New-York tribune., 1909-10-02
NESS[NA'S TREASURE
Vast Hoards of Gold and JezCels Are
Hidden Among the Ruins.
-c.nrrient. Sc n &c - conpanv

srNr
Acre have ] seen mentioned in print the
= -asson Why the military element remains in
'.,i st Messlna, and why the clearing avvav Of
--frs and the reconstruction OF the wrecked
tnsncs are barred 10 private enterprise. The fact
- matter is that the ruins contain an untold
o.-rt of treasure. which the government authorl-
=. sre slowly and gradually recovering and hold
mil the claims thereto have been satisfactorily
s.hushed Messina was an old city and owing
!. +se continual revolutions. invasons and disturb
80 a one kind and another 10 which II has
- Subjected Tor hundreds OF years has been
!, he hasit II boarding its wealth. in preference
= s---sting II 10 banks or TO investing II IN GOV
---err bonds. Banks have never enjoyed popular
.,-ssence 10 any degree in Italy and especially
-, IN sicily and this has, no doubt contributed
- the fact that whenever a man acquired wealth
= v-as accustomed 10 invest il in the purchase Of
...sls or of bullion and 70 bury # in his cellar
= - brick il up in the walls OF his house The con-
,.,-s and uonasteTies followed suit Families
,oud die out and all clew 10 the place OF conceal
-,ent would thus be lost. This has been going on
so- centuries. And now the earthquake, which
h-susht many walls 10 the ground, and which
ss-uPted so many floors and ceilings, has not only
lsis bare this hidden treasure, but has likewise
sned the attention OF The authorities 10 the fact
,hat there are many more riches Of the same kind
bs5en away IN the remains that are stiu stand
,ra and also il the immense vaults and cellars be-
pesth The older buildings now ruined.
During the first few weeks following the earth
ouske when this condition OF affairs was revealed.
hundreds Of fortune hunters. advenIurers and
erarainals focked 10 Messna from all parts OF the
obe insisting thar they had belonged TO the city,
~ rhat they had relatives who had disappeared
~ the catsclysm. ana for whom they were de-
ts-uins5 10 search They believed that they had
,.thr their reach not only the acquisition OF hid
ssn easure tut also their maintenance by the gov
e-nneut free of cost the expense Of the various
rsses fglds, while their search in progress.
Il was not long before the authorities realized
the tue condition OF affairs. and they at once
toak hold. and restricted the searching among the
rims TO their agents and officials. OF course.
mis- has vastly delayed the clearing away OF the
ursckEge and the rebuilding Of the city, dscour-
sgng as Il has done, al private individual enter
rrise But Iaere Is doubt that the state VIII
benefit very greatly IN financial sense For.
while some of the great treasure which Il Is Te-
covering from the ruins OF Messina viii be
stored 10 rs owners when the latter have succeeded
IN establishing their claim beyond all possibility
q 8 6oubl. very large proportion indeed viii be-
cone the un6isputed property OF the state through
tbe absence Of heirs. owing 10 the fact that thou
ssnes OF families were completely wiped out OF ex-
s,snce n ire disaster. No one, indeed. VII ever
know the amount Of life lost IN the earthquake.
For the figures q the authorities themselves are
purely con5ecrUrsl since the census work IN Italy.
specially Sicily, has always been carried
v7rh considerable laNity-