MOB LAW AT MESSINA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 22, 19 February 1909, Page 4

MOB LAW AT MESSINA.

Dr. Alrotti, who escaped from llessiua to Palermo nl the time of the earthquakes told the story of an assault he watched on the Customs House at the former city. "While the steamer was leaving the sliore," the doctor said. " renewed shouts assailed our ears, and we witnessed a scene of savagery, one of those demonstrations of criminal madness for which it is scarcely possible to find any justification. A crowd of persons of all descriptions and every age, some naked, others half-clothed, and nearly all of them injured, rushed to the Customs ollice and looted it in the hope of iindtag something eatable. The Customs officers were quite unable to oiler any rosisteiice to the frenzied mob. Suddenly the report of revolvers rang out, and the people were lighting among themselves for a handful of vegetables or a small piece of bread. From the deck of the steamer we watched this terrifying sight." The doctor also gave a vivid description of his passing through the mined town, with its pile of shapeless masonry, its supposed dead, its buried living shouting for help, screaming in agony, blaspheming with maniacal frenzy, or pitifully invoking the aid of the madonna and all the saints, lie added :—" On reaching the railway station we found a multitude of people assembled who had escaped from the disaster. Some of them were seriously, and others only slightly injured. A poor youlh. who was quile naked, joined the liming and begged pitconsly for something with which to oover himself. A monk look his mantle from his shoulders and gave it to the young man. The central station had been badly damaged, and all round there raged a deafening tumult. On entering the building we witnessed ;i terrible scene. A number of people were fighting to get into the goods depm. and the more violent among them broke the windows and pillaged the place, carrying away all sorts of articles. Accompanied by two monks we left the station, and soon found our wav to the sliore."