Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-05
FEVER BREAKS OUT
IN RUINED MESS|NA
Typhoid's Appearance Com
peIs Drastic Measures. :
RESCUE WORK is STOPPED
All Hope of Saving the Living
Abandoned.
QUICKLIME TO COVER CITY
Tottering Buildings Will Be Raced
to Cover the Dead and Town
Evacuated.
All Hope of Saving the Living
Abandoned.
aUICKL1ME TO COVER CITY

MESSINA, January 5.-The first cases
of typhoid fever have broken out. This
fact will cause drastic action to be taken
Immediately in the disposal OF the dead.
The hope Of rescuing any of the living
beneath the ruins has now been aban-
doned.
Until the present time attention has
been concentrated upon the removal OF
human bodies from the streets, while the
carcasses of animals killed by the earth
quake and those of dogs and cats shot by
the patrols have been left lying where
they fell. The delay Of these carcasses
has greatly augmented the danger of the
spread of disease.
The earth shocks are continuing, though
they are diminishing in intensity. At
night especially are they frequently felt.
The fires In the city also are being grad
ually extinguished. The official figures
compiled thus far show that 1900 bodies
have been buried in four cemeteries. that
1900 refugees have left the city and that
5000 persons still remain here.
Instead of eXcavating in an endeavor
to find the bodies buried beneath the
ruins. 1t has been proposed that every
house in which ii is believed persons are
buried shall be covered with quicklme.
The Associated Press correspondent has
made visit to Reggie and carefully in
spected the town. 1t has been found
that the number of persons killed here
and the damage done to property is much
less than at Messina- Only the central
section of the city was damaged About
flve thousand troops are working there.
Conditions at Reggie.
The official figures place the wounded
at Reggie at one thousand and the
refugees at seven thousand. The number
Of dead in the ruins il not known.
Reggie has been practically evacuated,
except for the troops and the marines from
two British warships are causing the
populace to evacuate Villa San Giovanni.
center of the earthquake. The bay of
Heggio still Is strewn with broken boats
and other debris. Numerous persons still
living were taken today from beneath
the ruins, while the voices OF others could
be distinctly heard appealing for aid
Within few days the rescue work at
Reggie will have ceased.
Then the tottering buildings will be
razed and the bodies that have not been
buried will be burned.
The Associated Press had the first cor
respondent on the scene at Messina. He
found condition of utter confusion ex-
listing. The first shock OF earthquake
virtually had thrown down the entire
city.
The Italian soldiers were overwhelmed
and in state of bewilderment wandered
over the ruins in squads. numbering from
three to fifty men. Little work was done
until the arrival of the crews from the
Russian and British warships, which
worked valiantly.
The facades of the buildings along the
water front in a number Of instances re-
mained standing, the interiors of the
houses having dropped down and crumbled
into dust. leaving but small hope for the
safety or the inmates
The bodies of the dead lay everywhere
on the surface of the ruins and limbs
protruded here and there from the wreck
age The small first-aid stations were
overcrowded with injured and scores of
others were hastily established as soon
as possible by relief corps from Italian
cities and the Russian. French, German
and British warships.
Lost Their Heads Completely.
Large numbers of the survivors were
crazed by grief. and panic seemed to have
laid hold Of all. In the camp of the
refugees piteous scenes were enacted.
Many persons threw themselves upon
their knees begging for bread, while five
minutes walk beyond were orange groves
rich with ripe fruit. The fear for their
Safety seemed to hold them petrified in
this small haven Of refuge.
Constant light shocks followed the first
great disturbance until forty-five were re-
corded. The Associated Press corre-
spondent saw one of them throw down
many Of the remaining walls Of the city,
the ensuing crash greatly intensifying the
panic of the populace.
The first italian troops to reach Mes
slna were drawn largely from the Sicilian
garrison and commanded by Sicilian Of
f1cers. Scores of them lost relatives or
friends. One officer said that he had lost
seventeen relatives-all his children, his
wife, father. mother. brothers and sis
ters; and yet the government he said.
expected him TO command a relief corps
After sleeping one night on a plank
without covering from the rain the corre-
spondent of the Associated Press the next
night took refuge in a hospital on board
ship, where there were 400 wounded per-
sons without a single nurse. All night
long the piteous cries of the distressed
persons for water We're unheeded because
of the lack of attendants. and several Of
them died before daylight Many women
among the rescued prematurely gave
birth to children The difficulties of re-
moving the injured from Messina and
Reggie is increasing. because of the fact
sary TO transfer them by rowboats.
Walter Fox. the English vice consul at
Reggie. and his wife lost their lives in
the destruction of Messina.
The Foxes resided in Messjna and went
over to Reggie every day by ferry.
Grateful to America.
ROME. January 5.-The prompt dis.
patch of a part of the American battle
ships. with the fleet commander, Rear
Sperry. to offer aid in the earth
quake relief work has added to the pub.
lie feeling Of appreciation and gratitude.
Word has come that Admiral Sperry has
opened a fund for the sufferers and that
the men Of the fleet are contributing gen.
erously.
Queen Helena has asked the Authorities
and people throughout Italy not to en-
gage in the usual festivities on her birth.
day, next Friday. Il cannot possibly
think of any kind of rejoicing said the
queen in communicating her desire to the
court chamberlain while the nation is
such terrible mourning" The
queen added that she intended to spend
her birthday in nursing the wounded ~