Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-01
TOPPLE AROUND KING
Victor Emanuel Near Death
by Falling Walls.
SAVED IN CHURCH CRYPT
Sole Survivors of 5000 Inhabitants
Of Scylla.
CROWS FEAST ON THE DEAD
Terrible Scenes III the Smaller
Towns, Where Organized Re-
lief Is Lacking.
CROWS FEAST ON THE DEAL

Special Cableeram to Tho Star.
ROME January IA correspondent
who has Just arrived at Palermo from
Messna says the outer walls Of many
buildings are still standing, but their con-
dition is such that they will have TO be
demolished TO prevent fresh catastrophes.
The ruins are collapsnS every few min
utes. While the king visiting the
town Wednesday the facade of a five
story building fell at his majesty's feet.
Two priests who have arrived at Mes
sina from Scylla state that the only sur
vivors out of 5000 inha btants escaped
because they happened 10 be in the crypt
of a church. which alone stood the shock
of the earthquake.
One of the saddest episodes at Reggie
was the rescue and subsequent death of
Deputy Trepeppi, who was mayor of the
town His children were not injured in
the earthquake but he disappeared, and
the children. feeling certain that he had
been buried in the ruins of their home,
la bored INCREASINGLY for twenty-four hours
to find him. When they had given up
hope and it seemed that only a miracle
could restore their father 10 them, they
found him, injured badly but still alive.
A scene of understandable rejoicing fol-
lowed, but it soon turned to mourning,
for Trepeppi succumbed to his injuries.
Fighting for Food.
Many OF the survivors at Reggie were
dangerously wounded in terrible fights for
food, clothing and lodging. 1t was d
common sight to see crowd Of men and
women struggling for possession of a de-
serted railway car a dog kennel or even
an empty packing case, anything that
would furnish shelter from the cold winds
and the rain. The strongest succeeded
and the weak went to the wall.
The news coming in from the populous
coast towns in the stricken area in al
most every case increases previous esti-
mates of the number of the killed and
from all comes the same story of COM
plete lack of food and medical supplies.
The drinking water in many places is
contaminated The silence from many
small villages is causing the authorities
mucn anxiety Many of them are almost
inaccessible.
One OF the smaller towns, Santa Eufe-
mia, is typical of all from which news
has been received. Repulsive scenes are
! witnessed there. The hundreds of dead
bodies make the air pestilential. but des-
perate par hts or children are turning
! over the decaylnS corpseS in search of
relatives and friends. the Searchers them
selves being half naked and starving.
Bodies Thrown Overheard.
over all hangs a cloud of crows. sin
lister and terrible Many of the injured
on board the rescue ships die before
| reaching Palermo Naples or Catania and
| their bodies thrown overheard for the
| Sake Of the living. A poor man. who had
| almost lost his life III rescuing ii daugll-
| Ter, went mad when she died OH board
the ship that was conveying them to
/ Palermo and seized the dead body and
tried to jump overheard with it,
! The steamship Umberto today landed
at Palermo 800 survivors from Reggie
! besides nnety-three prisoners, who
either had been taken out of the ruins
| of the Jail there or had been arrested
| for piliaging. Tie captain says he saw
| some of the famishod survivors at Reggie
| killing and eating dogs.
Three women from MeSsina gave Dirt h
| to children on board the Russian battle
| ship Sava during her voyage to Naples
! with survivors, 1t is stated that two
! Russian sailors were killed at Messina
while engaged in the work OF rescue.