The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-30

| earthquake zone than Naples, hence
sustained no damage.
No News of Consul Cheney.
Rome, Dec. 3O.-No news had been
received here up to l o'clock this af-
ternoon regarding the fate of A. S.
Cneney, the American consul at Mes
slna, and his wire. All private and of
hc1aI efforts to ascertain whether Mr..
resulted in failure. Ambassador Girls
com received telegram this morn
ing from Reichenberg, Austria, signed
Harris" making anxious inquiry re-
gardlng the couple. The message add
ed that Mrs. Cheney's parents were at
Reichenbere
]. Pierpont Morgan has sent $40, 900
Tor the relief of the earthquake suf-
ferers
Royal Rescue Workers.
Catania, Dec. 30.-King Victor En-
manuel and Queen Helena who arriv-
ed at Messina today, Immediately join
ed rescue party and labored as unre-
nlttlngly as the others. The king per-
sohaIIy extrlcated several injured per-
sons pinned under the ruins.
The queen devoted her attention prin-
clpally to little children. She rescued
with her own hands a 3-year-old boy
who was bleeding from many cuts and
wounds. She herself carried him to the
dock where she handed him to members
OF the hospital corps. At the dock were
many small boats sent to take the
wounded out to ships in the harbor.
Ever available steamer in port was
filled as a temporary hospital. Signor
orlando, the minister of justice who is
with the roYal party, has described the
catastrophe IN telegram to a friend
as one of the greatest disasters in the
memory of man. An OverpOwering
stencil is beginning to arise from the
ruins of MesSina. Ten thousand soldiers
Will be required to bury the dead there.
1t was learned today that General
Coli lost his life at Messina.
Chicagoans in Quake Region.
Chicago, Dec. 3O.-The work of
providing Chicago's share of relief to
the earthquake sufferers went forward
with bound today. Archbishop
Quigley expected a cablegram from
general collection throughout his
archdiocese for the benefit of des-
tftute Sicilians. Orson Smuch, Illinois
treasurer of the Red Cross society,
contributions; Italian societies in Chi
cago and vicinity continued the
gathering of funds, and several news
papers announced that they would re-
ceive contributions.
Among the Chicagoans believed to
be. or to have been, in the danger
zone, are the following:
Mr. and Mrs. o. Eiger, Paul Sarber,
DR.. Charles A. Logan, Miss Magdalena
Hernley, T. A. Griffin, and Mr.. and
Mrs. Jacob Baur. who were on their
honeymoon trip
Mrs. Baur before her recent mar
rlage was Miss Bertha Dupplo, secre-
tary of Postmaster Campbell and said
to have been the highest salaried
woman in the government employ.
PhiIadelphians in Quake Zone.
Philadelphia, Pa, Dec. 30.-Graye
fears are expressed for the safety OF
a number of Philadelphia people who
are known to be within the zone of
ct n aero I,A
earthquake. Among these were Mr.
and Mrs Herbert Norris, who had
been spending the last month at their
winter villa in Taormina Others
thought to be in Taormina are Miss
Mary Moss, a writer; Miss Florence
Kane and Miss Louise Wood, an artist
Miss Frances and Miss Bessie G..
Miss Emily Croasdale, an
artist and her aunt, Miss EstelIe Fa-
gal, all of this city, are also supposed
to have been within the earthquake
region when the calamity occurred
Half the Population Perished
Rome. Dec. 30.-Half the population
of Calabria and the eastern part of
Sicily is dead; the other half is weep
ing AS the great extent of the terrific
seismic disturbance becomes apparent
it seems impossible to exaggerate the
horrors which have followed it. The
calamity which has overwhelmed Italy
is almost beyond the grasp of the i'm
agination, not only because of the dead
now known to number tens of thou
sands, but because of the innumera BILE
wounded buried in the ruins many of
whom will perish because it is impOS-
sible to rescue them from the wrecks
of their former homes. The whole of
Italy is absolutely stunned, and at the
scene of the disaster the bulk of the
people are literally demented with the
total number of victims is variously
estimated from $4,000 to 100000.
King Victor and the queen arrived at
Messina today. AS they made their
disaster and horror was too much for
the queen, who almost swooned.
Crowds of terror stricken persons
swarmed about the royal party, throw
ing themselves in the mud and scream
ing for pity and aid.
Many terrible stories are related in
connection with the rescue work. The
rescuers had to contend with q super
stitution so deep rooted in the Sicilian
mind that in many instances injured
men and women clung to crumbling
walls, refusing to let go their hold and
seek safer position. AS further facts
available they corroborate in every de-
tail the worst fears heretofore ex-
pressed. The cathedral, municipal
barracks and prisons are all
buildings shared the same fate.
OF 2S0 railway employees in the station
at Messina, only eight are known to
have survived. while at Reggie, the
silence of death still reigns. leaving to
the Imagination the terrible havoc
wrought by the catastrophe with the
horrible thrush of the sea. the swallow
ing up of the boats. the crushing of
ships and the destruction of bridges
and walls. The sea became almost in
stantly covered with debris after the
upheavaI containing refuse OF every
description dotted with human bodies. |
shore Line Changed
When the day dawned the entire
shore line of the surrounding country
was utterly changed in appearance.
The coast line was greatly altered
while of all the magnificent houses !