The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-01-02

/ much rain has fallen.
The latest investigations on both
/ sides of the strait makes 1t certain
that many more than half the popu-
lation Of the coast towns and VIII
! lagos have been killed Professor
/ Riccu. director of the observatory at
Mount Aetna, estimates that the vie
Tins OF the earthquake exceed 200,-
| 600.
Hundreds of dangerous criminals
have been arrested by the troops and
are under close guard.
Great relief was felt here when
the announcement was made that the
Lipari is.angls, which were reported
to have disappeared with their popu-
laticn of $4,000. suffered little or no
damage from the earthquake.
Pubic safety is seriously concerned
with regard to the safety of tie
king and queen and the possible dan
ger from tottering walls. The king
frequently has tried to persuade the
queen 10 rest or return to Rome.
but she always refused, declaring
that IL would break her heart to
abandon her husband i'm his labOrs
for the country i'm its anguish.
Although graphic stories are COM
ing into Rome of the horrors in
southern Italy and Sicily, these are
but Tepetltions of individual hrag-
edie5 already recorded. What chief
ly concerns the government and the
people is he progress that IS being
made toward the relief of those who
have suffered by the dredful vista
tion. Considerable advance in this
respect has been made at Messina,
where according to official reports
received here, the supply service is
beginning TO work satisfactorily. The
been allotted to various warships
and other ships as centers from
which the torpedo boats and launch
as convey and distribute rations and
water to the different villages.
The minister Of justice has wired
from MessIna to Premier Giolitti
that large bodies of troops have ar
rived and are now occupying all
parts of the town. THE appalling
extend of the disaster renders any
thing like a systematic search of
the ruins impossible, but persons are
being dragged out all day long and
are quickly transported to the relief
ships as soon as their wounds have
received attention.
New Years day i'm Italy Is usual
ly the occasion of the festivities and
rejoicing as widespread as on Christ
mas. Imposing ceremonies are cele-
brated i'm the churches, where ithe
people crowd to give thanks for past
mercies and to imp,ore still further
mercies for the new year The king
spends his day receiving greetings
from the foreign diplomats, his min
iRters and officials of state; the
pope admits privileged hundreds to
his mass, and during the remainder
of the day receives good wishes.
But these ceremonies and the fes-
tai spirit were wanting yesterday.
Instead of rejoicings Rome is filled
with lamentations; pictured ON the
OF all is grief for the |
destruction of two beautiful regions
OF the mother country, where thOus- |
anis now lie dead. The flags wave .
at half mast and the bells of thous-
and churches ring not for the te
dCum, bWt toll sad knells for requiem
mass.
King Victor Emmanuel has been
He has shown won
derful activity and endurance, leav-
ing no point in Missina unvisited.
He has supervised dine work in the
fallen city and his presence has in
fused new courage and energy into .
the rescuers and the survivors, hum
cry and wounded as they are. Often !
he is surrounded by crowds of vic
Tins, who, as though the sight or
the king has restored their strength,
cheer enthusiastically and shout:
We have a king; we have pro-
tector."
A large number of soldiers have
been landed from the various steam
ers a1,Ting at Messina and other
stric, ,'eni places and all efforts are
being dlrected toward embarking the
refugees, who are crowdimg
all available places. Some of these
will be sent as far as Genoa.
A touching feature or the material
aId offered by all classes of people
n Rome is the donauon of clothing
md bedding which the worllmen are
freely giving TO collecting students.
Reports from az parts of Italy indi-
sate the same generous spirit The
king has placed the royal palaces at
Naples and Caserta at the disposal
Of the injured.
Princess ROlamde, the 7-year-o'd
laughter of the king, having had the
reason for her parents absence ex-
planned 10 her, carried about a con-
ribw.lon box among her little friends
NJ a party given i'm her honor at
he Quir,nai Friday afternoon, She
herself put i'm the box her first tiny
gold ring, which was given TO her
IN Christmas by her grandmother,
lcwager Queen Margherita; her