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Newspaper
Washington Post
Location
Washington, Washington Dc, United States of America
Date
Dec 30, 1908
Page
3
Refugees flood the Mes-sound coast as Messina’s devastation spreads. Thousands stream through ruined city streets seeking shelter while others lie trapped beneath debris. Wounded survivors recount terror as collapse and rain plunge the region into darkness and chaos.
Fragmentary text seems to reference a headline or notice with garbled place names and dates. No coherent event or entities are readable to identify a specific person, organization, or location.
Eyewitness accounts describe a night of destruction as tremors, collapsing buildings, and a blazing gas works blast transformed Messina. Survivors recount scrambling through wrecked streets, the sea flooding ashore, and cries for help amid widespread looting and chaos. In the panic, dozens, including customs agents and railroad workers, are unaccounted for or dead.
Aims at school frats to rub the till of secret societies in high schools. It was stated yesterday that Supt Stuart would shortly publish the report of the investigation. The study examines why cliques have formed in the schools and whether secret societies exist.
A long list of birth notices records many newborns with parents names such as John and Irena Wrox Myrtle Vaiden Henry Ya and Canale Nore John Band and Cleme Tams and Bla} Willams Hobert 16 and Margaret A Cleme etc. The fragmentary items include dozens of pairs, many with surnames like McFiroy Teacerk Walker and Crawford and various place names suggesting local community births and family announcements.
A compilation of marriage licenses lists numerous couples from Brunsw ick Maryland Virginia and West Virginia including Spurgin Cost and Anna Ruse Duffield W Va John Allken and Manche Jones Liguom Ya William J Flwing George T Carter and Grace Prentiss Rev C F P Windlgtor Rotert M Flor ence Glan Irme Rev J Howard Walls Jessa Amidon Clarice Garrikson Rev J B McLaughlin Delmer D Drower Aliee Mc Drown Baconieter Holmund Morr y Saur Paul A Menzel Lena Herbst and others across Alexandria Dumfries Richmond Wilmington and New York City with varied ages and localities listed for intended marriage.
Special to The Washington Post from Richmond Virginia December 29 panic broke out at a Christmas tree gathering in Decatur Street Baptist Church. A defective fire alarm or fore caused a blaze trapping more than 400 children and women. Mrs Joh Driver was seriously injured and many children burned or injured. exits were few as the old building burned, the Christmas tree and presents valued at thirteen total were lost.
The will of Claus Spreckels, executed in New York on May 11 1898, is placed in probate in San Francisco with the widow Anna Christina Spreckels to hold a life interest. After her death the estate goes to three children Claus A Spreckels Rudolph Spreckels and Emma Spreckels Mrs John Ferris of Kingwood England. The two other sons John D and Adolph are said to have been well provided for. Estate value estimated at 50 000 000 dollars though not listed.
Winthrop Beckman Winthrop of New England will be First Assistant Secretary of State under Philander Chase Knox Becomes successor to Robert Bacon and serves through Roosevelt's term with Taft consent. He previously held posts in Porto Rico and the Philippines and is 31 years old.
Weather notes from the US Department cover storm systems and rainfall moving east from the middle United States toward the coast, with cold fronts reaching the Mississippi Valley. Winds shift along coasts, and northern storm activity may bring flurries in the Northwest and Rockies. Separate reports note a Potomac Shenandoah area shooting during target practice, a girl injured with possible arm loss, and Norfolk hospital transfer.
The committee planning the presidential inauguration fireworks debated March 3 or 4 as the display night, favoring the Ellipse behind the White House. Proposals for other sites were rejected, and the plan emphasizes a one hour show with a personal escort for the President-elect. The committee adds veterans groups and civic bodies to oversee ceremonies and parade participation.
An upcoming issue will publish contributor lists for the Sughee committee with subscriptions received to date. The guarantee fund nears 380000. the plan has boosted donations. Gen Bingham seeks quarters for Draper staff as 2500 troops from Massachusetts National Guard prepare for the state pageant. The Second Corps and Bay State Cadets secure Masonic Temple space for sleeping quarters. Secretary Grant of the Chamber of Commerce cites a strong outlook for broad national civic and commercial representation.
George Cathey, a wealthy young man, was arrested for speeding his 12 horsepower car through the streets of Vanderbuilt Biltmore estate at about 30 miles an hour. He told the scandalized mayor he could not go slower than six miles an hour because his machine would not slow. The mayor did not accept this. Cathey said he could get some speed from the machine. He and his chauffeur then left for Salisbury to catch a main line train to Washington.
Messina, a major Italian port on the Strait of Messina, has endured earthquakes plagues and wars through its history. Once a commercial center famed for wine fruits and textiles it hosts a cathedral begun in Norman times and a university opened in 1538 with a technical institute and a municipal hospital.
Spencer Eddy United States minister to Argentina will go to Bucharest as minister to Roumania and to Bulgaria with the role of diplomatic agent. Huntington Wilson, former head of the State Department division, named Third Assistant Secretary of State, is slated to succeed Eddy in Buenos Aires. Alban Snyder American consul general at Buenos Aires is transferred to Panama. State Department had not confirmed the rumblings earlier but acknowledged imminent changes.
Bishop D J OConnects, rector of the Catholic University of America, guest in Savannah, said no official notice yet of his appointment as bishop eo adjuteer of San Francisco but has received advise to that effect He expressed willingness to serve there and noted uncertainty about his successor He respected Archbishop Reardon and awaits formal confirmation. Marriage license clerk refused license for Janette Peyton and John Farrel of Comon Wa due to underage status and missing parental consent.
Secretary tells Tang Shao Yi that the United States would not support war for another nation while seeking to aid China. Tang arrives with two missions one to obtain formal thanks for indemnity remission and another to gain protective alliance by diplomatic means. Officials say no alliance or wider military pledge will be offered, though Washington remains supportive of China’s territorial integrity and development. Tang continues discussions with Secretary Root without visible progress.
A minstrel show last night at the Church of the Natholy Brightwood directed by Janes YT Kelly drew about 300 attendees. Proceeds will liquidate debt from recent rectory construction. Performers included Waldo Pearce John Merckling Lewis Witkowski and others. audience applause was sustained.
A compiled list shows guests and destinations across multiple cities including Raleigh New Willard hotels in Boston Chicago Philadelphia San Francisco Los Angeles Leavenworth and more. The entries note travelers such as Baclinbridg Raleigh Teuth Boswell New Willard and various accompanying spouses and initials indicating rooms or associations.
Members of the Chamber of Commerce show strong interest in officer elections on January 12 with four director nominations already filed. Nominations for directors must be made days before the vote while officer nominations may be made just prior to polling. Names listed include George E Walker Savereet N Waters WW Howie Lewis Hreuninger D Porter Appleton 1 Clark yo A Leftwich Sinclair Josen Strausburger Joseph To Weller and others. Attention centers on who will become president as Arthur Moses and William Gude are noted as leading candidates in circulated letters to members.
A late era notice records donations to the Associated Charities. Contributions include funds from John Jaydson, William Dodge, Mos Murrey Audison, Joby N Bree, and Mantel Hazard, totaling several dollars and cents. Additional gifts support food, fuel, and clothing for distressed families, with contributions from Charles & Rice, Mary Ro Laurene, and others, and a memorial fund for W. Broan.
Robert Schraeder, a Salvation Army worker from Baltimore, was struck by a tram near Laurel on Sunday night and thrown into a gully. He lay there until Monday night, then was found and taken to Emergen Hospital with arm fractures and head injuries. He told police he slept in a New Revising Schedules on Potters and fied Monday. A passing farmer gave him food, or he would have starved. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad line near Laurel was the scene.
The tariff framer's subcommittee yesterday debated Schedule 4 revisions on earths curlenwuare chemicals pigments and paints to align tariff law. James Goodwyn Jol Lassiter Drue White Well Cook and WH Warren were arraigned for preliminary trial amid a fatal iron bar incident near Albemarle Sound with a woman witness recalling the scene.
In Sicily a singer explains that residents seek shelter under arches or by windows at tremors as a habit. The piece notes Italians and Americans observing signs before quakes, with vivid depictions of processions, prayers, and reactions to tremors and eruptions in Naples and near Mount Vesuvius.
The West Virginia Bar Association began its 34th annual session with Vice President Walter Pendleton in the chair due to President St George Brooke's illness. The secretary urged enlarging the state supreme court and increasing salaries. Judge Baldwin of Yale University spoke in the evening. Pearl male murder case charged two counts. Malloy received five months and five days for disorderly conduct and assault to police.
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