The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-01-07
MAOmEN
FIGHT OVER FOOD
Horrors at Messina Related BY
the Well Known Novelist
and Traveller.

and Traveller.
8Y E. MARION CRAWFORD.
Villa Crawford. Saint Agnello De Sor-
fento. Italy, Jan. MY soninlaw has
just returned here after spending two
days and a half in Messina. whence he
barely escaped with his life. in spite Of
the greatest courage and coolness. !
give his narrative:
1T being impossible to reach Mes
sina by ordinary means. l succeeded
In getting passage as a stOwaway
aboard a small steamer on Tuesday
evening and reached Messina on the
following morning at $50.
"A dense black smoke rose in COL
un,ns from the vast ruins OF the city
and was gently blown toward us by
the morning breeze. AS we drew
nearer we saw that the fine buildings
on the magnificent curved esplanade
that was such feature OF the water
front We're all either completely de-
stroyed or else rent down half their
height.
"Alon:c the shore a compact crowd OF
people swayed and writhed while .
strange howl of voices scarcely human
reached our ears. 1t was the howl of
the people who We're already mad with
terror and crying out for help, even for
water.
"A steam launch from a man of war
approached US with peremptory orders
to land no one on pain of death, which
was no mere threat. Our captain.
however, asked permission for himself
alone to land. He lowered boat
laden with provisions and bandages for
the wounded, and the captain and six
seamen got In. Regardless OF their
protests. let myself down by a line.
hand over hand. and dropped into the
boat. The captain would have forced
me to return, but the seamen We're all
ready. pulling Justify to the shore.
When 40 wards from land every man OF
the crew jumped overheard and swan
ashore, all mad with anxiety for their
families. 1 then took one oar and the
captain the other and we pulled for the
shol'E.
Attacked by Survivors.
Instantly the crowd sprang upon the
boat to seize the bread we had brought.
We We're thrown down and trodden un-
der foot by the famtshed men. but soon
struggling to our feet, we hastened to-
ward the ruins OF the city.
No words can describe adequately
the horrors that met US everywhere.
At every step the ground was strewn
corpses torn into pieces.
The air was filled with one long
lr,sa,ling, which was continually swoil.
en- gy the cf1es of the wounded and
The. stencil was indescribable, and
everywhere fires burned steadily
among the ruins. consuming the dead
and living together, and filling the air
with the horrible fumes Of burning
flesh.
The via Mazzini was cholSed with
Ccad. wounded and dying. Many Ital-
ian surgeons We're working like mad to
save such lives as they could. wheres
every convenience was lacking.
olNaV. f1NA tod Hylr
cne surgeon shouting for water In
which to dissolve corrosive sublimate
but not Il soul helped him while he bent
over the body of a poor wretch who
had lost both legs.
Then suddenly. a man knew was
upon me inlploring me to help him ex-
cavate his family from the ruins of his
house. For two hours we sought the
place in the heart of the burning
crumbling city. We found the smol-
lering ruin. out OF which came low and
trembling cries for help.
Impossible to Save Injured.
In voice that nothing can describe,
ny friend called his father and mother
and from beneath the crumbltng walls
came back the call:
"'Gi:lcominO. my son, save US
My poor friend then threw himsell
like a mad man upon the wrecked ma
sonry, trying to tear it away with his
hands.
Cllcd oul lOI 1clP, ONS dS VIZ WCkS
completely alone, none arrived. / theE
seized a half charred bit of timber and
thrust it into the hole whence the
sound came and tried to move ths
stones, but; to my horror, screams q
pain came back as IL had unwittingly
wounded some unhappy person.
But had no time to think. for sud-
denly herd of half mad fugitives filled
the lonely street and carried me on tC
the railway station.
s.Svlfanlv I tn xxtik11 an
officer who WAS shouting for a tele-s
graph Office. / broke away from this
crowd and followed him till we came to
half wrecked railway carriage. in
set up. but no private OF press mes
sage is accepted on any conditions
whatever. though fabulous prices have
been offered for transmission OF a mes
sage.
sina.
Escaped convicts Plundsr.
II wandered through the ruins Of
the city of Messina and suburbs for
two whole days amid scenes Of such
horror as I shall never forget
'.One of the most serious obstacles
to order has been caused by the escape
of all the convicts from the large penal
establishment, and the troops and blue
iackets nave orders to shoot down the
thieves without mercy. Then, too, the
:ioi ip'S olSli.i ie,, slseA ~ scu
of dogs from all the country round and
the beasts prey upon the bodies In
every street. One was rushing toward
! nae when Il coast guardsman drew re-.
voivcr and fired FIVE shots directly at
me. Though meaning them for the.
beast. the bullets whtzzed close to my
| ears.
ITO conclude, 1 can only say that
!! the condition of the destroyed city Is
/ frightful. The surviving crowd is mad
i with fright end hunger. The soldierE
| are exhausted with their labors an6
!, for lack of food divided piece Of
!; bread with IA lieutenant who had not
i eaten for three days.
nRn01r NOW A1aprnrYprf1Ra