The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-01-01

Rome, December 31.-Estimates OF the
death roll of the earthquake now cease
to concern the Italian people 1t is
enough to know that the catastrophe is
yerwheiming-fgures would add nothing
to the grief of the stricken nation nor
move to greater efforts those upon whom
the work of relief and rescue mas 1al-
len
Every channel open to the government
has hee, utilized to this end and other
nations have been quick to come 10 us
assistance, even before the cry Tor aio
-.nt IN Shin loads of fugitives have
i ibeen carried outsgf the stricken gone 10
Naples. Palermo, Cantania ana other
norts and according to the minister OF
marine rescue vessels to the NUMBER Oh
% are now centered in the Strait OF Mes
elmo and 5000 soldiers are being landed
on the two coasts
Most important of all now is the ques-
tion of the living Thousands OIL 'hose
who escaped the falling walls ana inc
sweep of the tile are starving ana without
clothes or shelter. They can scarceS
longer survive their suffering. Inc iisI
tnouobt has been to carry food and COW
erinr for these helpless people and II mas
now been decided by the government TO
send a fleet of emigrant steamers u
i transport them to other places
The latest reports received at Rome
z sta+a that there have been many inter-
mittent shocks, following the flrst' TO
which the greater part of the destruc-
] a., 10 attributed The British warship
+ol bxy
thot two severe shocks occurred at Mes
sina last night
Professor Ricco, director OF the opser-
vatorv at Mount Aetna, states that mis-
Instruments have recorded AZ distinct
shocks after the first, but that during the
last IA hours they have been almost mo-
tionless. Aetna and Stromboli are now
quiet and he is certain that the earth
quake was not of volcanic, but geologlcal
origin. similar to that of 1885.
LLOYD c. Griscom the American am
bassador, will leave here tomorrow and
will proceed to Messina and other places
in the south on an Italian warship in
search of information concerning missing
Americans. 1t has been found impossible
to obtain tidings of the hundreds of for
eigners supposed to have been in the zone
about whom inquiries have been made to
tho government and the various en-
bassies.
The horror of the situation at Messina
and Reggie grows with every fresh dis
patch. One of the correspondents places
the death roll throughout the territory as
high as 0,0OO but this appears to be
.xtreme Others make their outside es-
timate 100000, but the official estimate by
the minister of marine holds to 1l5.0oo
Relief expeditions which have been
making their way to Reggio have encoun-
tered tremendous distractions all along
the route. They report 1S provincial VII
lages. besides those already mentioned
In Calabria as having been completely
ruined. This would indicate that the
earthquake did not confine its work to the
coast. What has become of the inhabi-
tants of these villages is not known.
Those who were left alive after the de-
struction of their homes doubtless Joined
the great army of refugees seeking safety
or have fallen by the wayside.
The Calabrian coast for 80 miles has
been torn and twisted. From Bagnara to
Reggie, a distance of 25 miles, the country
is half demolished. Assistance has reached
- few of the villages, and they are
3cally without supplies of any kind
mara surgical operations are being
ped with rough knives, but at Reg
en that is impossible. Bands of
infest the country and the despair
unaided villagers is complete Hun
6upplies the motive for scenes of
(ing violence and pillage and rob-
H66 defy the few surviving police and
blIIers.
XQHe Pope has sent to the bishops in
earthquake zones $4,000. He is also
ding several ENJOYS to relieve the most
rent needs. His holiness has suspended
audiences and solemn masses will be
4 Hid for the repose of the souls of the VIC
Inns in the churches In Rome, at the ex-
pense of the Pope.
Ef King Victor Emmanuel today visited all
1.-THE wrecked villages along the Sicilian
coast everywhere the Same scenes Of