The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-06-06
AMERICA THEIR GOAL.
Stampede of Italians Sweeps
South Italy Bare.
BEAUTIFUL LAND NOW WASTE.

Wide Districts DspopuIatsd by Frantic
Rush 70 United States After Dollars.
Whole Villages Left Without an In
observation-disclosures Go Begging.
The White Star liner Cretic, Captain
Kelk, which arrived in New York re-
Gently from Mediterranean ports and
the Azores, brought nearly $500 pas
sengers, OF whom 2,117 were in the
steemge, says the New York World.
The Rev William b. Farrill Of the
Church of Our Lady of I.oretto, Hemp
stead N. Y. and several others OF the
Cretic's passengers had been travelling
through southern Italy. where most of
the Italian immigrants who have come
10 America recently had their homes.
The stories told by several OF the re-
turning yoyagers of the desOlation OF
southern Italy would make compan-
ion piece to Oliver Goldsmiths THE
Deserted Village"
UHt!l about three months ago the
immigration from southern italy was
just about normal Then, as one of the
passengers expressed 1t, "the scream
OF the eagle on the American dollar
was heard In the land" and whole
families began disposlng of their
household effects and soon after set
sail for America. Stories of great
wealth that shortly could be acquired
IL the United States were circulated,
and soon what was at first a small pro
cesslon became an army marching to
the sea.
Those who were left took advantage
of their opportunity and bought farms
for almost nothing, 40 eager were the
owners TO reach the land of plenty,
where they were told silver dollars
rolled around the streets" Soon after
ward the recent purchasers of these
farms felt the gold fever" aud they
In turn sold out. Soon there were moro
farms than those who remained could
manage, Village after village became
depopulated In this way.
About q month ago still more won
derful stories OF the great prosperity OF
America were spread. With this dream
OF wealth before them those who were
left fastened to board the FIRST ship |
for New York. This rush soon became |
stampede. II was like that In which |
children followed the piper OF Hame |
lin. most OF these people did not even
try to sell their farms, for there was
no one left to buy, Even when they
arrived az the large cities they made
no attempts to dispose Of their prop
erty. fearing It would entail loss OF
time.
Now that part OF southern Italy.
which - described as a magnificent |
country. with soil of the richest kind, |
whose farms yielded crops In album
dance, with prosperous, well filled vii
lagos every few miles, Ia a scene OF
desolation In some Of the VILLAGES
there was not a living soul. Houses. |
with their doors and windows left
open, were deserted as though their
tenants had fed from a pestilence. In
some OF them the tables had not been
even cleared OF the remains OF the last
meal In nearly all the household fur.
niture had been left. In some OF the
homes stray dogs prowled.
On many of the farms plows had
been left In the burrows, with here and
there q coat or an old hat hanging on
the handles, as though the owner had
been suddenly called away and had
had no time to return. Crops were left
ripening in the fields, no hand being
left to harvest them. In several places
horses were seen grazing In the mead
ows, their owners probably 5000 miles
away.
This great emigration has become a
matter of serious concern to many
prominent Italians, who ask, who
VIII take the places of those who are
goneY'