Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-01-14
ALL WORLD
SENDS RELIEF.
Stricken Italy Receives Aid For
Earthquake Sufferers.
BIG SUMS FROM RED CROSS.

ates $500, OOO-Further SHOCKS reit
In Stricken Districts-kins Victor
Aids In Rescue Work--Living Vic
Tins Still Buried In Ruins.
The entire world is uniting in send
ing relief 10 Italy, where, in It's south
ern extremity, occurred the terrible
earthquake and tidal wave that de-
stoyed towns and cities and killed, as
near as can be estimated, 100000 peo
pie. The cities of Messina and Reg
gio suffered the worst.
The system OF rescue is greatly
augmented by the arrival of troops.
The movement OF refugees from the
nearby villages is daily increasing in
volume, and large numbers of persons
are leaving the devastated region. OF
the victims under the ruins, compare
lively few have been rescued alive.
1t is now clear that the enormous
number of casualties in Messina were
due TO the suddenness with which the
first shock came, giving but little
time to the people to escape from their
homes. The damage done by fire was
comparatively Insignificant.
The first earth shock literally threw
down the city. Then came the tidal
wave, and the living and dying were
caught like rats and drowned and
killed
The stencil of the decomposing
bodies hinders greatly the rescuers in
their work
The American consulate is a com
rescuers will be able to recover the
bodies buried beneath the debris for
few days.
The report has gone out that
at Messina six Russian sailors were
shot by thieves while trying to pre-
thief upon whom was found valuables
TO the amount OF $4,000.
The appalling extent of the awful
disaster renders anything like a sys-
tematic search OF the ruins impossible,
but persons are being dragged out all
day long and are quickly transported
to the relief ships as soon as their
wounds have received attention.
There have been slight shocks felt
in the earthquake zone, completing
the ruin of the crumbling buildings.
These shocks are contributing To the
keeping up of the alarm of the popu-
lation. Fires are still burning, al
though much rain has fallen.
The latest Investigations on both
sides of the straits make il certain
that many more than half of the pop
ulation of the coast towns and viii
lagos have been killed.
Professor Ricco, director of the OBJ
servatory at Mount Aetna estimates
that the victims of the earthquake ex-
coed 100000.
Hundreds of dangerous criminals
have been arrested by the troops and
are under close guard.
King Victor Emmanuel has been in
defatigable. He has shown wonder
full activity and endurance. leaving no
point in Messina unvisited. He has
supervised the entire work in the fall
en- city, and the presence Of his
majesty has infused new courage and
energy into the rescuers and the sur
vivors, hungry and wounded as they
are.
The first division OF the Atlantic
fleet, consisting OF four vessels, and
now passing through the Suez canal,
has been directed to go to Naples to
assist in the relief work. The re-
mainder of the feet is to be distribu-
ted at various points on the Mediter-
ranean. None of the other Italian
ports are to be visited by the battle
ships
President Roosevelt gave the order
directing the fleet to Naples.
Bountiful provision for the earth
quake sufferers of Italy has been made
by congress, and that, too. by unani-
nous vote.
In the house there was vigorous
hand clapping as the bill carrying the
appropriation was sent on it's way
The munificent sum OF 100000 was
granted almost Immediately after the
reception in both houses OF a mes
sage from the president calling atten-
ton TO the calamity and the pressing
need for aid for the stricken people OF
a sister nation. No such generous
help was ever extended to a stricken
people by this government before.
Ambassador 10 Rome, Griscom,
and the members of the American re-
lief committees have signed a con-
tract for the acquisition for two weeks
of the Australian Lloyd steamship
Oceana. The steamer is of 5000 tons
and can accommodate 1,400 steerage
and 100 first class passengers. She is
now being fitted out, and when ready
10000 persons can be taken care OF |
aboard for ten days. In addition, food /
supplies will be distributed ashore to |
several thousand people in the strick
an quake districts.
Ambassador Griscom has delivered |
20 Count Taverna. head of the Italian
Red Cross. $25O,OOO from the Ameri-
ian Red Cross.