Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, January 6, 1909, Page 3

BY C. E. KILEY. GRAND RAPIDS, - - MINNESOTA. NEWS OF WEEK SUMMARIZED Digest of the News Worth Telling Cons densed for the Busy _ Reader. FROM THE CAPITAL. Some of the forerfiost composers of the country are in attendance in Washington at the annual convention of the Music Teachers’ National asso- ciation. Carrying out its efforts to reduce the number of fatalities in coal mines, the United States geological survey is about to establish rescue stations in the principal coal fields of the coun try. Announcement is made that the postoffice department is now prepared to issue limited quantities of postage stamps in rolls of 500 or 1,000 for use in stamp-vending and stamp-affixing machines. Inspired by the sale of Red Cross Chritsmas and New Year’s stamps this year, officials of the American Red Cross in Washington already are planning to make this innoyation a permanent American institution. PERSONAL. Matthew McNamara, for many years national warden of the Knights of Columbus, died at his home in New London, Conn. Charles F. Phelps, formerly a judge of the supreme bench of Baltimore, and widely known as jurist, soldier and author, is dead at the age of sev- enty-five years. Bishop Dennis J. O’Connell, rector of the Catholic University of Ameri- ca at Washington, has been appointed bishop coadjutor of ,San Francisco. The term of Bishop O’Connell as rec- tor expires Jan. 11, Rey. Father G. Lyons, Society of Jesus, a member of the faculty of Boston (Mass.) college, has assumed the duties of president of Gonzago college and rector of St. Aloysius church at Washington. Robert Emmett Fisk, for thirty-five years editor of the Helena (Mont.) d, and confidential friend of dent Garfield and James G. Blaine, died at his home at Berkeley, Cal., aged seventy-one years. He sery- ed in the Civil war, attaining the rank of major. CASUALTIES. While skating on a pond near Tren- ton, N. J., Albert Blanchard and Carl Hildebrand, each twelve years old, broke through the ice and were drown- ed. Fire broke out in the Paramonoft mine in Russia and as a result 2,500 miners are idle, It has been neces sary to seal up three shafts of the mine. Rey. Wilbur I. Davis was stricken blind while delivering a sermon in his pulpit at the High Street Methodist church at Springfield, Ohio. The burst- ing of a blood vessel was given as the cause, Fire, which for a time threatened the whole business section of One- onta, N. Y., destroyed the Arlington hotel and seven other buildings in the heart of the city, causing a loss of $100,000. The fertilizing plant and tank room of the Nelson Morris packing plant at St. Joseph, Mo., was destroyed by fire. The loss is about $125,000. The fire will not interfere with the working of the plant. W. T. B. Allen, aged sixty-seven, one of the best known Englishmen in Northwestern Iowa, was found dead in bed at Sioux City, having accidentally turned on the gas stove in turning off the gaslight. Oscar Herr ignited with a cigarette stump a bottle containing mine pow- der at Fairmont, W. Va., and he and three companions were probably fatal- ly injured and several others were se- riously hurt, As a result of a wild automobile race on the Foothill boulevard, at Oak- land, Cal., one man was instantly kill- ed and another man and two young women were severely injured. The accident occurred a short distance from San Leandro, Leo Bosworth, aged thirty, was kill- ed at Charlotte, Mich., by the explo- son of a gun in the hands of a hunt- ing companion, who escaped unhurt. Part of the barrel hit Bosworth in the neck and severed his jugular vein. He died in an hour. A fire which caused a loss of $100,00 occurred in the Occidental hotel build- ing in Los Angeles.“ An explosion in the basement, where a decorating com- pany stored paints and oils, caused the fire. Two firemen were injured. The hundred guests in the hotel escaped without injury. In a collision at New York between a trolley car and an automobile George C. Hurlburt, the aged librarian of the American Geographical society, and his daughter, occupants of’ the auto- mobile, were crushed in the ruins of the machine and fatally injured. Mrs. Bertha Vacha and her three- year-old boy were found dead from as- phyxiation in their home at Cleveland. Frank Vacha, the husband, was uncon- scious but may recover. house. An investigation is being made. Rerald--Review. WORLD APPALLED AT IMMENSITY OF CATASTROPHE In Messina and Reggio Alone 110,000 Are Dead—Other Towas Add Thousands. AWFUL TOTALS NOT COMPLETE Thousands of Survivors Wan- der Half Starving, Half Naked Over the Land. ‘ —_—— DESTITUTION IS EVERYWHERE Rescue Parties Are Performing Prod- igies, but Task Before Them Is Almost Hopeless. js . Rome, Jan. 1. — The immensity of Monday’s earthquake in Southern Italy and Sicily can only be measured by the fact that it is now estimated that 115,000 people perished in Mes- sina and Reggio alone. A number of other towns have been devastated and thousands of victims in these places must be added to the roll. In the face of these awful totals all Italy stands appalled. Nor has the full death list yet been reached. Shiploads of fugitives have arrived at Naples and other ports, and accomplished by } and English bluejackets, who saved many persons who otherwise weuld have inevitably perished. ‘ Queen Visits Wounded. The queen spent the day in the wards of improvised hospitals, visit- ing the wounded, many of whom lost lost all that was dear to them. Her majesty did her best to cheer them with womanly words of consolation, often breaking into sobs as she lis- tened to their dreadful tales of suffer- ing. The king left for Reggio last night. is Catania, the largest city nearest to the zone of the disaster, is crowded with refugees, and the continuous stream of fugitives coming in, the sight of the wounded and repetition of real or imaginary earthquakes have so alarmed the population that they are cecoming uncontrollable. There is no longer any place where the refu- gees may find shelter. ' American Consul Dead. The government is finding difficulty in ascertaining the fate of the many foreigners who were in the earthquake zone at the time of the catastrophe, inquiries concerning whom are coming from all quarters of the globe. The commander of the battleship Admiral Kharoff, which arrived with fugitives at Naples yesterday, confirms the re- port of the death of the American con- sul at Messina, Arthur S. Cheney, and his wife, who were buried in the ruins of the consulate. The number of Americans in Sicily and Southern Italy is believed to be small, and sev- eral of them are reported to have been staying at #‘aermina, which is on the east coast, about thirty miles southwest of Messina. According to the latest reports this place suffered no harm from the earthquake. France’s Token of Love. All the sovereigns and the heads of states of the foreign governments have sent expressions of warmest sym- pathy and deepest condolence. France’s message was especially warm and she is dispatching five warships performing prodigies, but the task be- fore them is almost hopeless. Search Dust for Food. Added to the difficulty of obtaining food and water, there are no drugs or surgical appliances. Heart-breaking appeals for help are heard on every side, to which only the most inade- quate response is possible. Tempora- ry hospitals are being rigged up, but only a comparatively few can be re- lieyed and the scenes of horror defy description. The survivors of the earthquake are suffering cruel extrem- ities, and in Messina may be seen everywhere, vainly searching in the dust and debris for morsels of food. Many Villages in Ruins. Later dispatches state that the city of Palmi contains 1,500 dead and twice as many injured. Two-thirds of the town was laid waste. All the villages adjacent suffered as severely. Dispatches from Catania describe Messina as appearing like a huge in- candescent furnace. The’ fire spread to the buildings that had not yet fallen, completing the work of destruction. The Strait of Messina is now choked with corpses of men and animals, Pillage and Looting. The relief work now is well begun, put hundreds of persons are wander- ing about-the ruins like madmen. They are being given food and clothing as fast as.it is. possible. At thy, ministry of marine word has been received that frightful looting and pillage occurred at Reggio. This place, already overwhelmed, will have few survivors, as it has been impossi- ble for the relief expeditions to reach it. Americans Respond Quickly. New York, Jan. 1. — The work of organizing relief f.r the victims of the earthquake, which was begun here al- most simultaneously with the receipt of the first news of the disaster, as- sumed official form yesterday with the issuance by the mayor of a proclama- tion calling upon the people of the city for subscription for the relief of the sufferers. NEW SHOCKS ALARM SURVIVORS Complete Ruin of Crumbling Build- ings in Southern Italy and Sicily. Rome, Jan. 3. — Although graphic stories are coming into Rome of the horrors in Southern Italy and Sicily, those are but repetitions of indi- vidual tragedies already recorded. What chiefly concerns the govern- ment and the people is the progress that is being made toward the relief of those who have suffered by the dreadful visitation. Considerable ad- vance in this respect has been made at Messina, where, according to offi- cial reports received here, the supply service is beginning to work satisfac- torily. The different regions on the coast have been allotted to various warships and other ships as centers from which torpedo boats and launch- es convey and distribute rations and water to the different villages. More Shocks Felt. The minister of justice has wired from Messina to Premier Goilitti that large bodies of troops have arrived and are now occupying all parts of the town. The appalling extent of the disaster renders anything like a sys- tematic search of the ruins impossi- ble, but persons are being dragged out all day long and are quickly trans- ported to the relief ships as soon as their wounds have received attention. There were slight shocks felt in the earthquake zone yesterday, complet- ing the ruin of the crumbling build- ings. “Those shocks are contributing to the keeping up of the alarm of the population. Fires are still burning, although much rain has fallen. The latest investigations on both sides of the straits make it certain that many more than half the population of the coast towns and villages have been killed. More Than 200,000 Dead. Prof. Rico, director of the observa- tory at Mount Aetna, estimates that the viq@tims of the earthquake exceed 200,000. Hundreds of dangerous crim- filled with lamentations; pictured om the countenance of all is grief for the destruction of two beautiful regions of the mother country where thou- sands now lie dead. King Supervises Work. King Victor Emmanuel has been in- defatigable. He has shown wonder- ful 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 maj- esty has infused new courage and en- ergy into the rescuers, hungry and. wounded as they are. A touching feature of the material aid offered by all classes of the peo- ple in Rome is the donation of cloth- ing and bedding, which the workmen are freely giving. Reports from all parts of Italy indicate the same gen- erous spirit. . The king has placed the: royal palaces at Naples and Deserta at the disposal of the injured. Carry Refugees Away. Vessels loaded with refugees con- tinue to stream into Naples and Paler- mo, and each day sees the arrival of additional steamers in the Strait of Messina. It is the government’s in- tention to remove all the survivors possible to the various ports in Italy. As an instance of his quick grasp of the situation, King Victor Emman. uel soon after his arrival at Messina wired to Premier Giolitti: “‘Send ships and men; above all, send ships loaded with quicklime.” Burn and Bury Dead. So far as has been possible, quick lime has been used on the dead! many bodies have been burned and others buried. In the relief work the officers and men of the foreign war- ships have been untiring and their courage is beyond words. The crew of the British cruiser Drake gave up everything they possessed for the ben. efit of the refugees, and practically forgot rest and sleep for more than thirty-six hours in their devotion to duty. Reports are published that it is the STREET IN DOPrroDoCcssocLaA. the vast majority of these are sorely Injured. Distress Is Great. Other thousands remain near the ruins of their homes or wander half starving, half naked, over the land. The forces that on Monday overwhelm- ed the cities also destroyed the means of sustenance. Telegraphic communication has been established with Messina. Mes- sages which have come over the line, though they have been meager in de- tail, show that hope is gone. Nothing remains of the city but a mass of ruins that have been swept by fire. A mere handful of survivors are being cared for by the rescuing forces, but their distress is great, and it has Been increased by the violent icy wind that followed the deluge of rain. King and Queen at Messina. Destitution is everywhere, and ap- palling. There is little food and less water. Of Messina’s 90,000 population it is believed that fully 70,000 perish- ed. Forty thousand people died in Reggio. King Victor Emmanuel and Queen Helena were in Messina yesterday. The king explored the ruins regard- less of the danger to which he exposed himself. He was often moved to tears at the heartrending scenes he came upon at every turn. The king was loud in his praise of the splendid work FrRor MAP SHOWING DISTRICT WHERE EFARTHQRQDAKE GENERAL ViEWw OF a & SHOCKS OCCURRED: SCENE IN STEFANACONI. DILLUSTRAZIOCNE. TrALIANA from Toulon to Messina, which is hail- ed as a token of love from a sister race. The minister of marine last night re- ceived word that the steamships Taor- mina and Campania, laden with 45,000 beds and a large supply of provisions, had left Genoa bound for Messina. Other steamers also bountifully stock- ed are on their way to the stricken cities from various ports. Half Clad and Starving. The dispatches from the stricken zone say that a large army would be required to cope with even the press- ing needs of the unfortunate people, who are roaming about half clad and starved, some of them dragging arti- cles of clothing from the smoldering ruins to protect themselves from the piercing winds. Terrible suffering is inevitable before the much-needed re- lief stores can arrive. The rescue parties, military, naval and civil, of different nationalities are ‘A systematized effort is to be made yinals have been arrested by the trocps for the centralization of the many channels of relief through which funds for the succor of the hungry and homeless of Sicily and Calabria are now being collected. It is now aimed to make the Amer!i- can Red Cross society the medium for transmission to the Italian Red Cross society of ali money collected in the United States. Already the society has cabled $10, 000, which was dispatched on Tues- day. In addition the executive commit- tee of the national society has arrang- ed to remit immediately to the Italian Red Cross the sum of $50,000. The Christian Herald advanced $20,000 on a fund which it purposes to raise shortly by contributions from its read- ers and cabled the sum over to the Italian Red Cross society direct. Another remittance sent by cable last night was $5,000, contributed by the Italian newspaper, I] Progresso. and are under close guard. Great re- lief was felt here when the announce- ment was made that the Lipari isl- ands, which were reported to have disappeared with their population of 28,000, suffered little or no damage from the earthquake. Public opinion is seriously concerned with regard to the safety of the king and queen and the possible danger from tottering walls. Queen Refuses to Leave. The king frequently has tried to persuade the queen to rest or return to Rome, but she always refused, de- claring that it would break her heart to abandon her husband in his labors for the country in its anguish. New Year’s day in Italy is usually the occasion of festivities and re- joicing as widespread as on Christ- mas, but these ceremonies and the festival spirit were wanting yester- day. Instead of rejoicings, Rome is king’s intention to sell his property in Sicily and’ devote the proceeds te the assistance of the suffe WATER BOILS IN MIDOCEAN. Norfolk, Va., Jan. —A volcano at ! sea and a field of boiling water off ' the coast of Georgia are among the phenomena which British officers have reported to the hydrographic of: fice here. While the British steamer Baltic | was headed toward this coast on Dec. 13, in latitude 51:14 and longitude 21 First Officer Landmary observed what he reported as an “eruption appar. ently twenty miles distant to the westward, resembling a volcanic ac: j tion.” The weird disturbance lasted but a few seconds. The British steamship Lord Duffer- in on Dec, 18, passed an area of boil- ing water less than 200 miles off the Southern coast, according to the cap tain’s report, One of the Paris newspapers states that Wilbur Wright, the American aeroplanist, will shortly go to Rome to give instruction to three Italian pilots in the work of his aeroplane. RRR RRR RRND rrr eeeeeeeeeeeeerererrreeeeee5uoeeeeeer e-eeeerreereeeeeaeeeeer@>™—”reeeerer_=_—_—OOOOr MAINE TOWN FIRESWEPT. Skowhegan, Me., Jan. 3.—Fire dam- aged three business blocks and burned five tenement houses in Water street, in the heart of the town, early yester- day. Two of the houses were dyna- mited to check the progress of the flames and it was only after eight hours’ work that the department, as- sisted by apparatus from Winterville Some time:and Fairfield, succeeeded in bringing during the night gas escaped in the | the fire under control. The loss is $400,000. Short in Accounts. Marshalltown, Iowa, Jan. 3. — Not until a note was found confessing that he was short in his accounts and an- nouncing his intention of committing suicide, was the disappearance of Charles D. Swick discovered yester- day. ‘ Swick was a trusted employe of President George Gregory of the Iowa-Nebraska Coal Dealers’ associa- tion, and handled much of his employ- ers’ funds. As far as discovered his | shortage is only $200. BONES POINT TO MURDER. Chicago, Jan. 3. — A murder in which the body of the victim, believed to have been Mrs. Annie Raffty, a negro servant, was burned in the fur- nace of a fashionable apartment building, was disclosed by the-police yesterday by the finding of human bones in the ashes of the furnace. The police are searching for the wom- an’s husband, who is said to have dis- appeared. ACQUITTED OF EMBEZZLEMENT. Fargo, Jan. 1.—In the embezzle- ment case against Ober Iverson of Aneta, the jury in the United States court acquitted the prisoner without leaving their seats. Iverson is a sev- enteen-year-old boy, who has been a clerk in the postoffice at Aneta, and was charged with embezzling $4.35. The shortage occurred in connection with stamp sales, and the defense al- leged it was a case of mistake in mak- ing change and not criminal intent. , Admits His Guilt. Seattle, Wash., Jan. 3.—Wanted in Chicago on a charge of embezzlement of money intrusted to his care for de- posit in the bank three months ago, Herman Paley, a theatrical agent, was arrested in Seattle yesterday by a de- tective. Mme. Nordica II. Los Angeles, Cal., Jan. 3. — Mme. Nordica is suffering from an attack of bronchitis and is confined to the home of her sister, Mrs. Castillo.