The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-03
DEBRIS OF MESSINA
STILL HOLDS 10000
Ruins to Be Covered With
Lime Despite Fear of
Killing Survivors.

ROME, Jan. 3.--ApproxlmateIy 10000
persons are still buried I'm the ruins of
Messiua. according to estimates made
today by those who have followed
closely the work of rescue ia this vortex
of the quako's wrath
II is believed impossible that more
than small per cent of this num-
Der is stiH alive. Most of those rescued
from the ruins yesterday were almost
dead, and tweuty-four hours. it Is be-
Iieved, must surely have completed the
work of death.
Despite the possibility that there may
yet be those who are undergoing living
deaths in the tombs of their own homes,
the authorities have decided to spread
quick-limo over the ruins as quickly as
possible.
The city reeks with "a frigh .ful
miasma, and unless tons Of qulcK-Hme
are used Immediately no human being
can lC ger stand the stencil
Scor of the rcscuers were taken
deathly sick today and had to be re-
moved from the city. The condition Of
many of the rescuers and soldiers fs
almost as pitiabIe as that of the
refugees.
Housed IN Barracks.
King Emmanuel today teiegraphed
the following message t. both Rome
and Naples:
Turn out the garrisous from the bar
racks and transform the quarters into
hospitals"
This message indicates IN but feeble
way the necessity for increased IA
ciities for attending TO the countless
thousands Of wretchedly injured sur
vivors.
Naples. Catauia, Palermo, and other
cities are already crowded win me SUI
fere.s, and still not more than halt or
them have been cared for In even the
slightest degree.
Doctors on the scene estimate that
- 900 OF the injured in Messina alone
Will be crippled for life.
MANY have broken backs and injuries
to their brain that viii make them help
less charges upon the country the rest
Of their lives.
The spectre of insanity growing out
of the quake is one OF the most distress
ing phases of the calamity. Wherever
the rescuers have gone they have found
dozens OF demeuted survivors. perma-
ueutIy bereft Of their mental powers AT
least 100 of these have taken their lives.
Doctors !n MesSina and Halml continue
20 treat emergency cases in the streets
and hundreds of computations have taken
place in FUN view of the craZed people
Report from Reggie today says the
city is now completely abandoned There
were only about 300 out Of population
OF 5000 that survived the quake and
tidal wave. and these have been trans
feTred 10 other towns.
Reggie Only Memory.
Reggie has disappeared from the map.
never to be replaced. The town VIII
live in history hereafter as a mere
memory. like Herculaneum and Pompeu.
Contributions for the earthquake vic
tins, already received and en- route, are
estimated today at $4,000.
The amount already raised Is insig-
uihcant compared with the unprece-
dented reeds Of the devastated country.
aud both church and government ap-
Ueals will be made 10 every civilized
country.
"CaIabria and large part Of Sicily
must be children of the worlds charity
hcuceforth, declared one Of those in
charge of the distribution Of the funds
that are pouring into the italian Red
Cross headquarters.
s.The generous gifts from America
have aroused the deepest gratitude Of
the world. and have Cemcuted the COUn-
tries FOR years 70 come
While J don't wish 20 inject church
politics into our overwhelming grief
said a noted clergyman today, II think
if is safe TO say that The helping hand
that America has stretched across the
sea will mean the creation OF another
American cardinal at the next meeting
of the cousistuTy-