Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-12-30
AMERICAN CONSUL MISSING
Arthur F. Cheney Probably Victim Oi
Earthquake.
RELIEF SUBSCRIPTIONS OPENED
American Red Cross ut Once Tenders
It's services-Italian Omcers In
New York Issue Appeal
for Funds.

| WASHINGTON, Dec 2s.-Arthur f.
| Cheney. American consul at Messlna, and
| his wife are supposed to have been killed
/ by the earthquake, according to dis
patch received by the State department
tonight from Vice Consul Stuart Lupton.
News of the devastation wrought by
| earthquake in Italy was received here
with profound interest. The tremors we're
| recorded on the seismograph instruments
of both the weather bureau and the coast
and geodetic survey. and the weather bu-
reau officials had figured out almost with
mathematical precision the section of the
globe where the great force of the shock
was felt. but there was nothing to indi-
cate the tremendous volume of the dis
| aster, as brought out by later press re-
ports showing the enormous loss of life
and property damage The State depart
ment and Italian embassy enxiously await
advices regarding the catastrophe.
The American National Red Cross today
sent out telegraphc requests to all Of ito
branches for relief fuEds, to be applied to
the sufferers from the earthquake in
southern Italy. The italian Red Cross So
ciety being so fully organized, 1t will not
be necessary for the American society to
do more than to send money contributions,
which will be done as promptly as possi-
lie.
Following is the text of the presidents
message to the king of italy
His Majesty, Vittorio Emmanuel,
Rome: With all my countrymen am ap-
palled by the dreadful calamity which
has befallen your country.
'I offer my sincerest sympathy. Amer
lean National Red Cross has issued ap-
peals for contributions for the sufferers
! and notified me that they will immedi-
ately communicate with the italian Red
Cross. THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
The American National Red Cross today
sent a telegram over the signature Of It's
president william II. Taft, to the italian
Red Cross at Rome in the following Ian
guage:
"The American Red Cross desires to ten
der to the Italian Red Cross its profound
sympathy because OF the terrible earth
quake in italy and Calabaria. An appeal
has been issued to the American Red Cross
for contributions for the benefit of the
sufferers"
The Red Cross society also requested
the State department to extend to the
American ambassador expressions Of SYM
pathy from the American society to the
|. Italian Red Cross and to inquire to what
extent relief measures will be necessary.
On the occasion of the eruption of We
suvius $1,000 was sent to Italy by the
American society.
There are no American war vessels In
the vicinity of southern Italy. The Scor-
pion, converted yacht. which is at Con-
stantinople, is nearer the scene OF the dis
aster than any other American naval YES
sci.
Subscription Opened I'm New York
NEW YORK. Dec 29,--The news of the
earthquake in southern Italy with It's
appalling loss of life was received IN
several Italian colonies this evening with
every evidence of distress OF the $4,000
| or more Italians here, fully 100000 are from
the stricken district. Thousands upon
thousands have families, relatives and
friends in Calabria and Sicily. Many
bestened to the offices of the Italian con-
sui general or the various italian news
papers. only to have their worst fears
confirmed. New York City has two ex-
tensive quarters given over to Italians
almost exclusively, besides many smaller
ones The consul general after confer
ence with leading Italians, issued a call
for subscriptions in the following state
ment:
Subscriptions for the relief of the vic
tins Of the earthquake in Sicily and
; Caiabria are officially opened at the con
sulate general of Italy, 226 lafayette street,
Of Commerce, 2O3 Broadway, and at the
office of the delegate of the Italian Red
Subscriptions will be sent at once to the
t Calabria Red Cross in Rome, whose
3 efficient relief w work IN past ealamitles mas
Count Massiglia in speaking of the call
e for relief, said he would do all he could
' to succor the work. II shall be glad" he
E said, 'to receive contributions from any
one who may wish to aid the victims of the
$ disaster At the time Of the big earth
quake a relief organization was founded
under the direction of the Italian Chamber
o Of Commerce, the italian Red Cross and
I other Italian organizations in New York
I City and throughout the country, and a
similar plan will doubtless now be fol-
lowed"
s The Italian Chamber OF Commerce met
9 late this afternoon under the chairman
ship of it's president. Luigi Folari, to con-
slider plans for raising money for the suf-
ferers.
Hard Blow to Trade.
: President Folari. in an address, said that
Of the S5O,OOO.0OO of imports received here
from Italy, Sl0,OOO.0OO came from the af-
fected earthquake district The disaster
would be a hard blow to trade Signor
y Folar also said there was considerable
: immigration from Calabria and Sicily in
= 1905 following the earthquake of that year
: He said he expected new exodus of the
v frightened people now, but on a much
o larger scale.
g Two Italian newspapers, the Balletttc
5 Della Sera and the rPogressio, each headed
I subscription list started in their columns
5 by subscribing $500 each. Two other Ital
Il ian newspapers, L'Ussldo and Telegraso
advised their readers to send contribution,
direct to the Red Cross, explaining tha
n
much quicker in that way.
n All OF the Italian newspapers issued extr;
editions today, giving translstions OF tn,
cable dispatches brought TO this eountr!
to describe the horror.
: The American National Red Cross, o
a which President-elect Taft is the head
has offered its services In cooperating
4 with the Italian Red Cross. The New Yorl
state branch has already issued a cal
for aid.
Mayor Des Planches. the Italian ambas