The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-07
AMERICAN SHIP STARTS ONITS RELIEF MISSION Carries Large Store of Sup plies for Earthquake
 Sufferers.
Execution of Looters at Mes sina-Number of Dead in
 Afflicted District Now Els timated by Government at 152, ,O0O-American Relief Fund Over Half a Million.
Special from United Press }

Especial from United PreSS.)
 Rome, Jan. 7.-Ambassador Griscon started for Messina to-day. He took with him $50,00O of his own funds. The Ambassador hopes to have all arrange supplies sent by American agencies and a field hospital esta blished by the time the four American battleships ar rive. Naval attache Burnadon will be put in charge of the actual work.
 The $50,0O0 which MT. Griscom has advanced will be repaid to him out of the American contributions as was the S50,O00 which he advanced to fit out the Bayern. The ultimate cost of the Bay ern's trip will be close to $100,00Q. Sup plies for the ship alone have cost $78,- 900 and the cost of maintaining the vessel for the two weeks for which 1t is chartered will be more than $1,- GOO a day. The Bayern sailed from Civita Vichia at noon to-day, flying the Italian Red Cross flag.
 In order to checkmate greedy land owners who are seeking to take ad- vantage of the present confusion in the quake zone to claim land in all directions,a a committee will be appoint ed to establish proper boundary lines. The task is a hard one. Many of the records are destroyed and in hun dreds of cases there will be no means of establishing the exact boundaries.
 Messina, Jan. 7.-The legal execu- tion of looters began here to-day, sev- eral being sentenced to death by the newly established courtmartial. Wher- ever it is shown that the footing of ruins and the robbing of defenceless victims were not induced by starva- tion, death sentences are passed upon the offenders. More than fifty will districts were arrested in the city for obtaining supplies under the pretenee of starvation. They are viewed in the same light as looters and shot. down whenever caught.
 Rome Jan. 7.-Ten days have elapsed since the quake and it is still impos- sible to give more than a rough ap- pFoxfnation of%the, deaths, which are now placed at 152,OOO by governmental officials. Future deaths from earth quake causes will increase the roll by several thousand. Roughly speaking, the death list at Messina is placed at 100000, at Reggie 25000, Palmi 50, ,OO0, Villa San Giovanni $500. Palermo 5000, Scilla 2,500, and Mileto 1000. The deaths in 48 other towns range from 800 down and are believed to total dDOuL HrlSSLS are SOlIlS5 dIQOIIS the ruins in the stricken towns and giving dissolution in articulo mortis to persons who may yet be alive under meath the debris.
 Washington Jan. Especial Chinese Ambassador Tang Shao Vi to-day sent a personal contribution of $500 to the American Red Cross for the Italian Relief Fund. In an ac- companying note the Ambassador said: "As the American Red Cross is doing such efficient and human work for the relief and comfort of the un- fortunate earthquake sufferers in Italy permit me the pleasure of sending you 8, check for $500 as a contribution from this Embassy"
 A total of $3S,415 was received from various branches of the society to-day. The states contributing were: Mas $S.5OO: Connecticut, $3,372: Indiana, $1,S5O: Rhode Island, $3,00O; Illinois, $15,693; Ohio, $1,000; California, s1O,Oo0.
 The total receipts so far are $525, ,000. GrisoCm informed the State Department in dispatches receiv- ed to-day that the Red Cross Relief ship Bayern had sailed, laden with $58 OCO worth of stores and medical He has expended s7S,0O0 for this expedition.