Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1909-01-05
tales Of suffering. The king left for
Reggie tonight.

tales of suffering. The king left for
Reggie tonight.
Catana, the largest city nearest to
the zone OF the disaster, is crowded
with refugees, and the continuous
stream of fugitiVes coming in, the
sight OF the wounded, and the repet-
tion Of real or imaginary earthquakes,
have SO alarmed the population that
they are becoming uncomfortable
There is no longer any place where
the refugees may find shelter. Cardi-
nal Francica Nava di Bontife. arch
bishop Of Catania, has employed ali
the money in his possession to pro
vide bread for the fugitives, but the
people of Catania also are in great
need, as the ordinary business pur-
suits have been entirely interrupted
The government is finding difficulty
in ascertaining the fate of the many
foreigners who were in the zone at
the time Of the catastrophe, inquiries
concerning whom are coming from
all quarters Of the globe. Admiral
Admarakhof, Russian commander Of
the battleship which arrived with
fugitives at Naples today, confirms
the report Of the American consul at
Messina, Arthur S. Cheney and his
wife, who were buried in the ruins Of
the consulate
The number of Americans in Cicily
and Southern Italy is believed to be
small, and several of them are re-
ported to have been staying at
Taorminia, which is on the east
coast, about 80 miles southwest OF
Messina. According to the latest re-
ports, the place suffered no harm
from the earthquake.
Military in Control.
The minister of war is dispatchine
order to the military authorities, who
have practically taken over the abso-
lutte power throughout the zone Of
the earthquake, explaining:
"This disaster has resulted in a
greater loss of life than any Of our
wars for independence. Indeed the
situation is much worse, as while
war is always preceded by period
Of poverty, this has happened within
40 seconds While war only affects
the young and strong among the peo-
pie, the present calamity has moved
down women and children, old men
and youths.
while in the war the armies arc
followed by the most complete camp
hospitals, the numberless wounded
in calabria and Eastern Cicily have
aeen left, in mary cases, 4S hours
without assistance. Even when
rescued it is impossible to house them
everything has been felled by the
shock The Lack of care and starva-
ton will complete the work that the
forces of nature have left undone."
Warmest sympathy and deepest
coincidence has been extended by the
nations of the world The message
Of France was especially warm, and
she is dispatching FIVE warships from
Toulon to Messna
This is hailed as token Of love
from sister race.
The minister of marine tonight re-
ceived word that the steamships Toar-
iIIllId anu Sdlll)dlild, lduCll Will fCDNO
beds and a large supply of provisions
had left Genoa bound for Messina
Other steamers, also bound fully
stocked, are on their way to TIL.
stricken city, from various ports.
Water and Food Scarce.
The rescue parties, military, naval
and civil of different nationalities,
are performing prodigies, but the task
before them is almost hopeless. Add
ed to the difficulty of obtaining food
and water, there are no drugs or SUR
gical appliances. Temporary hos
pitals are being rugged up, but com
paratively only the men can be re-
lieved.
The survivors of the earthquake
are suffering cruel extremties, and
in Messina they may be seen every
where vainly searching in the dust
and debris for morsels OF food.
Late dispatches state that the only
city of Palmi contains l,50O dead and
twice as many injured Two-thirds
of the town was laid waste. All the
villages adjacent are damaged Sc
| verely.
The king has telegraphed Premier
Geolette informing him that Reggie
is ins the same awful condition as
Messina and announcing that a Rus
sian steamer with 500 injured will
arrive at Naples tomorrow. His
majesty asks that all preparations be
made for their reception at the hos
pitals. and requests that the ship be
sent back with all the doctors that
can be mustered
Dispatches from Catania describe
Messina as appearing like huge in
candescent furnaces. The fire has
spread to the buildings that had not
yet fallen, completing the work OF
destruction. The strait OF Messna is
now covered with corpses of men and
animals. AT the present time there
are IL warships at Messina, -four
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