The Washington times., 1908-12-30

report to the government, expressed the
fear that the entire southern coast Of
Calabria was sinking into the sea.
Reggie and the surrounding country
had a population OF about $1,000 and the
only way Of arriving at the fatalities
in this region is by the ominous ex-
preston OF those who have made
partial investigation that but few Of
the people escaped
To escape the certainty Of a pestiIcnce
Gen. Fecia Di Cassato today ignored
the wishes OF the survivors at Messina
and began cremating the heaps Of bodies
that were piled in the streets and are
rapidly undergoing decomposition. The
same order has been given to those in
charge of the rescue work in other
towns.
The work OF rescUinE the survivors AZ
Messlna got we'll under way today.
Steamships took many Of the wounded
and half crazed remnant OF Mcssina
population to other coast towns. while
a train connection between Pa'eromo
and a point twelve miles from Messina.
permitted hundreds to be taken to the
SicIlan capital The government is
making heroic efforts to reach Reggie
and today started a force Of men 10
that point to rebuild the railway con-
ncctions.
Ambassador Griscom has offered the
assistance of the American Red Cross
Society to the Italian government. The
prOncr was warmly received and an
official communication Of the stricken
country needs will he made to Mr.
Criscom as soon as possible. Similar
offers have come from other countries
Wherever the boats touched the sur
vivors rushed to the shore and prayed
that they might be removed from the
scene of their Affections. Many Of them
carried their dead with them. Men and
women wadcd out into the water and
would have drowned themselves, had
not the more composed Of their number
drawn them back
All such requests had to DC denied for
all the available boats are now needed
70 carry soldiers and provisions 10 the
stricken region, and To remove such OF
the survivors as are in imminent dam
ger.
Rome has never experienced a wilder
time than has followed the earthquake.
The streets, particularly around the
newspapoS Offices and the government
buildings, have been jammed with pcO-
pic since the first reports Of the quake.
They have clammored and fought Tor
Ecws al through the nights and days
The city is simply stunned All who
have friends OF relatives in the affect
cd region are being given free trans
portation, though the government ie
urging all TO remain away unless they
go i'm the work Of rescue.
City in Mourning.
All festivities in the city have been
abandoned, the theaters are closed
and the court new year celebrations
and banquets have been postponed
All the railways and telegraph lines
have been placed under the supervt-
sion Of the government for the pres
cnt.
From CaIabria and Sicily, where the
blight of the earthquake struck In it's
most terrifying form. the people Of
Rome are more and more appalled, at
the breadth Of the disaster.
1t is quite impossible TO figure on the
actual money loss. 1t will go far into
millions, and it will be many years be
fore southern Italy again reaches the
commercial and architectural conditions
which have been wiped away.
Business throughout Italy is at
standstiU Commerce is dead. Ships
are being rushed away to the south
laden with roodstuns and clothing. and
supplies for the succor Of the afflicted.
Phy ysicians and Red Cross nurses have
been drafted from every city not af-
army is already upon the scene of the
disaster.