The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-31

occurred at Messina yesterday after
noon This second shock completed
the work of ruin The few buildings
which were left standing in the quake
of Monday collapsed, and it is feared
that many more persons were killed.
The news Of the second disaster
reached here yesterday morning and
has not yet been published. The ruin
of Messina is now complete and abso-
lutely irrevocable.
Practically all the survivors, who
were awaiting conveyance by warship
from the scene were killed. Many per-
sons who were engaged in the work of
rescue were also killed.
Reports from Catania describe the
survivors as vainly raking among the
ruins for scraps of bread or anything
else that can be eaten. They are most
ly half naked, and many bear shock
ing undressed wounds. Numbers Of
others wander pitifully about, appeal
ing to passersby, who are little more
fortunate than themselves, to help
them.
The weather is raw and rainy. A
piercing wind adds to the misery.
There have been many instances Of
robbing the dead. The fingers of corp
ses and even of wounded persons have
been cut off in order to get the rings
they wore.
That many tourists have persisted is
certainty.
The bodies of 80 persons have been
recovered from the ruins of the Hotel
Trinacria, in Messina. These were all
apparently suffocated while attempting
to escape. Many were in the windows
when death came. The Governments
agents tell of finding the bodies of sew
eral guests suspended by their feet,
which were caught in the window bars.
The Mayors Story.
The Mayor of Brescia, one of the few
who escaped from the Hotel Trinacria,
says that he occupied a room on the
third floor. When the hotel collapsed
he was buried in the ruins. but was
protected by beam from being
crushed. He worked for four hours
trying to make an opening through
which to escape. He then cried for
help. A man began to assist him. but
| another earthquake drove him away.
The terror stricken Mayor eventually
struggled out and helped to rescue four
soldiers. He is covered with bruises.
He believes that only one person was
saved from the hotel besides himself.
The forces that on Monday over
whelmed the cities also destroyed the
means of sustenance. Telegraphic COM
munication has been established with
Messina, the apparatus having been es-
tabfished in railway van. Messages
which have come over the line, though
they have been meager in details, show
that hope is gone. Nothing remains of
the city but a mass of ruins that have
been swept by fire. A mere handful of
survivors are being cared for by the
! rescuing forces. but their distress is
great, and it has been increased by
the violent icy wind that followed the
deluge of rain.
Destitution is everywhere and appall-
ing. There is little food and less
water. OF Messina's 10000 population
it is believed that fully 10000 persisted.
Forty thousand people died in Reggie
King Victor Emmanuel and Queen
Helena were in Messina yesterday. The
King explored the ruins regardless of
the danger to which he exposed him
/ self
The King Wept.
| He was often moved to tears at the
| heartrending scenes he came upon at
every turn. The King was loud in his
praise of the splendid work accom-.
! plished by the Italian. Russian and
English bluejackets. who saved many
persons who otherwise would have per-
/ ished
The Queen spent the day in the
wards of improvised hospitals, visiting
the wounded. many of whom have lost
all that was dear to them. Her Ma
! jesty did her best to cheer them with
womanly words of consolation, often
breaking into sobs as she listened tc
their dreadful tales of suffering The
King left for Reggie last night
| Catania, the largest city nearest tC
the zone of disaster is crowded with
refugees and the continuous stream OF
| fugitives coming in, the sight of the
wounded and repetition of real or i'm
aginary earthquakes have so alarmed
the population that they are becoming
uncomfortable. There is no Longer
any place where the refugees may fine
shelter. Cardinal Francisco Naval
Bontife. Archbishop of Cantania, has
employed all the money in his posses
sion to provide for the fugitives, bu
the people of Catania also ana in grea
need. as the ordinary business pursuit:
have been entirely interrupted.
The Government is finding difficult,
in ascertaining the fate of the many
foreigners who were in the earthquake
zone at the time of the disaster inquir
les concerning whom are coming from
all quarters of the globe.
| Cheney and His Wife Dead.
The commander of the battle shil
Admiral Makharoff which arrived
with fugitives at Naples today, con-
firmed the report of the death of tn,
American Consul at Messina, Arthur
S. Cheney, and his wife, who were bur
led in the ruins of the consulate. TIL,