$ Jdoskan
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TCESDAY, IWCEMBER 2H, 1908 PRICE, 10 CENTS
MOST APPALLING CATACLYSM IN HISTORY
Earthquake and Tidal Wave Destroy 75,000 People
(United Press Telegraph-Cable Service.)
ROME. Dec. 29. ? The complete destruction of Messina, a large sea
port town in Sicily, is confirmed by an offioiai despatch received by
King Emmanuel today. The story as indicated in brief reports is with
out parallel in the history of the world's ^atalysms. Twelve thousand
are already dead and the brief reports give reason for belief that th is
%
number will be greatly multiplied.
The destruction was wrought first by an earthquake, which shook the
whole neighboring coast of the Mediterrean yesterday.
The town was shaken down, the fire uncontrolled, swept over the
ruin, followed by a tidal wave that carried with it a deluge of mud from
the sea fcottom which was deposied to a depth of two feet over the city,
and remaining after the waters had retire#.
The visitation was sudden and found the people at their daily voca
tions. Buried under the debris thousands were roasted alive. With the
coming of the tidal wave, hours later, many other thousands were drowned
or smothered in their muddy graves.
There is reason to believe that all the towns in the straits of Messina
have been as effectually wiped out with attending appalling loss of life.
King Emmanuel has gone to the scene to take personal charge of
the relief work. All the battleships of Italy have been ordered to the
scene.
FRANCE SEitDS BATTLESHIPS
PARIS, Dec. 29. ? France has sent two battleships and three destroyers
to aid the Italian fleet in relief work along th? stricken coast of Sicily.
SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DEAD
WASHINGTON. Dec. 29. ? Advices received ky the state department
and from representatives of the Italian government this afternoon are to
the effect that the dead, resulting from the earthquake at Si&My will num
ber 75,000 and that twice that number are injured and suffering from ex
posure and threatened starvation. No !?r ts are placed upon the need
of relief. The catastrophe is declared to be altogether beyond tfie reaches
of the imagination. What relief is possible will be offered and the na
tion is already responding without a call being made.
LON?ON, Dec. 39. ? The reports of the catastrophe off the coast of
Italy and along the straits of Messina reaching here are appalling Ex
traordinary preparations are being taken looking to the sending of r?'i?f.
Offers are being made by all the nations of Europe and Ameriea.
. MOUNT AETNA THREATENS ERUPTION
CATANIA, Dec. 29. ? Mount Aetna is showing violent signs of activ
ity and eruption is thought imminent at any moment. Smoke is teauing
from the crater and rumbling noises are heard at long distances from the
peak.
Wholesome, Home Made Bread and
Fruit Cake at Grant's Grocery. Phoive
Alaska Views at half price. Dra
I P?r & c?
To reduce our stock, so as to
make the task of taking inven
tory less, we have placed the
prices on goods in all depart
ments where they will surely
appeal to you.
Cyitcb and Kennedy
The Up-to-DateHaberdashers and Ladies' Furnishings
ROLLER ENTERS
PRIZE RING
(By United Press.)
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 29.? Today
Dr. Roller. of Seattle, late aspirant
for the world's championship In Jho
wrestling field posted $1,000 forfeit
to meet the winner of the Barry-Kauf
man prize fight to be pulled off
Thursday. Arrangements have been
effected whereby Roller and the win
der of Thursday's fight will meet
January 26th, for a twenty-five round
go. This Is Roller's first renl essay
In the prize ring.
HIEROi
WINS BIT 217 PINS
Skagway went straight up against|
it in the bowling bout at Whitehorscj
last nlgfrt Whitehorse led at the
finish by 217 pins.
Whltehorso mude a total of 2,517
and Skagway 2,300. Several of Skag
way's most dependable men scattered
to the winds. The result of the
night's work leaves Skagway 238 to
the good in the series, the lead hav
ing been before the Whitehorse meet
ing 475.'
Tho women's team, however, re
deemed Skagway from utter rout.
They won over Whitehorse by 73 pins
? not so many, but enough.
Following!# the individual score for
each of the three games by the men.
Skagway:
Clayson, 153, 148, 177; total, 478.
Ro<5fc, 141, 172, 149; total,, 462.
A. C. Elanchard, 151,155, 123; total,
429.
Shaw, 170, 170, 149; total, 489.
U. Blancharri, 162, 135, 145; total,
442.
Whitehorse ?
Barrager, 171,167, 177; total. 575.
Watson, 153, 195, 177; total, 525.
Cade, 252, 119, 164; total, 535.
Hume, 163, 159, 158; total, 480.
Fiaher, 186, 155, 121; total, 462.
Subscribe for The Alaskan.
TO BOOST for
HOME RULE
(By United Press.)
SEATTLE, Doc. 29. ? Alaska day as
proposed by Alaskans yesterday is to
be mado the vehicle of booming home 1
rule. This will bo the key note of
an enthusiastic campaign. Alaskans
are taking hold with a vim and pro
pose to push the campaign all over
Alaska, to be concentrated here in a
?:reat demonstration on the big day at
ihe fair. The newspapers have takon
the cue and aro to cry the slogan
from now on. Many plans are being
proposed to give the scheme Interest
and publicity.
Diamond mines in Yukon territory
?coin the latest possibility. A whit
ish stone found in a bluish clay irock
of Montague has aroused considerable
Interest in that part of the northern
territory of late, and samples of the
stones have been sent to London and
Paris for test. C. P. Mack, a well
known prospector of the locality, is
the discoverer, and has sent the
stones for the test. Mack learned of
the location of the stones through
the Indians. They had brought to
the Yukon river station at Tantalus a
number of the whitish stones.and had
used them in scratching or cutting
glass. This fact became known to
the whites, and Mack followed up the
suggestion by someone that they
might be diamonds. He went to the
place where they were found and
there obtained several samples.
Montague, the point near where
the find was made, Is on the over
land winter road between Dawson
and Whiteliorse, 24 miles back- from
the Yukon river landing at Tantalus.
The fact that volcanic action Is
traceable in that part of the territory
makes the suggestion all the stronger
that possibly diamonds exist there.
The great diamond fields of the world
are In volcanic centers.
? ? ."rp a
. . \ i . :'.: Coni on he Cob,
r :??!/ " i ' ..? -:it! - vo, comes to
; yesf t: ;>ic with the garden flavor
perfectly preserved ? the way you
$ used to get it from the home garden.
Preferred Stock Canned Goods
Pick *4 Whirtfar th? B?it u* Orova
including Com on the Cob, which is plucked in the
morning and canned the same day ? in Maine because
the sweetest and tenderest com in the world grows in
the vegetable gardens of Maine.
T wo ears to the tin, or eight ears to the tin, for your
convenience ? plump, sweet, delicious.
The United States Government is a large buyer of
Preferred Stock Canned Goods, for use at the Army
Tosts in the Northwest.
Enjoy variety and gua/ity--PREFERRED STOCK?
^ _ from your Grocer
vLlSN * LEWIS, WboUuUOritMrt. fOKTLASll. OKIOOXO.S A
GANTY & FRANDSON
BURNS SAYS HE
WILL TRY AGAIN
(By United Press.)
SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. .29. ? ?A ca
blegram has been received from Tom
my Burns In which he says Johnson's
seconds Induced the police to stop
the fight at the time they did; that
Johnson was tiring while he (Burns)
was strong and anxious to continue.
He says he had the same chance to
win that Nelson had with Gans. He
says he is anxious to meet Johnson
again and if given a chance he can
win, sure.
ETHEL IAS
"GOME OUT"
(By United Press.)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.? At a
briiliunt function at the Whltchou^jj
last night, with the elite of Washing
ton in attendance, the east room
given over to dancing, Ethel Roose
velt made her formal debut in society
The Alaska Steamship Co., will
run three steamers next summer by
way of Juneau. They are the North
western. Yucatan and Santa Clara.
Excursion rates will be made from Se
attle to Valdez and return. Hereto
fore this company have carried excur
sionists on the regular boats on the
southeastern Alaska run.
The Alaska SS Jefferson left
Ketchikan at 2 o'clock this morning
and is expected. to reach Juneau by
midnight and Skagway tomorrow af
ternoon, according to advices receiv
ed by Mr. Carroll.
WILL BE LONG
COURT TERM
Court officials predict a long term
of court, owing to the number of cases
on the motion calendar and the crim
inal calendar. The Hasey case which
is called for trial in January wUl no
doubt take a great deal of time and
the officials are doubtful as to
whether the witnesses will be on
hand at the appointed time. The
witnesses are scattered all over the
country, some being in the far north.
M. B. Morrisey is at Coldfoot, above
the Arctic Circle and deputy U. S.
marshals are now on the way with
dog teams to bring him in. So many
of the witnesses are In remote corn
ers of the globe that it will take time
to have them all here. ? Juneau Dis
patch.
taftIOour
TOE SOOTH
(By United Press.)
AUGUSTA, Ga? Dec. 29.? Mr. Taft
will, on the 15th of January start on
a tour of all the southern states
starting from Atlanta. It Is his de
sire to come into personal touch with
the southern people and learn their
desires and needs. The length of
time to be employed has not yet
been determined.
J. J. Doyle, popular section boss
of the summit, came down on last
evening's train and returned this
morning.
WUIWIIIIj "
We have just received
a new line of suits for
\
"Winter trade, that are
excellent in quality and
very moderately priced,
$15,00 to $22.50, come
in and look them over.
See window display.
CLAYSON & CLSSSL
. J