The Washington herald., 1909-01-04

Rome. Jan. S.-There was a strong
earthquake at dawn to-day at Caitagi-
rome. in the southeastern part Of Sicily.
followed by rImbling noise.
Many houses collapsed. including o
school, which. in falling. brought down a
church. burying the sexton and his son
There were also considerable landsides
sand hssures appeared in the earth.
The Inhabitants. numbering S00a0. are
terrihed and refuse TO re-enter their
homes, from which they fed at the first
shock They are camping in the open
country
Other slighter shocks were felt at Fano
and Pesaro, and also in the Messina and
Reggie area awakening fresh alarm
among the survivors
Two slight shocks were felt at PalmL
where several tottering buildings col
lapsed. There was a considerable panic
which subsided when the shocks were not
repeated.
Despair is settling on the Siciliaus and
Calabrians in many places. True. mum
bers have risen to the occasion and
worked vaIisntIv. but others are giving
way 10 the conviction that they are
66omed to disappear from the world
without hope OF help.
Many incidents are recorded Of the
fatalism thus begotten- An old man, be-
reft Of his family, insisted upon entering
his crumbling house. IN reply 10 warn
ings. he said Perhaps God wants to
punish ne. too
Refuse TO Take Food.
re had hardly entered when the house
collapsed and killed him. Often sur
yivoTs refuse 10 take food. saying Il IS
useless 20 try 70 live since they are bound
10 ole in other earthquakes. which they
are convinced are impending.
Some. despite the lifelong habit Of re-
psstins prayers, now refuse 10 ask Di-
vine protection owing To their conviction
that God has doomed the present genera
ton 10 destruction They do pray, how
ever, that their own sins may not be
visited upon their children. and do all
they can 10 protect the little ones.
Elsewhere. on the other hand, the mis-
cry has had the opposite effect, impeIIiug
the sufferers TO incessant prayer and 10
the singing Of mournfUl hymns
A woman and child were discovered in
q cellar in Messina in a pitiable state.
They had been without food for four
DAYS The child was at the point Of
death The mother caught her tears in
her hand and moistened the chTd's parch-
ed mouth with them.
The Scorpion at Wessina.
Ambassador Griscom has been informed
that the auxiliary cruiser Scorpion viii
arrive at Messina tomorrow morning.
As she is not provided with supplies 10
enable her to Join in the relief work. a
committee has been organized here. un-
der the presidency Of Mrs. Griscom. 10
provide her with an outfit Of medical
supplies which Prime Minister Giolitti
has ordered 10 be conveyed 10 Messina
Immediately
Mr. Griscom has received a dispatch
from Bayard Cutting vice consul at
Milan who has reached AIessina. He re-
ports that there Is urgent need Of food
stuffs. especially bread. butter. macaroDf.
and oil. The American consular officials
are busy distributing what s1DDlies they
have Mr. Griscom to-day handed over
an additional S1oo000 from the American
Red Cross.
The American colony here viii dfspatch
q relief ship TO MeSsina and Reeeio
committee for this purpose has bse1
formed, with Mr.. Griscom. chairman.
Nelson Gay secretary; George Psge
treasurer Mr. Parrish, of Nev Wi
and Mr. Hopper, of Boston. are members
It was decided TO charter q steamer
and load II with provisions. medicines
and tents Doctors and nurses have bae-
secured to accompany the shin. I+ co5,I5
oe sent Immediately, but SlaGC0o fs
needed Ior expenses The organizers hone
the mayor OF New York viii initiate .
collection % aid, and that he viii cab1a
the money here Meanwhile the staa1,c-
has been secured and her fitting out has
commenced.
heile1 Expedition Starts
Many important details have been ar
ranged, and the relief expedition will
start as soon as possible The committee
besides cooperating with the Italian an
thorities. viii act Independently. It win
undertake 10 give suggestions and advice
to American contributors concerning tba
most effective way TO help. Contribu-
tons for the relief ship may be cabled
through any bank to 8Ir. Griscom.
King Victor and Queen Helena returned
10 Rome at noon to-day. Having learned,
tnat the people proposed a big demonstra-
uon OF welcome they landed at caeto
ana came 10 Rome in an automobile in
stead OF by the train Entering the can't
tai they we're almost unrecogDized In
'He evening however. a huge. entbusi-
HSuc crowd assembled in front Of the
QulIlnai cheering the sovereigns who
they declared. we're real parents Of tlra
people The enthusiasm was azt7so-li-
nary tor Rome where perfervid rovai
greetings are unusual Many foreigners
were present ard they joined in the an
plause.
Eventually the King and Queen came
put On a balcony and bowed their ar-
knowiedgments silently. They both
For All Social Occasion.
use T. 7. Co" cabs. Phone y I212