New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-20
THE EARTHQUAKE
A ViUid Letter from a Doctor Uork-
ing Among the SMrU1UOrS.

T-ho,,Rh the dispatches from Southern Italy
have told the world so much about the recent
catastrophe there, readers are eager for the I'M
pressions which are coming TO the United
States IN private letters. One such cornnunl-
cation. lust received from DR.. Stewart Patton
whose .Psychiatry'' is held !n honor among
anenists and whose researches have for some
years been pursued al Naples throws a vivid
lrht upon the situation existing in that city
where thousands Of the survivors from the
earthcuaEe have been brought. DR.. Patton al
iudee in the letter given below 10 two dlslh-
zuished men, with whom he talked on the eve
OF their departure for Messina TO share IN the
great work of rescue initiated by the King. Ut
Fsiippo de F1fippi is the noted physician VINO
has been the companion Of the Duke or the
Abruzzi on most OF his mountain climbing eX-
petitions and has acted the historian OF the
latter He II was who from the dukes notes
prepared the volume "Ruwenzori," on the great
mountain range in Equatorial Africa, which was
reviewed In The Tribune about q month ago
Professor Helb!g is an eminent member of the
faculty Of the University OF Rene Dr. Patton
himself with the cooperation OF Admiral
Sperry promptly Joined the force OF workers
needed at Messina- Just before he left Naples
he wrote home follows:
few minutes ago sent reply TO the ca
are all we'll. Fifty thousand wounded from
Messina already here in Naples. Sunerings ter
1ible"
What IS the use now OF giving more Of the
fearful details. You viii know Of them long
before this letter reaches you. OF the people
Of Naples one only speak in terms of the
very highest praise. Ar hour ago my wife and
] stood in Piazza Municipio, watching the long
line OF automobiles and carriages belonging 10
1.-The swelIs." the hotel omnibus, the cabs, carts
and vehicles Of all descriptions carrying the
wounded. dead and dying TO hospitals. public
buildings, palaces and private residences, great
and small You know the usual makeup of a
Neepolitan crowd To-day 1t quiet, respect
fGl and worthy Of great respect The streets
are full Of soldiers and university students drlY-
ing carts 10 collect beds, blankets. clothing,
food and medical supplies The spontaneous,
r-the-spot organization is rema rkable, admira-
bic as have had many opportunities OF
judging.
AT midnight last night DR.. Filippo de Filippt.
Professor Helbig, Of Rome, and other physl-
clans and medical men arrived in Naples.
met them and some hours were spent in buying
supplies and medical stores, and then they
sailed for Messina- 1 have arranged to meet
them there later The Aquarium is crowded
with wounded. and my services are called for
hers at present. A regiment of infantry has
Just arrived from Pavia: the provisions there
had given out: all had been sent to Messina.
The colonel told US his men had had nothing TO
eat but small bits Of bread since leaving Payia
yesterday, but not man had complained An
Officer just returned from Messina, when asked.
hel -ou can imagine" The Russians on their
warship Crimea, on the voyage from Sicily,
threw four hundred dead into the sea TO make
room on the deck and down below for the
wounded. But. as I have said, why distress
YOU with the awful details.