The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-02
Lipari Islands Were Not Touched. KING, BY HIS ENERGY,
 PROVES RIGHT 10 ROYALTY He Takes Personal Charge of the
 Situation. Ckiiarea sf rnperisl Household Give Their Mites fer suaerers sy
 Earthssske--Hereism of
 Fsresss ssliors.

Rome. Jan. 1.-Prefessor Ricco, director of the observatory at Mount Aetna. estimates that the victims Of the earthquake exceed 100000.
 Hundreds of dangerous criminals have been arrested by the troops and gre under close guard.
 Although graphic stories are coming into Rome of the horrors in Southern Italy and Sicily. these are but rep- stitions of individual tragedies already recorded.
 What chiefly concerns the govern ment and the people is the progress that is being made towards the relief of those who have suffered by the dreadful visitation. Considerable ad- vance in this respect has been made at Messins. where. according to official reports received here, the supply ser- vice is beginning to work satisfao- torily. 3
 The different regions on the coast have been allotted to the various war ships and other ships as centers from which to reach the boats and launches to convey and distribute rstions and water to te different villages.
 The Minister of Justice has wired from Messina to Premier Gtoliotti that large bodies of troops have arrived anu are now occupying all parts of the town The appalling extent of the disastsr renders anything like syste- matic search of the ruins impossible. but persons are being dragged out all day long and are quickly transported to the relief ships.
 Mere shocks Are Felt.
 There were slight shocks felt in the zone today completing the rnin Of cha crumbiing buildings. Those shocks arc contributing to the keeping up of the alarm of the population. One quite severe shock was felt ct 3 o'clock Tn the morning and another at . o'clock. Fires are still burning although much rain has fallen.
 The latest investigations on both sides of the straits make 1t certain that many moro than half the popu- lation of the villages have been killed.
 Great relief was felt here when the announcement was made that the Li- pari IslandS. which were reported to have disappeared. with their population of 2s.ooo. suffered little or no damage from the earthquake.
 Public opinion is seriously concerned with regard to the safety of the King and Queens and the possible danger from tottering walls. The King fre- quently has tried to persuade the queen to rest or return to Rome. but she always refused, declaring that it would break her beart<to abandon her husband in his labors for the country in it's anguish.
 New Years day in Italy~is usually the era of festivities and rejoicing as widespread as on Christmas. Impos- ing ceremonies are celebrated in the . churches where the people crowd to give thanks for past mercies and to implore still further mercies for the New Year. The King spends his day receiving greetings from the foreign diplomats, his ministers and officials of State; the Pope admits privileged hundreds to his mass and during the remainder of the day receives good wishes.
 But these ceremonies and the festal spirit were venting today. Instead of rejoicings, Rome is nlied with la. mentations; pictured on the c0unte- nance of all is grief for the destrucs ton of two beautiful regions of the mother country Where thousands now lie dead. The flags fly at half-mast and the bells Of a thousand churches ring not for the Te Deum, but toll sad knells for requiem masses.
 King Measures to ScePtre.
 King Victor Emanuel has been inde- fatigRble. He has shown wonderful activity and endurance, leaving no point ip Messina unvisited He has supervised the entire work in the fallen city and his presence has in- fused new courage and energy into the rescuers and the survivors, hungry and wounded as they are. Often he Is surrounded by a crowd of victims who. as thought the sight of the King had restored their strength and energy, shout: We have a King; we have a protector!'
 A large number of soldiers have been landed from the various steamers ar. irving at Messina and other stricken places. and efforts are being directed toward embarking the wounded refu. gees, who are crowding all available places. Some of these will be sent as IhE 5S 0CfSN'
 touching feature of the material aid offered by all classes of people fin Rome is the donation of clothing and bedding which the workmen are freely giving to collecting students. Reports from all parts of Italy indicate the same generous spirit.
 The King has placed the royal pal aces at Naples and caserta at the dis posal of the injured.
 Princess Yolande the seven-y -year-old daughter of the King, having had the reasoR~for her parents absence explain ed to her. carried about contribution box among her little friends at a party given in her honor at the Quirlnal this afternoon. She herself put in the box her first tinygOld ring. which was given to her on Christmas by her grandmath- or. Dowager Queen Margarita: her younger sister, Princess Mafaltoa, gave AR"ia chain. while Prince Umbsrto. the