city. "'The looters and tho robbers wore shot down dead by tho rifles of tho soldior.s, ' ' Tho provious reports from the provinces prov-inces that a number of villages wero ravaged have boon confirmed. Seventeen Seven-teen persons are dead at Ripnsto. The town of Seininara in Calabria is said to havo boon destroyed, with tho loss of 100 lives. PRESIDENT TRANSMITS MESSAGE OF SYMPATHY. WASHINGTON, Doc. 20. President Roosevelt, through the state department, depart-ment, today sent to King Victor Emmanuel Em-manuel of Italy a dispatch expressing express-ing his horror and thnt of tho American Ameri-can people over the disaster which has befallen southern Italy and Sicil-. by thc earthquake visitation, and tendering tender-ing sincere sympathy. The president also notes that tho Amorican National Red Cross has issued is-sued an appeal for contributions to aid the sufferers, and thai tho organization has notified him that it will immediately immediate-ly communicate with the Italian Red Cross. As private cablegram after cablegram confirmed the frightful extent of the catastrophe tho Italian embassy attaches at-taches freely expressed their grief. Roason for Delay. The delay in receipt of official announcement an-nouncement of the news to tho embassy from the Italian government is taken by the embassy to mean that tho officials offi-cials in Rome are giving all their attention at-tention to tho aiding of tho stricken region. "I am sure that every ono, from the king down to tho humblest soldier, will do everything in his power in this great calamity," said Signor Roberto ! Ccnaro, secretary of the embassy. 1 Embassador Mayor des Planches is hastening to Washington from Now York state, having left the city for a brief rest during the holidays. Following is tho text of the president's presi-dent's mcssago to tho king of Italy: "His Majesty Vittorio Emmanuel, Rome: "With all mv countrymen, I am appalled ap-palled at the dreadful calamity which has befallen your country. T o'ffor my sinccrest sympathy. American National Rod Cross has issued appeals for contributions con-tributions for sufferers, and notified mo that they will immediately communicate with tho Italian Rod Cross. . "THEODORE ROOSEVELT." Work of Red Cross. Tho American National Red Cross today to-day sent; a telegram over tho signaturo of its president, William II. Tafl. lo tho Italian Red Cross at Rome, iii the i'ol-lowing i'ol-lowing language: "The American Red Cross desires to tender to tho Italian Red (h-oss its , profound-sympathy been use of tho tcr- nblc earthquake in Ttalv and Calabria. An appeal has been issued by tho American Hod Cross for contributions lor the bone-tit of tho sufferers." Miss . Mabel T. . Boardman of the executive committee of tho society today to-day replied to an inquiry by Dr. .Her- borfc Lf Burroll of Boston, saying It was not thought desirable to nontl cloth-inp cloth-inp supplies at this timo, but that (he relief should bo in tho form, oi' money contributions. Remittances may bo mado either through tho branches of tho society or1 ''directly to tho American Red Cross, Washington, D. C. KING AND QUEEN OF ITALY EXTEND AID ROME, lice. 20. Quoon Helena has rofuscd to allow hero husband, tho king, to go alone to tho pc.enn nf tho disaster. Sho said she would not givo up hor privilege of sharing her husband's dangers, dan-gers, and consequently both tho king 1 and queen left Rome this ufternoou for tho south. Tho ro3al couplo arrived carlior in tho day from Naples. Tho queen explained ex-plained to a member of licr entourage that sho considered it her dutv to do all in hpr power to comfort and help her afflicted subjects. Tho king and queen left tho railroad station hero at o'clock. A number of ministers, senators sena-tors and deputies, together -with tho mayor of Rome, were at tho station to bid them farewell. Popo Opens Purse. It was aunouncod hero this forenoon that the popo will inaugurato tho establishment es-tablishment of an international committee com-mittee of Roman Catholics tho world over to assist the survivors of tho catas-" trophe. Tho popo heads tho subscription subscrip-tion list with 1,000,000 liro (J200.000). Tt is said that King Victor Emmanuel will givo 2,000,000 lire for tho relief of tho victims. Embassador Griscom was tho only diplomat to learn of tho departure of the king and queen from Rome. Ho hurried to tho railroad station and offered of-fered his majesty condolences in tho name of tho United States, saying that tho San Francisco disaster made it possible pos-sible for America to apprcciato tho calamity that had overtaken southern Italy. The king and queen thanked Mr. Griscom warmly, and asked him to convey their appreciation to tho American Ameri-can government and pooplc. Thero was a great crowd at tho station sta-tion to seo their majesties. Tho women cried, and said "God bless you," as thoy bade farewell to their majesties. WOMAN REFUGEE TELLS STORY OF THE DISASTER. CAT ANT A, Dec. 29. Tho following graphic story is told by a woman who arrived hero from Messina this morning, morn-ing, badly injured: ' ' 'Infernal ' is the only word that will adequately describe the fearful and terrifying scene," she said. "When tho lirst shock camo most of tho city was fast asloop. T was awakened by tho rocking of tho house. Windows swayed and rattled and crockery and glass crashed to tho floor. Tho next moment J was jolently thrown out of my bed to the lloor. T was half stunned, but know that the only thing to do was to make my way outdoors. The streets were filled. "Everybody had rushed out in their night clothes, heedless of the rain falling in torrents. Terrified . shrieks acrose from all hides and wo heard frantic, appeals for help from the unfortunates jnnucd boneath tlu ruins. ""Walls wor tottering sill around us, and not. one of our party expected to escape alive. My brothers and sisters wero with rac, and in a frenzy of terror 1 we groped our way through tho streets, holding our own against tho panic-stricken panic-stricken people, clambering over piles 06 ruins, until wo finally reached u place of comparative safoty. But this was not dono before I was struck down and badly injured by a piece of furniture furni-ture that fell out of tho upper story of a house. "All along tho road wc were jostled bv scores of llcoing people, half-clad liko ourselves. The houses scorned to bo crashing to tho ground in whatever direction wo went. "Suddenly tho sea began lo pour into the town. U seemed to mo that this must mean tho cud of everything. The incoming waters rolled in a huge wave, accompanied by a terrifying roar. "Tho sky was aglow with the reflection reflec-tion of burning palaces and other buildings, build-ings, and as if this was not enough thero suddenly shot up into tho sky as huge burst of flame, followed bv a cra6h that seemed to shako tho wholo town. This probably was tho gas works blowing up. "Evontually wc reached tho principal princi-pal square of Messina. Iloro wo found two or thrco thousand utterly terrified people assembled. None of us know what lo do- "Wo wero all in agonv of fear. Men and women praj-od, groaned and shrieked. I saw one of tho big buildings on tho square collapse. It seemed to mo that scores of porson3 wero buried boneath tho ruiur,. Then I lost consciousness and I remembered no more." REFUGEES DRIVEN MAD BY THEIR EXPERIENCE PALERMO. Dec. 20. Railroad communication com-munication with Messina has been restored. re-stored. A traiuload of refugees camo in horo this morning, but rhJ3' arc all maddened with terror and no ono is capable of giving a connected account of the catastrophe. All agreo that Messina Mes-sina has been destroyed, and that the viclims will be counted by tho tens of thousands. Tho Triaucria hotel, with ninety guests, was demolished. Tho city nall, tho bourse, thfl telegraph offices , and tho barracks also wore destroyed. A tidal wave, thirty feet high, swept up three streets of tho city in tho height of the confusion following tho shock. Hundreds of ha If -dressed men. women and children who had fled from their houses to the streets wero caughr, in the onrush of waters and drowned or I injured. A iruinload of doctors, nurses nnd hospital equipment has been sent out from hero for Messina, aud the steamer Marguerita, loaded to tho guards willi persons who had relatives in the doomed city and others who will join in tho ro-liel ro-liel work, also has loft. . The refugees declaro that the entire country around Messina has been devastated de-vastated and that several villages havo disappeared, Telegraphic, reports havo been received here from all parts of the island of Sicily. They say the inhabitants inhabi-tants everywhere are terror-ptrickoii, aud praying in tho streets and churches. Reggio is described as nothing but a 'ut sepulchre. The captain of tho steamer Washington, Washing-ton, which was in the Straits of Messina Mes-sina at the time of the earthquake, says his vessel shuddered as if sho had run aground. A thick fog prevailed at the .time, and. it. was impossible. foe him to seo the Messina lighthouse or the Cala-b.rian Cala-b.rian coast,. The Washington u'aa.soon surrounded ivith boats appealing for aid. Tho. people wore taken on board. Tho. sea was littered with wreckage in every direction. Among thoso who lost their lives at Messina aro Commandant Passino and all the members of his family, Tho Russian warships that woro at Syracuse also havo loft for Messina to aid in tho work of rescue. AMERICAN CONSUL AND WIFE AMONG VICTIMS WASHINGTON. Dec. 20. Thai. Arthur Ar-thur S. Cheney, Amorican consul at Messina, Sicily, nnd his wife, lost their lives in tho earthquake disaster which devastated that city yesterday is indicated indi-cated by an official dispatch received tonight by the stato department from Smart Lnplon, American vice-consul at Mossina. Tho following dispalch camo via Malta, M.-tltosi islands, in tho Mediterranean, Mediter-ranean, being received there by wireless from Mossina by Consul William U. Gale and transmitted by him lo the stato department: "Tho Mossina consulato destroyed and consul and wife supposed to be dead. "LUPTON." . Consul Gale, in forwardiug tho dispatch dis-patch by cable, added that Tjiiptou is supposed to havo escaped, lie stated that a British warship had left Malta for Messina lo assist in the work of rescue, res-cue, Arthur S. Cheney is a native of Illinois, Il-linois, but was appointed consul to Messina Mes-sina from Connecticut August 15, 1907. Mr. Lupton, who is from Tennessoe, was only recently appointed vice and deputv consul at Messina, and had jusLarrivcd at his post, succeeding .T." Pierce, au Italian. RUSHING SOLDIERS TO SCENE OF DISASTER ROME, Dec. 29. The government is . sending troops with the utmost dispatch bj laud and sea lo tho scene of tho earlhquako disaster. Four thousand men from tho garrison at Romo already are on their way. Various steamship companies com-panies havo placed vessels at tho disposition dis-position of tho government, and the existing system of wireless communication communica-tion is increased. Wireless messages will bo transmitted by warships from tho straits. Tho Tribuna publishes an interview with a refugeo who mado his way into Monto Leoue in Calabria. This man says tho ontiro countryside is crowded with victims of the desolation. Many hundreds of living persons arc still beneath tho ruins in Calabrian towns, but it is quito impossiblo lo relieve thorn. At Riposlo tho tidal wavo. tv;is terrific. terri-fic. At first tho sea receded for a great distance from tho shore, and thon it swept forward with tremendous violence. vio-lence. Tho water, advancing in a hugo wavo. swopt beforo it every bouso and building for a thousand foot from the shoro line. The wators rushed through tho streets of Riposto lo a depth of from ton lo twenty foot. WILL SEND FUNDS THROUGH RED CROSS NEW YORK, Doc. 29. Couut Massig-lia, Massig-lia, tho Italian consul-general here, has issued tho following statement: "Subscriptions for the relief of the victims of l ho earthquako in Sieil-and Sieil-and Calabria arn officially open at tho consulalc-goucral of Tlaly, 22G La Fayette, Fay-ette, street. Now York Cityi at the Italian chamber of commerce. 20H Broadway, and at tho office of the delegato of tho Kalian Red Cross. 60 Wall slroel. Tho amount of thoso subscriptions sub-scriptions will be sent at once to tho Italian Red Cross in Rome, .whose efficient effi-cient relief of past calamities has been universally recognizer!. " MOUNT ETNA SHOWS UNUSUAL ACTIVITY CATANIA. Sicily. Dec. 29. Mount Etna is this morning showing considerable consider-able activity, and tho dotonationa, which can bo plaiuly heard in this city, together with tho volume of smoko rolling out of tho crater, havo added to tho panic of tho people. According to tho director of tho local observatory, this activity is directly connected with tho earthquakes of yesterday yes-terday which wrought such havoc in Calabria aud Sicily, but a great, eruption erup-tion i3 not expected. Such phenomena seldom accompany violent seismic disturbances. dis-turbances. BATTLESHIPS SENT TO BENDER ASSISTANCE MALTA. Dec. 2P. Tho British battleship bat-tleship Exmouth and tho cruisers Eury-alus Eury-alus and Minerva, commanded by Admiral Ad-miral Sir Asheton Curzon-IIowe, left here tori ay for Messina to render every assistance possible to the survivors of tho disaster. The British cruiser Sutlej, which was 'on hor way from Messiua to this port, was intercepted by wireless last night and sent back to Messina. PARIS. Dec. 29. Tho minister of marine lias ordorod tho French battleships battle-ships Justice and Verito and three torpedo tor-pedo boat dcstro3-ers to proceed to Messina to succor the yictims. ITALIANS OF CHICAGO ARE DEEPLY MOVED. CHICAGO. Dec. 29. Tho earthquake in southern Italy has thrown Chicago's Italian colonv into a stato of consternation conster-nation and despair. Tho Italian consulate con-sulate was overrun with frantic visitors visit-ors who clamored for direct uows of friends and relatives, aud several Italian Ital-ian theaters closed their doors. At the Bella Italia, a favorite gathering place on De? Plnincs street, several hundred listened while ono of thoin translated tho English columns into Italian. His voice was frequently drowned by cries and sobs and the shrieks of hysterical women. VIEW OF PROMINENT SCIENTISTS EXPRESSED LONDON". Doc. 2J). John TUIlne. tho well-known aetsinologlHt of ttic Islo of Wishl, said that Ills records showed tho recent parthniwlco to bo tho most severo experienced In Europo In many yours. Ho fours that when tho full cffectn avis known tho I03S of life will prove to lio oven more appalllnff than tho present rcportti Indicate. The shocks wore as severe se-vere a? those which devastated Snn Fnin-clauo Fnin-clauo and Valparaiso. VIENNA. Dec. 2ft. Prof. "Edward Suess. tho celebrated geologist, says he bolloves tho earthquake In SlcIIly was not .duo to chronic eruptions, but to tho subaldonco of the earth's crust, and that It Is likely to bo followed by a volcanic movement. ENGLAND MANIFESTS 1 KEENEST SYMPATHY L.QNDON, Doc. HO. Kliif? Edward was greatly affected by tho news of tho calamity calam-ity Umt has befallen Italy and wired his sincere condolences to the king. Tho London morning papers publish .odltorinls earnestly appealing to the British Brit-ish public for a prompt nnd generoun re-' spon.se to tho lord mayor's cull for funds to holp a friendly nation In the face of a calamity which Is among the greatest of modern times. The lord mayor. In addressing a meeting meet-ing tonight, made eloquent reference to the fadnej's of the terrible visitation to the land of sunshine, song and music. He wan sure that his fellow-countrymen would not wait to be asked to give assistance assist-ance to such a cause. TAMMANY HALL IS GENEROUS TO VICTIMS NEW YORK. Dec 20. Tammany Hall, at a meeting tonight, subscribed J2500 for tho relief of the stricken people of Italy. An announcement was mado tonight that there would be a special concert at the Metropolitan opera house on Sunday evening. January 10. for the sufferers, for which nil the Italian singers have offered their services. Signor Cnruno. the tenor, was one of the llrst to contribute to the. relief fund. Ho subscribed S2000. St. Louis Responds. ST. LOUTS. Dec. 29. Leighton Shields, secretary of tho Missouri branch of the National Rod Cross so-ciot3', so-ciot3', took immediate steps today toward to-ward tho collection of funds to bo sent .to tho earthquake sufferers in Ttaly. "Tho Italian Red Cross socictj' responded respond-ed nobly when San Francisco was devastated. de-vastated. " said Mr. Shields. "We should do as much for them." Message of Sympathy. PARIS, Dec. 29. President Fallieres has sent a telegram of condolenco to King Victor Emmanuel. Proniier Clc-mencoau Clc-mencoau has sent a similar mcssago to tho Ttaliar premier, whilo M. Pichon, tho French foreign minister, has communicated com-municated his sympathy 'to the Italian minister of foreign affairs. Many Americans Here. BOSTON, Doc. 2D. From the tabulations tabula-tions made up tonight. It Is apparent that there are about 100 New Englanders In Sicily or southern Italy. John T. Trowbridge Trow-bridge of Boston, the author, and Mrs. Trowbrldgo landed In Naples on December 17 and were, to go on at once to Sicily and spend some time. |