An Unspeakable Horror by Editor

An Unspeakable Horror

By Editor

Southern Italy Devastated

200,000 Reported Dead

Cone and lava fields of Vesuvius after the eruption of 1872.

ON December 28, at 5 A.M., a most fearful earthquake devastated all Southwestern Italy, indicated on our map, drawn for the purpose. On that day it was stated that probably 20,000 were killed. The next day the report was given as 100,000, and on the morning of December 31 the cable told us that 120,000 were killed in Messina and Reggio alone. The last estimate to reach us is 200,000 dead. One of the refugees from Messina states that 100,000 were killed in that city alone. It will be seen that the center of the earthquake district is the volcano Etna which is in eruption. We do not know that we can add anything to the awful descriptions which will be given by the entire daily press of the United States. We mention some of the towns which are said to be destroyed.

Messina and Reggio have been totally destroyed. Messina is on the Island of Sicily, and Reggio in the Province of Calabria in Italy. Among other towns in Calabria, Palmi with 20,000 inhabitants, Baguare with 10,000, Scylla with 8,000, Villa San Giovanni 10,000, and all the coast villages near Messina. Taormina, where many Americans live, was seriously damaged.

Marine reports are that the coasts of Southern Italy are entirely altered, especially so the Straits of Messina. The famous Cape Pharo has been entirely destroyed and sunk in the sea. The Lipari Islands were reported swallowed up, but later news declared them safe, tho badly shaken.

The distress and suffering beggar description. Many of the people, half-mad, poured into the churches while they were falling; victims are imprisoned in ruins, and starving hordes are fleeing from city to city, and pouring into partially destroyed towns where there is nothing for them to eat. It is said that the death list will reach 300,000. It may be that it will not reach half that sum, and yet every report from the stricken district is more awful than the previous. Among the towns on the Island of Sicily reported destroyed are Catania, Agosta, ancient Syracuse, Catlaninissetta, and Girgenti. The territory affected is about 100 miles square, including, of course, the water district as well as the land. In the extent of territory affected it is not very different from that of the California earthquake of 1906, but in violence it seems to have greatly exceeded it. The time during which it lasted is recorded as thirty-two seconds on the seismographs in other parts of the world. It was probably longer than that in the affected district. No language can describe the awful terror which is upon the excitable inhabitants of Southern Italy; and the heart of the whole civilized world will go out in sympathy for those who survive.

A general view of Herculaneum, buried in an eruption of Vesuvius in A.D. 79. It lies beneath the surface from 30 to 120 feet.

At this writing both the king and queen of Italy are in the center of the awful calamity, and are doing all in their power to relieve and palliate the suffering. Subscriptions are pouring in from different parts of the world. Mr. John Pierpont Morgan is reported as having given $10,000. There are not a few wealthy men in America who could, if they would, combine their donations and soon be able to relieve the physical needs of all who could at all be relieved by humanity. The utter destruction of the cities, the crushing out and burning of from one to three hundred thousand persons, the awful agony of separation and fear which has come upon the people, can never be relieved by anything which humanity can do. These will abide with the people still. Such an awful event as this ought to cause thoughtfulness on the part of human beings everywhere. We may think that we ourselves are safe, we may solace ourselves with the thought that we are not living in an earthquake zone. One scientist fifty years ago declared that the United States was not in the earthquake belt, and that the cities of this country had nothing to fear. Since that time, however, Charleston was visited, and also San Francisco. Could we but remember God's word that the earth "shall wax old as doth a garment," and that as an old garment it is liable to breaks and tearing in different parts, we would not wonder. That same word has also told us of the time when a mightier earthquake than the earth has yet seen will occur, when the cities of the nations shall fall. Could we but appreciate this, there would be a turning to God, and a seeking for that refuge from these calamities which no power of man can give.

Map of earthquake district. The transverse lines are longitude 15th degree east, and latitude 40th degree north. The square represents a territory of sea and land 420 by 350 miles square. Mt. Etna is the center of the disturbance. Messina, Catania, Agosta, Syracuse, and Reggio, are among the greatest sufferers. Mt. Vesuvius is at the north of the district.

The God who made the earth, and who yet reigns notwithstanding the sin which He has suffered for a while to exist, still has a care for the sin-laden planet. And when His great plan has been worked out, when to the entire universe sin will be seen to be sinful, and only sinful, the same creative power of God will renew the earth, make it stable forever, and people it with all those who have had faith in Him.

It is a good thing in times like these to have a faith that reaches beyond the earthquake, beyond all its untold calamities, beyond the many forms of death and distress which grow out of it.

In the meantime all Christian hearts sympathize with the sufferers; and all truly enlightened Christians can answer the messengers of the nation who are enquiring for places of refuge, "that Jehovah hath founded Zion, and in her shall the afflicted of His people take refuge."

General view of Palermo, the largest town in the north of the island of Sicily, where some damage was done.

An eruption of Vesuvius, April 26, 1872, at 3:30 P.M. Etna is now belching forth smoke and lava in a similar way, beclouding the sun by day, and illuminating the heavens by night.