The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-01-22
ARE RAISED
BY ARCHBISHOP
IRELAND
PRELATe's LETTERS
TO FRIENDS URGE THEM TO
HELP EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
AMERICAN WOMEN ACTIVE.

HELP EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
AMERICAN WOMEN ACTIVE.
ROME. Jan. 2l.-Archbishop Ire
land. while In Rome. participated
prominently in assisting the sufferers
from the earthquake. Not only the
pope and Cardinal Merry del Val. but
the archbishop Of Messina. who real.
lied the great influence the archbishop
OF st. Paul exercises In the United
States, appealed to him for assistance.
Mgr ireland. besides his personal,
direct help, sent a circular note To the
bishops OF his ecclesiastic province
and wrote TO prominent friends In
the United States 10 show the immens-
ity OF the calamity which had Defal
len the population OF southern Italy.
Now that the worst stress OF the
earthquake IL over, the comic side OF
many Of the good-natured efforts have
come to the front. and people are able
to laugh once more. Italian women
have not been accustomed TO anything
but domestic nursing. and their public
efforts have not been conspicuous: but
as a new spirit has penetrated even
this country Of established custom,
and as several of the more advanced
spirits had had courses In training as
nurses. a party was formed when the
news of the earthquake first came,
and. taking their own automobiles.
they set OF to the scene of action al
most before Rome was aware that any
thing was the matter.
Having travelled at high speed
for hours. they brought up at small
village which was in ruins.
I'VE will stop here and give nrst
aid they said I'm a chorus. But. to
their astonishment, after getting all
the surgical and nursing appliances In
whom to work. Their only case was
being practiced on. The hamlet had
been deserted for three years. having
been only temporarily erected for an
industry which had died out.
The ladies by this time were decid-
edly hungry. but nothing being forth
coming and the idea of eating the re-
calcitrant dog not appealing to them
despite their hunger. they sadly faced
about for Rome, deciding that helping
the suffering was much overrated.
Relief Party Has No Food.
Another tale much on the same
lines comes from Naples. The mayor
Of that town, the Marchese del Car
etto. who Is Of very well-known
family. on hearing of the distress at
Messina, called hurried meeting OF
friends and prominent men OF the
town. They chartered the frst boat
they could put their hands on and sail
ed away to help the victims. but, on
arriving. the first thing they said to
the authorities was, Give US food"
They had come away without stores
not only for those wishing help, but
also for themselves. Naturally the
authorities OF Messina were annoyed
and sent them back whence they
came, sadder but wiser men.
This Is on par with Vice Consul
Lupton, who scrambled about Messina
on the morning of the earthquake for
three or four hours before he recol-
lected TO put his boots on, which he
had been carrying in his hand all the
time
The American relief ship. although
doing good work, has not been with
out her vicissitudes. She Is compare
lively small ship and rolled pretty
considerably, and every one knows
how seasickness takes the starch out
Of one. So long before Messina was
reached some, not 10 say all, began to
find that they had embarked on any
thing but "a pleasure trip. During q
bad spell Nelson Gay of Boston, while
arranging some stores, fell into the
hold and broke rib-nothing SER
ious, but highly inconvenient. An en-
terprising journalist heard OF the ac-
cident and telegraphed the news to
Rome. where another journalist, hay
ing promised TO keep Mrs. Gay posted,
after consultation with friends tele-
phoned the news to her. but. alas the
Bayern was at Messina and that meant
that she could not communicate with
him. but she consoled herself with
thinking OF the twenty nurses on
board, and the three doctors. In fact.
she was afraid that he might be
'mothered" out OF existence
Americans Continue Work.
The American women here are still
busy making clothes, looking after
refugees who really need help. finding
rooms and lodging for the injured and
work for those who can undertake It.
This shows how really charitable their
motives are, as they have persisted
after the first enthusiasm died away.
The Duchess d'Aosta has always
had great liking for the wives OF
American ambassadors. having them
stay with her and dine and drive. but
with Mrs. Griscom the acquaintance
has ripened~ into friendship through
their common efforts to aid the refu.
gees. Mrs. Griscom was I'm Naples
for a considerable time consulting
with the duchess as TO the best way
to spend part OF the very large sum
at the disposal OF the ambassador.
he h.. II