New-York tribune., 1909-01-02

King has placed the royal palaces at Naples
and Caserta al the disposition OF the injured
Vessels loaded with refugees continue TO
stream into Naples and Palermo. and each day
sees the arrival Of additional steamers in the
Strait of Messina- The big engrant steamer
Nord Amerika arrived there to-day. She can
accommodate fifteen hundred persons. and four
other vessels which are following her will be
able to take off altogether six thousand more
The system Of gathering survivors on board the
steamers viii solve Of the most important
problems that confronted the authorities
namely, that Of feeding the people II II IS
found impossible TO set the refugees on shore
the land accommodations are rapidly being filed
with the vounded-the survivors be fed on
board ship for each vessel is provided with
thirty days rations for full passenger list, and
this leeway will give time for decision as 10
where the unfortunates ultimately will be
landed.
As an instance Of his quick grasp Of the situ-
alton. King Victor Emmanuel soon after his ar
rival at Messira wired 10 Premier Giolitu:
"Send ships and men: above ali. send ships
loaded with ,1riciIi-re" As far ass has been
possible 1uickIiune has been used on the dead;
many bodies have been burned and others
buried. n the relief work the officers and men
81 the foreign warships have been untirng, and
their courage is beyond words. The crew of
the British cruiser Drake gave up everything
they possessed for the benefit Of the refugees
and practically went without rest or sleep for
more than thirty-six hours in their devotion 10
duty.
Reports are published that ii is the Kings
intention 70 sell his property ir Sicily and de
vote the proceeds to the assistance of the SUI
ferers- IL IS also stated that the Pope Will sup
press the dioceses of Nessina and Reggie. ad-
ding them 10 Catania and Catanzaro respective
ly. A dispatch from Catania says that 1t is
proposed 10 build a suburb to that city and
christen it Messina. quartering therein all the
survivors OF the fallen city.
To the destruction of Messna. Reggio SAINT
Eufemia Bagnara Palmi and Semnara must
be added the following towns and villages: Cas-
tellate, Polistena. Cinque. Prondi. Mamertna,
Einpoli, San Procopio. Pizziconi. Stefanoconi.
Catona. Rosalo and ScyIla. These places are
no more.
Professor Alfani. Of the Florence Observatory,
predicts that the seismic activities will continue
for three years. He recommends the enforce
ment Of restrictive building laws in the earth
quake of Italv.
The King and Queen of Italy continue their
pilgrimage along what was once a smiling coast.
Another member OF the royal family. the Duke
Of Aosta also is on the scene. devotng himself
to the suecor OF his countryrnen. The duke has
visited Pami and all the surrounding villages.
This section, after Messina and Reggie. suffered
more heavily shan any other. The duke said 10
one Of the aids with him:
The catastrophe indeed is a scourge from
GOD. The time has come when il is longer
possible TO think about those buried beneath the
ruins All hope of saving any of these unfortu-
mates sitter the four days which have elapsed
since the disaster must of necessity be aban
69ned. All our efforts must be devoted 10 caring
for the wounded survivors, as otherwise the
catastrophe may become even worse, If such
condition is possible
IN view Of these conditions the government
has wisely decided concentrate its energies to
removing the wounded TO points where they can
receive proper attention. Uninjured survivors
also Will be taken from the territory. and it is
hoped that in this way serious epidemics be
avoided.
There are scores OF smaller inland towns and
villages where it is impossible to send relief.
The survivors have no homes, no shelter, no
food; the persistent rains make IT impossible
10 kindle fires, and the majority have only
for clothing. In the inland villages surrounding
Reggie alone which have been destroyed the
dead number seven thousand. Whenever It has
been possible to get a message through from
these localities the cry always been for
bread
Amid the gloom two noble female figures stand
out as guardian angels. watching the af
ficted population. They Queen Helena and
another Helena. the Duchess Of Aosta The
Queen has given the sufferers her tears and
with her OWN hands she has bound up their
wounds, using her handkerchiefs when other
bandages were lacking She has given also Of
her worldly possessions including the rings
from her fingers The Duchess of Aosta, who
still proudly signs herself princess of France,
IS performing great work of love. pity and
dlrance al Naples where the wounded ar
irving IN great numbers. Children bereft of
their relatives have found IN this princess
new mother. Several unfortunate little ones
\ have been carried by the duchess in her motor
Il car from bare and cheerIess hospitals TO her
Y royal palace at Capo d Monte, Both Helena,
the Queen and Helena. the Duchess Of Aosta,
were born on foreign soil. but the people Of
Italy worship them to-day for their love and
devotion.
Naples owing to the arrival there Of several
thousand wounded. has had greater opportunity
than her sister cities 70 show her noble impulses
and the people have responded to the demands
made upon :hem. The members of the aristoc-
racy have lent their motor and their
riages for the transportation Of the injured from
the piers TO the hospitals and when these meth
DDS Of transportation were insufficient the poorer
classes came forward, offering their strong arms
20 carry the litters. Neapc.itan beggar went
10 the piers and asked TO help. He carried an
injured child to a hospital and laid it on a bed
in a crowded room. He then returned to the
piers. seeking further merciful employment
Despite the first assertions that William H
Bishop. United States Consul at Palermo was
not on the island Of Sicily at the time Of the
earthquake the American Embassy now believes
that ne is there All the efforts that have been
raade 10 communicate with him. however. have
been fruitiess.
Lloyd C. Csrisoom. the American Ambassador.
has decided not TO go TO Messina at present He
will await the expected arrival of the American