Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-16
CHENEY BODIES FOUND
Rescued From Messina Ruins
by American Sailors.
BOTH PERISHEO IN BED
Consul and His Wife No Doubt
Were Instantly Killed.
SENT TO NAPLES ON CULG0A
Arrangements Made to Have Re-
mains Shipped to the United
States at Once.
SENT TO NAPLES ON CULG0A
Special Cablegram to The Star.

ROME. January 16-The bodies Of Con.
sui Cheney and Mrs. Cheney were found
late yesterday afternoon in the ruins of
the American consulate at Messina. after
the hardest kind of work by three hun
dred bluejackets from the battleship
Illinois. The identification was complete,
as the bodies were in an excellent state
of preservation. Death was no doubt
instantaneous, for the bodies were found
in bed.
The sailors from the Illinois were under
command Of Maj Landis. military at
tache of the American embassy at Rome
the men having been substituted for the
men of the Yankton in searching the
ruins of the American consulate. The
work was extremely hard as nobody
knew in which part of the house Consul
Cheney and his wife were when the earth
quake occurred. Some of the visiting
cards of Mrs. Cheney and books and
pictures belonging to the consul were first
round, and 1t Is believed that the portion
of the house where these we're unearthed
was the parlor This helped the Ameri-
can sailors. with the aid Of persons who
knew the house. in locating the bedroom
of the consul and his wife. The debris
from neighboring houses was mixed UP
with that of the Cheney home and the
searchers had hard task.
Sent to Naples on Culgoa.
The bodies were placed aboard the sup
ply ship Culgoa. which left here at once
for Naples. Maj. Lands, the American
military attache at Rome, who has been
experimenting the work of excavating the
ruins. sent a wireless dispatch to the
American consul at Naples asking this
official to obtain permission Of the local
authorities to ship the remains to Hart
ford, Qpnn., on the first available mer-
chant steamer.
The caskets containing the bodies Of the
| consul and his wife were sealed and then
| wrapped each in an American flag. after
which American sailors carried them
down to the water front. AS they made
their way through the ruined streets Ital
ian soldiers and sailors saluted and the
people took off their hats.
The Yankton sailed today for Vile
franche.
Mr.. Lupton left here today for Catania
to establish an American. consulate there.
Children Found Alive.
A thrilling rescue was effected this
morning when, after having been buried
home, three children of Nicolo Minissoli.
who emigrated to America some time ago.
were saved. Francesca Minissoli boy
aged nine years. managed today to crawl
out alone by burrowing from the ruins
and through a hole which seemed too
narrow for even cat to pass through
He was wounded in several places and
covered with blood. Once in the open
oil he Cot l,,,f
hospital where he was soon revived and
told his story. His two sisters who had
been buried with him, then were rescued
by soldiers.
The boys story seemed almost incredi-
BILE. On the morning OF the earthquake
he said, he saw his mother crushed to
death under the beams OF the ceiling in
their home. Francesca and his two sis
ters fed to the next room, but in few
moments they were precipitated to the
cellar. They made desperate efforts to
get out. but failed. In absolute dark
ness. holding one anothers hands and
imploring the protection of the Madonna.
the children groped about the cellar and
found few onions and some wine, water
and OIL
In Darkness Sixteen Days.
For sixteen days thus they lived in per-
feet darkness, often hearing above their
heads roaring noises that evidently were
caused pE 1alilnS walls. Then. when
hope almost had fled and when his sisters
had resigned themselves to die, Frances
CO saw in one corner Of the prison faint
and uncertain sleam of light Rushing to
the spot, he worked at the debris with
his hands and nails and even employing
stones as tools. and for three days kept
at his task until at last he forced his pas
sage through the opening he had made.
His sisters were too large to follow him
to SaIety
When he had told his story Francesca
led a number of officers and soldiers to
the spot and himself directed the work OF
rescuing his sisters. who were carried OH
StretcherS to hospital
This wonderful rescue is taken as an
indication of the necessity to continue the
work of excavation.
Eighty-two persons have been arrested
up to the present time for stealing during
the confusion incident to the earthquake
disaster. They will be tried by martial
law.
SHOCK FELT AT MANILA.