The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-01
FIRST GOOD news
Only Slight Damage Was Done
on the Lipari Islands.
Few Buildings Wrecked and No
Loss OF Life.
DYING IN ANGUISH.
Thousands Still Beneath Ruins
Must Perish.
Inland Towns Are Still Without
Any Form of Relief.

Rome, Jan. 1.-The first cheerful
news since the devastation of Calabria
and eastern Sicily by earthquake and
tidal wave last Monday, was received
this morning by the minister of ma
rine. A dispatch from the commander
of the torpedo boat sent. post haste to
verify the report that the Lipari, or
Aeolian islands, had been engulfed
and all of the population, some $4,000
people annihilated, brought the CRATE
full information that while the islands
had experienced the earthquake only
a few buildings have been demolished
and that no lives were lost.
Otherwise the story coming from
the south today is repetition of the
previous recitals Of devastation, suf-
fering starvation and horror.
The king and queen of Italy continue
their pious pilgrimage along what was
once the beautiful and smiling eastern
coast of Sicily, but which today is
desolated region strewn with unsep-
ulchred dead and where thousands are
dying in anguish amid the ruins of
their homes. The Duke of Aosta is
also on the scene devoting himself to
the succor of his countrymen. The
duke has visited Palmi and all the
ter Messina and Reggie suffered more
heavily than any other. The duke said
to one of the aids with him:
Scourge From God.
1.-THE catastrophe indeed is a
scourge from God. The time has
come when it is no longer possible to
think about those beneath ruins. All
hope of saving any of these un-
fortunates after the four days that
have elapsed since the disaster must
of necessity be abandoned. All our
efforts must be devoted to caring for
the wounded survivors,
In view of these conditions the gov
ernment has decided to concentrate
its energies to removing the wounded
to points where they can receive
proper attention. Uninjured survivors
also will be assisted from the de-
vastatets terFitorg and it IS hoped that
in this way serious epidemics can be
avoided
The colossal emigrant- steamships
that for years past have been en-
gagged in transporting the surplus
population of Calabria and Sicily to
the, four corners of the world, but es-
pecially to the United States, are to-
day being employed In removing sur
vivors and refugees to places of
safety Messina and Reggie, the two
typical southern cities of Italy, are to-
day no more. The fury of land and
sea has completed their ruin and what
little remains-heaps of shattered
masonry covering countless dead
bodies-is now to be covered with
quick lime to prevent the outbreak of
epidemic, The system of gathering
the survivors on board the huge emil
grant steamers will solve one of the
most important problems that con-
fronts the uthorities-namely that of
feeding the people. If it is found i'm
possible to set the refugees on shore,
and the land accommodations are
rapidly filing up with the injured,
they can be fed on board ship for
each vessel is provided with 80 days
rations for a full passenger list, and
this 1e eway will give time for de-
cisions as to where the unfortunates
had best be landed.
This advantage of feeding, however,
applies only to the survivors of Reggie
and MesSina. There are still scores of