The Washington herald., 1909-07-18

Boston. Mass. July lz-Declaring that
greed and red tape prevented more than
half OF the money sent TO aid the earth
quake sufferers at Messina from reaching
them. DR.. Benjamin sharp, OF the Acad-
emy OF Sciences, in Philadelphia, who has
just returned from abroad. told to-day OF
the mismanagement - and graft - during
the catastrophe, which he declares is now
an open secret at Naples.
He SAYS that he hopes his story Will
teach Americans never 10 insturst funds TO
the Italians again, and cites cases in which
the latter made money in every possible
way out Of the quake He declares that
each official through whose hands the
money passed made something out Of Il.
Arrived Friday.
With his wife and daughter. Miss Doro-
thy Sharp, the professor arrived home
from Europe yesterday. and is now at his
home at q Elm street. Brookline. He will
so TO Philadelphia next week however.
and viii continue his work Of enlightening
people as 10 the true facts Of the case in
that city.
third. and, l am sure. not over one-haIf
Of the money and supplies sent TO the
Italian earthquake victims from the
United States and other countries ever
reached them" He places no blame how
ever. upon the Americans connected with
the distribution. and adds that the Amer
leans and English IN the stricken city did
wonderful work in aiding the sufferers.
He declares the whole trouble 20 have
been due 20 Italian mismauagement
and red tape. and while he says that
the Italians doubtless grated" much
OF the money. he admits that Il will be
difficult 70 place the blame.
Left Italy in April.
DR.. Sharp. with his wife and daugh-
ter. sailed for Europe last November
and left Italy the latter part OF April
While not actually in the earthquake.
he was in Naples at the time. and had
FIRE opportunity to watch the work Of
distributing funds and caring for the
refugees.
I'VE got down TO Naples shortly af-
ter the quake happened" says the pro-
fessor. There was a DR.. Patton. who
has been ar the geological station in
Naples four years and speaks perfect
Italian. think he is New York man.
and DR.. Harold Cotton, Of Philadelphia.
was also studying at the station. These
two men as medical men. and volunta-
rily at their own expense, hired two
automobiles and started for the quake
region. Reggie. By night. the moment
they got word OF the disaster.
When they reached the frontier OF ]
Calabria they were not allowed 70 pro- /
coed. on the ground that they were not /
members OF the Italian Red Cross. DR.. !
Patton was taken I'll and had to return 1
by train. The train on which he came \
back, which was crowded with the 4
earthquake wounded. was stopped and /
held at once place twelve hours, with a /
clear track. simply because red tape /
gave no authority 10 go ahead.
Throw Victims Overheard.
An Italian battle ship which came up 4
from Messina 10 Naples with refugees |
Ohis information I received from two
English Salvation Army officers and a |
doctor whose name don't recall. but
who did grand work day and nighD /
threw overheard from the ship those who /
died on the voyage. without keeping any /
record, and then turned the children. on |
the arrival OF the vessel at Naples. over /
~ lily OLC " Lfu Mull4 AdhD LllGLl- MANY j
of these children were from the best
families. and were turned over TO peo-
pie who wanted them 10 put them out
begging. Il was only with the greatest
difficulty their relatives could find them
and get them back frem the slums.
'The Salvationists had gotten back
eight by the time we left, January l6.
There Is no question that the govern
arnN 81 rrae n. ~ /
one OF the officers at the Naples zooloR-
ical station. told me he could guarantee
that not more than one-haf the money
subscribed at the time Of the calamity ever
reached the sufferers A big invoice OF
clothing sent by a firm in New York
never reached Messina, and was sold at
auction on the streets of Naples. The
italian government charged ground rent
for I00 or 500 OF the portable houses fur
nished by the Americans, and as the
refugees had no money 10 pay the houses
remained empty
Praises Salvation Army.
THE Salvation Army did splendid work.
and can't say too much for them. When
the Russian soldiers landed at the time
of the quake, the Italian soldiers were
standing around with guns in their hands
and not offering 10 assist those under the
debris right at their feet, because they
didn't have orders. The whole thing is
due 70 the laxity, red tape. and methods
Of the Italian government. Italians are
to-day dependent upon the foreigner for a
living. and were It not for the Americans /
Englieh. and Germans who go there Italy
would be bankrupt within two years"
Dr.. Sharp believes that those who did
their best 70 alleviate suffering In the
far away country should know how little
of that generous help reached its desti-