New-York tribune., 1909-01-01

rough shelter Of boards TO keep of the rain.
Our ears were filled with the cries and means Rn
what during Monday night Still no one came
our assistance We we're as in a tomb win
the dead bodies Of our two children oeslde US.
We could no one, but every time SOUNDS
were heard from the street there would come
an outburst Of piercing cries for mercy and
help from the injured hidden and pinned Gown
in the wreckage.
Tuesday morning, ventured forth and were
taken aboard a vessel in the harbor which
we came TO Naples Messna is entirely de-
stroyed. We passed over streets that were
vast crevasses> and climbed over great moufos
of ruins and wreckage which were all that re
rnained of the finest palaces of the city Never
as long I live can l forget these terrifying
experiences
This refugee arrived in Rome nalf clad and
covered with dust and burns His wife was
clothed in an old counterpane-
Other refugees estimate that not more than
six thousand persons of the entire population OF
Messina escaped with their lives The suffering
was intensified by the lack Of drinking water
These survivors assuased their thirst by rinslng
their mouths with sea water. The wounds of
the injured had TO be washed with sea water
Grocers shops were ransacked for mineral water
or anything else to drink
lust as the British steamer Ebro was prepar-
ing 70 leave Messina with refugees outburst
OF frishtful cries was heard from the shore The
refugees on board a crowd Of maddened
persons OF every age break into the customs
house. Some were naked, others half clothed
and they all were mud spattered and half de-
nented Many were injured and bleeding
They sacked everything that came to their
hands seeking food. drink and clothing, Re
volver shots rang out over the horrible din and
confusion. Finally tongues of flame shot up in
the darkness, showing that fire was completing
the work of destruction
7ba MAJ of he'd
Rome to-day. He was in Messina Monday.
He was awakened hv the roar of the first shock
The floor of his room fell. and. half conscious
he was precipitated into a of rubbish. His
body lodged in a niche in a wall. and he
pinned down helpless by heavy beam. His
face was covered by a carpet. which threatened
10 suTocate him. He managed TO get a hold
the carpet with his teeth and bit opening in
the folds through which he could breathe
The man lay in this position for five hours
expecting death at any moment. Had II been
possible he says. he would have committed sui
eide. Once hope sprang up I'm his breast. A
passed by and the Mayor called to him
What do YOU want?" asked the newcomer
What do l want?' repeated tthe Mayor: isn't
il clear; help me to get out Of here" At this
moment another shock came and the
away leaving the Mayor again alone Finally
the proprietor Of the hotel returned and
leased him.
A tragic episode at Reggie was the rescue Of
Deputy Demetrio Tripepi, Mayor of the town
His family had escaped. but he disappeared. and
his children felt certain that he was buried
under the ruins They set TO work to find their
father. and they struggled with the ruins for
twenty four hours. without rest and without
food. Only miracle, they thought. could bring
him back 10 them. Eventually. however, the
father appeared. He was badly injured but still
alive. The joy Of the family not for long
for the deputy died soon afterward. Giuseppe
Valentino. another member Of the Chamber Of
Deputies also is among the dead.