The sun., 1909-01-02
and abandon the King in his labors or the
land " its sorrow
TRAGEDIES OF REouIo.

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besides % prisoners, who either had been
taken out Of the ruins Of the Jail there
or had been arrested for pillaging, The
captain says he saw some Of the famished
survivors at Reggie killing and eating
dogs.
One Of the saddest episodes at Reggie
was the rescue and subsequent death OF
Deputy Trepepi, 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,
labored increasingly for twenty-four hours
10 find him
When they had given up hope and II
seemed that onya miracle could restore
their father to them they found him. in.
jured badly but still alive. A scene Of
indesoribable rejoicing followed, but 1t
soon turned TO mourning, for Trepepi
suocumbed to his injuries.
Many Of the survivors at Reggie were
dangerously wounded in terrible fights
for food, clothing and lodging II was a
common sight to see crowd OF men and
women struggling for possession Of a
deserted railway car. a dog kennel or even
an empty packing case or anything that
would furnish shelter from the cold night
winds and the rain The strongest sue
ceeded and the weak went TO the wall.
NEWS BAD; SILENCE WORSE.
The news coming in from the popuous
coast towns in the stricken area In almost
every case increases previous estimates Of
the number OF the killed, and from all
comes the same story Of complete lack Of
food and medical supplies. The drinking
water in many places Is contaminated
The sileLce from many small villages
Is causing the authorities much anxiety.
Many OF them are almost inaccessible
One OF the smaller towns. Santa Eufemia,
is typical Of all frcm which news has been
received, Repulsive scenes are witnessed
there. The hundreds Of dead bodies
make the air pestiential, but desperate
parents or children are turning over the
decaying corpses in search of relatives
and friends, the searchers themselves
being half naked and starving.
Over all hangs a cloud of crows, sinis-
ter and terrible. Many of thelinjured on
board the rescue ships die before reach
ing Palermo. Naples or Catania. and
their bodies arc thrown overheard for
the sake Of the living Apoor man who
had almost lost his life in rescuing a
daughter went mad when she died on
board the ship that was conveying them
to Palermo and seized the dead body and
tried 10 jump overheard with it.
Three women from Messina gave birth
to children on board the Russian battle
ship Slava during her voyage to Naples
with survivors. II Is stated that two
Russian sailors we're killed at Messina
while engaged in the work Of rescue.
AMBASSADOR oRIscoMs PLANS.
Ambassador Griscom. who had intended
TO leave for Messina this morning to re-
organize the American consular service
in the devasted area. has postponed his
departure owing to the receipt OF infor-
nation of the expected arrival Of several
United States warships at Messina on
january 9.
Mr. Griscom has sent in his stead Major
j. +. Reynolds lands, the Military At
tache of the United States Embassy. who
leftfor Naples this morning. accompanied
by tice-Consul Keeping of Milan and
take over the posts OF Consul and Vice
Consul at Messina on January 8.
Prime Minister Giolitti placed a special
steamship at their disposal to Naples
and will give them other facilities
for their conveyance to Sicily. Mr..
lands will make it his especial business
to investigate the fate of Americans in
the earthquake area. especially that Of
Consul Cheney Of Messina. whose
death has not yet been officially con-
firmed. though it is regarded as almost
certain.
No nsws has been received as to any
American victims yet. Mr.. Lands carries
with him list Of the Americans who ara
supposed to have been in Messina and
Reggie at the time of the disaster and
will furnish necessary aid TO any Amer
lean survivors who may be discovered.
RESCUE WORK Al MEssINA.
MEssIsA, Jan. The British blue
Jackets and marines and the Italian
soldiers are wing with each other in
bravery and self sacrifice in the work Of
rescue. and British and Russian seamen
are found everywhere in places where
there are the greatest danger and the
soreet nsed, while the surgeons OF tho two
nationalties have organized hospitals
for the wounded
. .,t-a svA CAPTAINS STORY.
NAPLES, Jan. 1.-The captain OF the !
British collier Hopewell which was pass
ing through the Strait Of Messina when |
the cataclysm occurred, says that his |
vessel seemed TO leap into the air as II a |
mine had exploded under her. Imme-
diately afterward a mountain OF water |
rushed furiously toward Messina. He
succeeded with great effort in rescuing |
nineteen persons who were struggling in |
the waves around the collier. Soundings |
showed that the bed OF the sea had risen
ten feet.
VESSEL on THE ROCKS.
LONDON, Jan. IA Central News
despatch from Athens states that the |
steamer Danube, from Nlarseilles. has
arrived at the PirRus She reports that
she passed thorugh the Strait OF Messina
on the ight Of December rs. She saw a
large steamer on the rocks near Cape