Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-01-07
RFLIETWORk PROGRESSES

Congress Votes $500, ,ooo-American
Fleet to the Rescue Vatican
Opens to Sueferers-How the
Queen was Hurt.
Messina, By gable.-Althoush con-
fused and without system, the work
OF rescue has been carried on brave
~ by night as well as day. Search
lights on the warships food the ruins
with their rays and give light to the
salvage parties.
The King and Queen of Italy, on
board the battleship Regina Elena
have given a noble example of devo-
ton. The King with fsome Of his
ministers at his side has been direct
ing and supervising the relief work,
yet he has found time to visit the
field hospitals and speak words of
encouragement to his stricken sub
jects. The Queen has been spend
ing Is hours a day beside the sick
beds on the Regina Elena, aiding and
consoling and encouraging, The
brunt OF the work Of rescue has fall
len upon the sailors, foreign as well
as Italian, and all have done their
duty. Praises for the Russians are
on every lip. They hesitated before
no danger, dug under tottering walls
or entered the unsafest shells when
asked to do so by some frantic wo-
man who had not lost all hope that
husband or child was still alive.
Although the air in Messina is
heavy with the stencil Of putrefying
bodies, several groups of Siciians
have camped out in the cleared
spaces Of the city and obstinately re-
fuse the invitation Of the authori-
ties to move away.
Upon the arrival of 1900 wound
ed from Messina and Reggie, Mayor
Nathan telephoned the Vatican ask
ing whether these unfortunates could
be taken in there The Vatican re-
piled in the affirmative and the
wounded were received with open
arms.
:. The first 120 Of the wounded sent
to the Vatican were received at the
railroad station by Monsignor Mis-
eatelli, sent especially by the Pope.
Some OF them were taken to the Vat
lean in public conveyances, but the
more previously injured were carried
on stretchers by the Red Cross. They
sw.-,- received in the Vatican pre-
cincts by the nursing sisters.
The Pope could not restrain his
desire to bring them consolation, and
sought them out. He passed through
the basilica of st. Peters over the
arch connecting the basiiica with the
hospital. Although he did not ac-
tually set foot on Italian territory,
he in reality went outside that area
which, under the law, is guaranteed
enjoys the right Of extra-territorial
ity. The hospital, although belong.
! ing to the Pope, stands on italian
ground.
A Rome Cable.
Ambassador Griscom and the mem
bers of the American relief commit.
tee have chartered for two weeks
the Austrian Lloyd steamship Ocea
MIA. The steamer can accommodate
400 steerage and 100 first-class pas
sengers. She is now being first
| class.
Ambassador Griscom delivered t,
Count Taverna, head Of the Italia,
Red Cross, $250,OOO from the Am
erican Red Cross. Count Tavern,
was overwhelmed and said he woul,
make an exception to the rule whicl
forbade the distribution Of none.
through any but Red Cross channels
and returned to the ambassador So,
600, which he had contributed to tn
expenses of the relief ship.
| Dispatches have been receive
from Washington to the effect tha
the first division Of Admiral Spe1
ry's battleship fleet has been direct
ed to 60 to Naples to assist in th
relief work. The remainder Of tn
! fleet is to be distributed at variou
points on the Mediterranean at Ad
miral Sperry's discretion None o
| the. other Italian ports is to be visit
ed by the American battleships.
Congress, after assembling o
| Monday, quickly and with great ur
!, animity passed bill appropriatin
the sum of $500,O0O for the relief 0
the sufferers.
y The survivors Of the disaster a,
SO dazed and worn out that they al
quite incapable of describing the
experiences connectedly, but the a
counts Of all agree that the devast:
ton was accomplished in less tha
one minute. fhe strata below tt
strait slipped, then tidal wave rusl
ed in and out, and all was owe
Those capable Of analyzing their sci
sations say that when the shock can
they felt an upward thrust OF II
earthquake. This was followed t
81 an oscillatory motion and the cru
> Of the earth vibrated.
Few Of The survivors are able
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