Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1902 — CyCLONE INVADES ISLAND OF SICILY [ARTICLE]

CyCLONE INVADES ISLAND OF SICILY

Kills Hundreds of Persons and Destroys Much Property. STORM COVERS A LARGE AREA Path of the Tornado Was 124 Mlleo In Length, Everything In Line Being Swept Before It—German Steamer la Wrecked. Hundreds of persons were killed and enormous property loss waa caused by a cyclone which swept over the eastern coast of the island of Sicily. Flooded streams and what seemed a tidal wave were features of the storm. A large portion of the low lying part of Modica has been destroyed. Two torrents, the St Francis and the Ste. Marie, which descend through the town rose suddenly and brought with them masses of mud and heavy stones and invaded the buildings of Modica. They carried away everything in their course. Many houses were utterly wrecked and others were seriously damaged. Numerous salmala perished. Church Becomes a Morgue. The number of victims is still unknown, but eighty corpses have been deposited in a single church. At Soicli twelve persons were killed. Tasearo was destroyed. Enormous damage was done at Palazzolo, Acreide, Faria and Geratana. Catania, a city on the east coast, is flooded and many houses, including the villa Bellini, have been damaged. The railroads have suffered seriously. Sea Sweeps Inland. For twenty-four hours before the cyclone burst over the Island a violent storm raged on the eastern coast The path of the cyclone was 124 miles long, and everything in the line of the storm was destroyed. The sea swept inland a great distance, doing enormous damage, while there were violent submarine agitations between Sicily and the mainland. Along the railroad from Catania to Palermo the force of the cyclone was such that rails were torn up and hurled to a great distance. Find 100 Bodies. It is reported from Modica that 100 bodies already have been found, but that the number of dead bodies swept away by the torrent is unknown. The survivors of . the catastrophe have taken refuge in the hills. A relief committee and search parties have been organized at Modica. Ths disaster is supposed to have been due to a marine waterspout The German steamer Caprera was wrecked at Catania after a terrible struggle with the waves.