The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-30
MOST APPALLING.
Continued from Page one.)

a national committee has been FORM
ed to collect funds for the victims. The
committee is headed by the Duke of
Aosta and includes the presidents of the
senate and the chamber of deputies. the
mayor of Rome and all prominent men
in the leading towns. The subscription
list has been opened with 100000 con-
tributed by King Victor Emmanuel All
banks clubs. civic and commercial as
sociations and the newspapers nave OPP
ened subscription lists.
The premier has received a telegram
from Signor Felice. a deputy at Mes
sina summing up the situation as fol-
Raced to the Ground
''Messina is completely destroyed
RACED to the ground. The victims may
he numbered by tens of thousands. The
completing the destruction of the city
Salvage implements, hremen and SOL
diers must be sent instantly. The dis
aster exceeds the widest Imagination.
The volcano of Stromboli is active
and the seas around the island are very
agitated and dangerous to navigation.
The pope has telegraphed the arch
bishop at Palermo a large sum of mon
ey and instructed him to proceed to
Messina Immediately to help the surVi-
Vors.
From the latest estimates today it is
feared that the total number of victims
in sicily and Calabria will reach more
than 100. 900. while the damage to pro-
perty will be several hundreds of mil
lions. Just before the kings departure
yesterday one of the crowds of nota-
bIes. seeing their majesties off exclaim-
ed:
Surely the presence of their majes
ties will be sufficient to console the I'M
happy people
Don't talk nonsense, the KING re-
torted sharply.
MANY survivors at Catania, Sicily,
temporarily lost their reason and when when
questioned concerning the disaster glar-
ed at their questioners and muttered
incoherently and ceaselessly: 'Messina
is destroyed"
the coast state that Messina is still
blazing despite the torrential down
pour of rain. News reaching Catanza-
70 from the outlying districts in Gala
bria indicates that 35 towns and vii
lagos have been wiped out, with the
number of dead in that district alone
exceeding 10000. The few survivors are
mad with terror and have fled to the
forest and mountain tops where they
are subsisting on roots and the bark of
trees.
Only a Heap of Ruins.
Paris. Dec. 3O.-A special dispatch
from Palermo says that a torpedo boat
which went to the aid of the earth
quake sufferers at Reggie has return
ed reporting that there remained of the
city, but a heap of tangled ruins.
Train Turned Back.
Palermo. Dec. 30.-A relief train dis
patched toward Messina in the hope of
aiding the earthquake sufferers was
forced to return here. being able to
go only within ten miles of the stricken
city on account of demolished tracks.
The engineer said that all houses along
the route showed effects of the earth
quake.
There was slight. undulatory shock
of the earth at 7:30 o'clock last evening.
which in view of the disastrous results
OF the recent earthquake was Sutnclent
to create a terrible panic. There was
ar-a1 1G11 to he
places accompanied by lamentations
and shrieks of fear. Although late in
the day. the population invaded the
churches and carried out the images OF
the saints and sacred vessels, then
marched in a professional through the
streets, imploring a cessation of the
earthquake scourge.
News from Messina calls for urgent
measures there at once. Food eSpeci-
ally Is the present greatest need, as
many are in danger of starvation. All
trains bring refugees by the hundreds
from the devastated city.
Naples Expects $4,000 Injured
Naples. Dec. 30-The appalling magni-
tude of the tragedy in the south of
Italy is being brought home to the peo-
pie of the north by the arrival here of
refugees wounded and unscathed from
Ndessina. The fact that dying people
have to be brought such a distance for
medical attention shows the immensely
of the disaster and the inadequacy of
the relief measures at present posi-
BILE
The German steamer Seraphfn came
into Naples early this morning with 800
refugees. The wounded are all in the
cabins and their condition is pitiable.
A few of them have had their hands
and limbs bandaged but many have not
yet received medical attention. The
Seraphin had to come to Naples because
all the hospitals in the principal towns
of Sicily are overlooking, while there
are not enough doctors and nurses for
plies. bandages and surgical instru
rnents are lacking 1t is expected that
by tomorrow night fully $4,000 injured
persons Will have made their way to this
city. coming by merchantmen and war
ships.
The municipality realizing the diff
Guilty of coping with such tremendous
responsibilities has addressed an appeal
to the local population. asking the peo-
pie of Naples to succor and give hos
pitaHty to the unfortunate Sicilians.
Every means of transportation to move
the wounded from the harbor to the
hospitals and infirmaries is being made
use Of but still the conveyances are in
sufficient in number. Several buildings
are being prepared to serve as provis-
ionaI hospitals. The Seraphin brought
stories of heart rending separations of
families, and the hopeless and frantic
seeking of relatives one for the other.
Just as the steamer was leaving Mes
sina q man made his way to the dock
and called again and again for his wife
and children. The people on board lis
tened attentively, then from the vessel
came the cry in a woman's voice:
I am here. L am here.
Are the children there?' came from
the dock.
Yes, we are all here" the woman re-
piled.
But there was TO note of joy from the
unfortunate mother. Her heart could
hold no happiness after the experiences
of the night.
Vast Treasure Lost.