Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-02

offering all they had. strong arms to carry
filters.
The British n Russian sailors who
worked 80 devotedly at Messina are the
heroes of the day. Whenever they pass
through the STREETS Of Naples hats and cars
are raised in their honor.
The desolation OF the strait Of Messina
recalls the sinister prophesy found in an
old Sicilian legend Tbs Day VIII Come"
the oracle answered q duestioner, when
the navigator will make his way through
the strait saying here once was Sicily
To the destruction OF Messina, Reggie,
SAINT Eufemia, Bagnara. Palmi and Semi
nara must be added the following towns
and villages, CasteIlate. Polistena, Cirque
Prondi. Mamertina, slmpoli. San Procopio,
Pizziconi. stefapoconi. Catona. Rosalo and
scylia. These places are no more.
volunteer Going south.
Trains leaving here for the south are
filled almost entirely with newspaper men,
relatives OF victims, or volunteers on res
cue committees. These committees are
composed OF avery nationality of Europe.
Some of the volunteers do not speak a
word of Italian, but they go forward simply
because they have hands with which TO
work. All volunteers are thankfully ac-
cepted, and there is room for thousands
"E|
more.
prof AItani OF the Florence observatory,
predicts that the seismic activities Will con-
tinue for three years to come. He recon-
mends the enforcement of restrictive build
ing laws IN the earthquake zones OF italy.
The personal accounts of survivors OBJ
tained today all go 10 confirm the first re-
ports Of the extent of the disaster and they
but add to the gruesome recital OF suffer-
ing and pathetic inability to help the In
jured. One feature OF the disaster at
Reggie Is the large number of homeless
children. In some cases little babies were
found creeping about in the ruins and 1t
seems impossible to restore them to their
parents II they are alive. A sailor who
went ashore at Reggie, relates that dur
ing his work OF rescue he was attracted
by a sound Of infant voices. Looking un-
der a fallen beam he found twins about a
year old in a basket. They were unln-
jured and their clothing was of the best.
They have not yet been claimed
Survivors Become Insane.
In many cases survivors recovered con-
sciousness to find themselves far away
from the scene of the disaster. Larger
numbers OF survivors have become insane.
They try to throw themselves overheard,
IL they are at sea, or to hurl themselves
out Of car windows. One poor woman re-
lhtes that in her family were her husband
and eight children. She was awakened by
a great rushing noise. She then lost con-
sciousness and knew nothing further until
she found herself on board a steamer, far
away from her home. The authorities
would not permit her to return to seek her
family.
A youth, himself wounded. carried his
two little brothers from their wrecked
home. When the party was found they
were lying by the, side OF the road, the
young man dead, but the children unin-
Jured.
What has taken place at Reggie has been
a repetition of the scenes at Messina, but
the proportion Of the population to perish
at the former place is higher. Today the
conditions at Reggie are worse than at
Messina. owing to the danger OF epidemic
from -decomposing bodies.
1t has been proposed, in small villages.
when not one house remains standing. TO
set the debris on fire as a means of puri-
~fiuation.