The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-31


refugee from Palma, near Reggie, in
telling of his experience at the time
or the earthquake, says that he was
awakened by a tremendous roar and
a severe shock. 1t seemed as though
the house was whirling round, like
the wings of a windmill. The wall
or his dwelling cracked and through
It came cloud of suffocating dust.
stunned, but uninjured, the marquis
tried to escape to the streets but at
first he found this impossible as the
stairs had collapsed with the first
snock Finally. after numerous eff
forts he succeeded in getting out of
a window and descending to the
ground from the third story by means
OF rope
Walking, he says. was difficult, ow-
ing to the fact that the streets were
f1lled with debris. He helped in the
work of rescue and in a short time
had assisted in dragging from be-
meath the ruins in the street eighty
six persons. all of them dead. The
faces of every one of them, he says.
showed the agony they suffered in
death. Many of them had their arms
across their faces, as though to pro-
tect themselves from the falling de-
bric
It was necessary to release the
prisoners at Palmi, and many of them
succeeded in making their escape.
The Marquis Genoese said he tried
in every way to enter the town of
Reggie but his efforts were useless
He compared Mondays earth shock
1905, and said it was immeasurab bly,
worse. In fact, he declared, Palmi
was absolutely destroyed.
Fight for Food.
Messina, Dec. 31.-A frightful
scene occurred here today amid the
ruins of the customs house. Bands
of famished individuals were crop
ing among the debris in the hope of
discovering food. The first of the
searchers who were successful were
by others with revolvers
and knives, and were obliged to de
fend their finds literally with their
lives" The struggle was fierce. The
famished men threw themselves up
on each other like wolves and sew
eraI fell disem boweled in defending
a handful of dry beans or few
ounces of flour. One of the unfor-
tunates was pinned to a plank by
knife. while clinging to his hand was
his little child, for whom he had
sought food.
Only the Landlord Escaped.
Paris. Dec. 31-A special dispatch
received here from Rome says that
ninety-six guests, including Ameri-
cans, English and French travellers,
were staying at the Hotel Trinacria,
stroyed. They all perished: The
of the Trinacria alone es-
capped.
There are only two survivors of
the guests, who were quartered in
the Hotel de France.
Survivors Are Leaving.
London, Dec 31.-A special dispatch
from Palermo today says 1t is est1-
mated that up to this morning nearly
100000 persons had been embarked
the straights of Messina, or have
other left the devastated district. All
the towns and villages along the
straight are rapidly becoming depopu-
lated as there are widespread fears OF
further cOnvulsiOns-
Scenes of the weirdest nature are
being enacted at Messina and other
ruined cities. Grim messages reached
Palermo to the effect that clouds of
crows have descended on the stricken
district having crossed the sea in re-
sponse to some mysterious intuition OF
the disaster In Messina the rescuers
naked persons bearing images of the
saints. 1t is exceedingly difficult to
deal with these frenzied survivors.
According to reports brought in by
famous rock of the same name. has
disappeared, and owing to
the ropogra phical alterations even its
site has vanished.
Bodies of Cheneys Not Found.
Malta. Dec 31.-A wireless dis
patch received here from Messina says
that the bodies of Arthur S. Cheney,
American consul at Messina, and Mrs.
Cheney have not yet been re-
covered.
The British cruiser Philomel left for
Messina today. carrying all the avail
able doctors and medicines and sur
gical appliances. British sufferers
from the earthquake will be brought
here.
Service of Ships Donated.
Berlin. Dec. 31.-Emperor William
has ordered the German cruiser
I.uisa now in the Mediterranean, to be
used for the transportation of food
and blankets to the earthquake suf-
ferers
Cables for Help.
Pittsburg. Pa; Dec. 31-1Peter
ceived a cablegram from his sister
from an Italian port saying:
Home wiped out. but all the family
is safe. In great want for food. NO
money or anything else left.
Angelo Immediately pawned his
iewelry and sent $500 to his relatives
Anxiety is felt here over the prob
able fate of Miss d. w. T1ndle and
Mrs. r. P Kelly. who left Naples on
Christmas for Sicily. James r. Tindle,
law of Senator P. c. Knox. Other
believed to have been in
the vicinity of the quake are Mrs.
Julia Goldsmith Attorney Mckelvy
and daughter. Marie; Joseph Polifrom
Of the First National bank, Philip
Randall and a great number of prom
nent and wealthy italian merchants
Of this city
Naval Rations for Destitute.
New York. Dec. 31.-The United
states naval supply ship Celtic Will
;ail from this port today for Nessina
With 100000 of navy rations for the
italian earthquake sufferers. The ra-
ions were in. ended to supply the bat
leship fleet but the navy department
1as authorized their delivery to the
destitute Italians and Sicilians.
The United States Steel corporation
oday contributed $4,000 to the Red