CHIEF
HUNDRED THOUSAND DIE
IN A WFUL EARTHQUAKE
Seismic Shocks, Tidal Waves and Fires Devastate Mes
sina, Reggio and Scores of Other Cities
and Towns of Calabria.
STRAIGHT PROM THE SHOULDER.
Message to Lower Branch
on Secret Service.
BIG STICK FALLS ON FOUR
HOUSE
I SIKTOOB
Champions of Provision to Limit Scope
of Investigators Are Raked Over
the Coals by Roosevelt Federal
Sleuths Defended by Executive.
Washington. President Itoosovclt's big
stick crashed down upon tho heads of
representatives Tawney of Minnesota,
Smith or Iowa. Shorley of Kentucky, and
Fitzgerald of New York, when the execu
tive sent ti special messago to tho house
of representatives, berating those salons
for being chainplotm of tho successful
movo to placo llmltutlons upon the scopo
of tho secret service,
Tho president also declared that the
Interpretation of the house of tho secret
service clause In his last message was
misunderstood, and had there been any
evidence which would point to tho neces
sity of an Investigation of members,
such evidence would long ago havo been
turned over to tho proper authorities,
Tho message was In answer to the res
olution transmitted from tho houso In
which the representatives asked for evi
dence upon which Mr. Itoosevclt based
his statements that tho "chief argument
In favor of tho provision was that tho
congressmen did not themselves wish to
be Investigated by secret service men."
Tor the Ananias Club.
The message In part:
"I am wholly nt a loss to understand
the concluding portion of tho resolution.
1 havo mado no charges of corruption
galnst congress nor ugalnst any member
of the present house. If 1 had proof of
audi corruption affecting any member of
tho houso In any mutter us to which tho
federal government has Jurisdiction, ac
tion would at once be brought, ns was
' done In the cases of Senators Mitchell
und Hurton, and Representatives "Wil
liamson, Horrman and Drlggs, nt differ
ent times since I have boon president.
This would simply bo doing my duty In
tho execution and enforcement of the
laws without respect to persons. Hut I
lo not regnrd It as within the province
or tho duties of tho president to report
to tho house 'alleged delinquencies' of
members, or the supposed 'corrupt no
tion' of a member 'In his ofilelol capac
ity.' The membership of tho housu U
by tho constitution placed within tho
power of tho house alone. In the prose
cution of criminals and tho enforcement
of tho laws tho president must resort to
the courts of the United States.
"In tho third and fourth clauses of tho
proamblo It Is stated that the meaning of
my .words Is that 'tho majority of the
congressmen nro In fear of being Inves
tigated by secret servlco men' nnd that
"congress as a wholo was actuated by
that motive In enacting tho provision In
question,' und that this Is an impeach
ment of tho honor and integrity of the
congress. These statements are not, I
'think, In accordance with the facts."
Misunderstood, He Says.
"This allegation in the resolution, there
fore, must certainly bo duo to an untlro
:futlure to understand my message.
"Tho resolution continues: 'That tho
president be requested to transmit to the
"house any evidence upon which ho based
Jils statements thnt the "chief argument
In favor of tho provision wan that the
congressmen did not themselves wish to
bo investigated by secret servlco men."
This statement, which was an attv.clc
upon no one, still Icsh upon tho congress,
Is sustained by tho facts.
"If you will turn to tho Congressional
Tlecord for May 1 last, pages CS53 to GS60,
Inclusive, yon will find the debato on this
subject, Mr. Tawney of Minnesota, Mr.
Smith of Iowa, Mr. Sherley of Kentucky,
and Mr. Fitzgerald of New York appear
In this debato as the special champions
of tho provision referred to. Messrs. 1'ar
sons, Bennc.t und Drlsooll wcro the lead
ors of those who opposed tho adoption
of the amendment -and upheld the right of
the government to uso the most efllclent
moans possible In order to detect crim
inals and to provent and punish crime.
Tho amendment was carried In the com
mittee of tho whole, wlinro no votes of
tho Individual members nro recorded, so
I am unablo to discriminate by mention
ing tho members who voted for and tho
members who voted against the provision,
but Its passage, tho Journal records, was
greeted with applause. I am well aware,
however, that In any cuso of this kind
many members who have no particular
knowledgo or tint point at issuu are con
tent simply to follow tho lead of tho
committee which hnd considered tho mat
ter, and I havo no doubt that ninny mem
bers of the houso simply followed the
lead of Messrs. Tawney and Smith."
Secret Service Is Defended.
After soundly remonstrating with Itep-
resentatlves Tawney, Smith, Biicrioy ana
ntzeorald for their stand at tho last
session In favor or placing limitations
upon tho duties or secret service opera
tives, tho president set about to defend
tho operations of that branch of the
federal government nnd declared that tho
scone of tho department siiouni no ox
tromely wldo In order that all crimlnnls
might be brought to Justice and that
there might be no unjust discriminations.
He also pointed out numerous Instances
whore the powers of tho department had
brought Justlco upon tho heads of crimi
nals and cited cases within tho memory
of tho present administration. Mr. Hoose
velt also declared that none of tho mem
bers of tho houso hnd over been Investi
gated as set forth In various allegations,
the gist of which was appended to tho
message.
Asks Reversal of Action.
rvinrludlnir. tho president said:
"In conclusion, I most urnestly ask, In
lm imrne of good government and decent
administration, In tho namo of honesty
and for tho purpose of bringing to justlco
violators of tho federal laws wherever
they may bo found, whether In publlo or
private life, that the action taken by tho
liouso last year be reversed. AVhcn this
action was taken, the sonato committee,
under the lend of tho lato senator aiii
uon, having boforo It a strongly-worded
protest from Secretary Cortolyou llkn
that ho had sent to Mr. Tawney, accepted
the secretary's views; and the sonato
passed tho bill In tho shnpo presented by
Senator Allison. In tho conference, how
over, tho house conferees Insisted on tho
retention of the provision tney uau in
serted, and the senate yielded.
"The chief of tho secret service Is paid
n salary utterly Inadequate to tno impor
tance of his functions and to tho adrulr
ublo way In which ho has performed
them. I earnestly urgo that it may be
Increased to JC.000 per annum. 1 also urgo
that tho secret service bo placed whero
it nronerlv belongs, and mauo a uureau
In the department of Justlco, as tho chief
of tho secret Eervleo has repeatedly re
nuested: but whethor this Is done or not,
It should bo explicitly provided that tho
socret servlco can bo used to dot net and
punish crime wherever It Is fdUnd.
vniKODQKH R009HVELT."
Horrible Scenes in the Stricken District, Described by Eye- Witnesses--All Nations
Offer Sympathy and Aid King and Queen Co to Sicily American Consul
Arthur S. Cheney and His Wife Are Reported to Ec Among the Victims of the
Terrible Disaster.
ROOSEVELT'S MESSAGE.
"His Majesty Vlttorlo Emman
uel, Rome:
"With all my countrymen I
im appalled by the dreadful ca
lamlty which has befallen your
country. I offer my alncerest
sympathy. American National
Red Cross haB Issued appeals
for contributions for the suffer
ers and notified me that they
will immediately communicate
with the Italian Red Cross.
"Theodore Roosevelt."
Homo. Stunned at tho magnitude
of tho calamity wlilcli naa over
taken Its rollow countrymen, all Italy
mourna for the Btrlckcn province of
Calabria and the Island of Sicily. Ac
customed for centuries to earthquakes,
Italy stands ever In dread, but none
was prepared for the disaster which In
tho fraction or a minute Monday dev
astated cities and towns and caused
tho death of thousands. Lato esti
mates put tho number of dead nt 100,-
000.
Messinn. whose tragic history has
been marked by tidal waves and war,
and which was tho center of Monday's
terrestrial maelBtrom, was shaken to
ruins. Flames bufst forth to comploto
tho city's destruction and to burn allvo
untold numbers helplessly pinioned be
ncath fallen walls and broken timbers.
Tho Strait of Messina was shaken and
twisted by tho earth's trembling, for
mariners ronort tho channel altered
beyond recognition. Tho ports and vll
laces on both tho continental and SIcll
lan Bides were wrecked or Inundated
and all lighthouses along tho coasts
wore swallowed up. Navigation now Is
dangerous and In Bomo placeB lmpos
slble.
Seaport of Reggio Wiped Out.
In tho Calabrlan district, which was
only beginning to recover from the of.
fects of tho earthquake of 1905, Rogglo
wns tho center of tho earth's upheaval.
Tho seaport of Reggio is reported as
no longer existing nnd tho city proper
is In ruins. Tho loss of life on both
sides ot tho strait and in eastern
Sicily was enormous.
One of tho refugees from Itcggio
who waB tho first to bring tho news of
the city's destruction tried to mnke his
way to Sicily In a sailboat, but was
compelled to return, and finally found
safely at a peninsula port. In describ
ing his experience ho said:
"Tho sea wns strangely, notoriously
ngitated, and tho heavens were ablaze.
Neaving Sicily, tho clearing smoko re
vealed tho mystery. Messina was In
flames. In tho frenzy of despair I
turned my boat back to Calabrln."
Terrible Scenes at Messina.
Starving, bleeding from injuries and
almost Insane from their terrifying ox
poriehces, Messina's survivors arc flee
ing in all directions. The spectaclo
presented by tho ruined seaport 1b de
scribed as torrifylng. Tumbling build
ings botli killed and mutilated, while
hundreds of tho injured imprisoned in
tho wreckage woro abandoned to their
fate by tho lleelng populace. Ono of
thoso who escaped said:
"Tho earth seemed suddenly to drop
and then turn violently on its axis.
The whole population, who practically
were precipitated from the houses rent
In twain, were spun nround like tops
as thoy ran through tho streets. Many
fell crushed to death and others, bewil
dered, took refugo for breath besldo
tho tottering walls, whore thoy soon
mot tho fate of their companions."
Brave Work of Rescuers.
Already British and Russian squad
rons havo arrived at Messinn. Sailors
and marines havo been dlsemburked
and they havo porformod courageous
ucts In rescuing tho injured und re
moving tho wounded. A largo number
of suvlvors havo been transferred to
tho warships, which nro transformed
Into great floating hlspltnls. It is lm
porativo that tho dead bo removed
from tho ruins in order to avoid a pes
tilence. Steamers with doctors, drug
gists, firemen nnd workmen havo ar
rived at Messina from Catania and
other places.
Speclnl dispatches received hore
from Calabria confirm the destruction
of Hegglo. They roport that the situa
tion thoro Is as bad, If not worse, than
at Messinn. Tho fltreots In Homo nro
jammed with pcoplo, who snatch tho
speclnl editions from tho newsboys.
Tho people are plunged in grief and
lamentations aro heard on all sides.
Hero and thero ono asks another:
"When will end this awful repetition
of devastation and death in our coun
try?" All Nations Offer Aid.
Tho hands of all tho nations have
beon extended to Italy In her affliction.
From rulors havo como messages of
condolence and from tho people upon-
tnncoff promises of that aid which
brings tho world closer together In
times of great calamity Cheat Britain,
France nnd Russia havo Bent their war
ships quick ns n flash of the tele
graph could carry tho ordcrB to lend
nsslstaucc to tho stricken cities. Re
lief funds havo already beon started
and a hundred ships nnd trains nro on
their way carrying supplies nnd ro en
forcements to tho south. Home, Milan,
Florence, Naples and other cities nro
sending physicians, police und firemen.
Described by Naval Officer.
At the time of tho earthquake tho
torpedo boat Sappho was lying In the
hnrbor of Messinn nnd one of tho olll
cors told of tho occurrences, us fol
io wb:
"At half-past ilvo in tho morning tho
sea suddenly bocamo terribly agitated,
seeming literally to pick up our boat
and shake It. Other craft near-by woro
similarly treated and tho ships looked
like bits of cork bobbing about in a
tempest. Almost Immediately n tidal
wave of huge proporllons swept across
tho strait, mounting tho coasts and
carrying everything before it. Scores
of ships woro damaged and tho Hun
garian mall boat Andrassy parted her
in "hors and went crashing Into other
vessels. Messinn hay was wiped out
and tho sea was soon covered with
masaes of wreckage, which was car-
EARTHQUAKE SCENE IN ITALY.
Calabrlan Family Among Ruins of T
ried off In tho arms of tho receding
waters."
King and Queen Go to Sicily.
King Victor Kmmanuel nnd the
queen, who left for tho aceno of the
culamlty, reached Naples last night
and proceeded at onco to Sicily. A
largo number of pcoplo saw their
majesties depart from Homo and ono
nmong tho number of deputies nt tho
station observed to tho king: "The
presenco of your mnjosty will sulllce
to console tho strickon population."
The king turned sharply upon tho
spoaker and said abruptly: "Don't
talk nonsense.''
Horrible Scenes in the Ruins.
Tho work of rescue nt Messina, ac
cording to tho meager details received
hero, presented hnrrowing scones,
Hundreds of people woro pinned under
walls and rafters alive, but terribly
Injured, for 30 hours. Ono of tho res
cuers found under tho ruins of a houso
fivo children, allvo, but unable to
speak, clinging around tho corpse of
tholr mother. In aomo cases heroic
rescuers met death In tho fnlllng do
brls. In ono house 20 persons sus
pended on tho fifth floor nnd unablo
to reach tho street becauso tho lower
floors hud been torn away, woro res
cued with a ropo by a sailor. Six
criminals wero killed whllo attempting
to loot tho Hank of Sicily, whero caBh
amounting to half u million dollars
lay In plain view.
Officials Give Succor.
Tho popo hna telegraphed tho arch
bishops of Palermo, and Catanln and
tho bishops of Mllctto and Cntanzaro
expressing Ills Borrow over tho np-
palling calamity and ordering tho say
ing of prayers. Ho aaka also what
money Is required, as ho desires to
contribute funds to cope with tho situ
ation. Premier Qioilttl has appointed a na
tional committee to organize succor
for tho unfortunates. Tho president
of tho organization Is tho duko of
Aosta. Tho king has made n generous
contribution to tho relief fund. Min
ister of Public Works Ilcrtollnl and'
Minister of Justice Orlando havo left
Homo for Sicily. Slg. Orlando is ft
Sicilian.
Lasted Only Twenty-Three Seconds.
A report of technical observations
from the observatory at Messina says
tlie earthquake lasted for 21! seconds
only. It was accompanied by remnrk
able atmospheric phenomena. The
surcharged air was filled with sparks
and Hashes of (lame which Hated up
until tho heavens seemed nilrc. The
crest of the earth appeared suddenly
to drop. These phenomena wero fol
lowed by distinct lateral oscillations
that throw tho pnnlc-stricken pcoplo
off their feet as they rushed to tho
streets.
Straits of Messinn All Changed.
Reports indicate that tho geography
of thu Straits of Messina has been bo
ehnnged as to causo apprehension of
seriotiB commercial and strategic dlill
heir Home, Earthquake of Oct., 1907.
cultlcs. It Is bolioved that navigation
lias become extremely dnngorous, hi
which case tho fortifications on which
the government In recent years npont
largo suniB will bo useless. Tho famous
whirlpool of Charybdis, it Is said, has
shifted Its position.
Desperate calls havo boon mado
from Home to Messinn, but these re
main unanBwored und fenra aro on
tortalnod that Fort Spuria, noar Mob
slna, hna been destroyed, ns tho wire
loas station Installed thero is ono o
tho most powerful in Italy and Is ovl
tlontly not working.
American Consul and Wife Die.
Washington. Thnt Arthur 8
Chonoy, American consul at Messina,
Sicily, and ills wife lost their lives
In tho earthquake disaster which dov
a8tated that city Monday, Is Indicated
by nn official dispatch recolved last
night by tho stato department front
Stuart Lupton, American vlce-consu
at Messina.
Tho following dispatch canio via
Mnlta, Malteso Islands, in thu Modlter
rancan, being received thoro by wire
less from Messina by Consul Willluic
II. Gale, and transmitted by him to the
statu department:
"Tho Messina consuluto destroyod
and consul and wlfo supposed to b?
dead. Lupton."
Arthus S. Chonoy Is a native of Illi
nois, but wns appointed consul at Mes
slna from Connecticut August IB, 1907
Stuart Lupton, who Is from Tonnossee,
was only recontly appointed vlco and
doputy consul at Messina and had just
arrived at hla post, succeeding It
Pclrco, an Italian.
First Cross Old Gentlomnn Do
from n monkey, sir?
Second Cross Old Clentlomnn
(Copyright, Ford
"I t'nk tint do dogs ecs running on
their heels," said tho baroness to her
pilot, Cnpt. Molecule, as the pair
pulled up.
The pilot squirmed nt tho words
dogs and heels, murmured something
nnudlbly to himself, nnd replied:
"Quito so, bnronoss; the hounda nro,
I bellovo, running heel."
Then the huntsman Hashed upon
tho scene, grasped tho situation in n
glance, took hold of them und put
them right, und galloped ahead with
ti cheery, "Hole, togothor-for-nrd-
away!"
Tho Harmless do Cruchecnsso wbb
popular (with tho men) and n liberal
member of tho Gorseslilro hunt;
smoked largo nnd long elgnrs of great
price, scaled at least 14 Btono, know
nothing about hunting, und rode.
Moleculo wns ti horseman and u
sportsman to tho nails; walked about
olght stone certainly rodo under
"I Most Particularly Desire to Be
In at Zee Hallah To-Day."
nine. His leading churacterlstlc nnd
pride lay on his admirable (that la,
tonuoua) log for a boot.
Artfuily, und, perhaps, wickedly,
posted down wind, nt tho bottom of
tho covert tho pnlr had stolon a good
start, after a stolo-away fox, which,
silently, they viewed; tho udvantngea
of their maneuver being dissipated by
tho above-mentioned check, which al
lowed tho master and a friend nnd the
body of tho field to como up.
Tho huntsman carried Ilia lino
sweotly for a mllo or more, when
hounds brlelly fnultod again. Whllo
ho was making his cast, the baroness
took -tho opportunity of giving certain
instructions to her accomplished pilot.
"You will pleaso noto, captain,'
said she, "zut I most particularly do
slro to bo In ut zeo hallnll, to day at
zoo doath, as you would say for to
night, you know, ces zco linl masque
at Gorsotown. 1 shall bo hnblllo what
you say habited, costumed, dressed
as 'Diana Up-to-Dnle (in hunting kit
zat ess), and I am determined to
offacer ecrasor thoso others. And
voyoz voua, I moost have zee tall of
zeo fox."
"Ily thoso othors" sho meant tho
local ladles of tho Hunt, betweon
whom and tho baroness thero was
little lovo lost.
"M'yos, I see; just so," replied tho
pilot.
"And In ordor," continued tho baron
ess, "In order to bo qulto en reglo, It la
absolutely necessary that I should
have zeo tall of zco fox for zco bundle
of my fan. Mark yon well of that
Mon. lo Capltalno."
By SIDNEY BURNS .
you know how far you aro removed
Yea: tho width of this table.
l'ub. Co.)
Moleculo squirmed again. Thnt tall
struck him like a flail. Ho merely an
swered: "All right, baroness; I'll do
my best."
Then tho order was again "Right
away!" Some very pretty hunting nnd
tiding nnd fencing ensued. Everybody
was fully occupied with his or her
own business. For tho tlmo being,
'thoso others" forgot tho baroness,
who, skillfully conducted by hor pilot,
kept well with tho huntsman and tho
pack, riding somewhat on tho loft of
tho hounds, and keenly watching tholr
trend, with u view of cutting posalblo
corners.
Thoro wns anothor lady out thnt
day ono In particular of many a
young, small and vory protty lady,
and alio stuck closely to tho master.
Thoso two kept over on tho right of
tho pack, whllo tho baroness nnd her
pilot, hoping to achieve- tho chord of
nn arc, hung on tho left of tho hounda.
Tho hounds ran vory hard, throwing
their tongues now and again, and tho
lino whs of tho "largo ordor" variety.
Tho fences wero frequent and ntlff;
tho field begnn to tail. Tho pnek
swung right-handed, Insomuch that
the baroness und hor pilot, circling
wide, had leeway to make up.
10 re long tho pilot found thnt his
chargo was In trouble. Hor mount,
not qulto up to hor weight, bogun to
swny nnd roll und mako a noise. As
thoy took nn oxer, tho baroness horso
lauded with ono of these pecks, two
of which spoil grlof, und, charging
12 feet of wntor, down camo lady and
Bleed on tho right sldo of tho brook,
happily.
Quickly tip again and off, tho bar
oness waB enraged to bco tho master
(on his second horso) far ahead to
tho tight, closely followod by that
other lady, who soomcd to bu going
strong und well. Hor ladyship ut
tered, In hor nntlvo tongue, somo re-
marka which need not bo ropcated
horo.
Soon aftor this a lucky turn to tho
left and a face-about of some miles
lot the couple In, but too Into. Thoy
heard tho loud "whoo-whoop!" nnd
tho label of hounds. When thoy camo
up nil was ovor, and that other lady
was In proud possession of tho brush,
which, having boon Informed of tho
aspirations of tho baroness, tho mas
ter bogged hor to thrust under her
covert-coat.
Meanwhile, tho hallnll bolng cried
bosldo tho copso containing tho body
of a flagitious sheep-dog, tho tail of
tho Inttor had been secured ns n tro
phy for tho bnronoss, to whom tho
muster handed It with gracious cour
tesy. That night tho baroness duly ap
peared at tho ball, "all smllos,"
dressed In a gloiillod edition of hunt
ing garb, and triumphantly bearing"
on tho handle of hor fan that which
sho tormed "zeo tall of zeo fox." But
that othor lady, young and fair, whom
tho master delighted to honor, also
carried a trophy of tho chaso tho
trophy, Indeed.
And bo what Mmo. do Cruchecasse
dubbed "zeo tall or zeo fox" ovory
body elso called "tho baroness'
brush."
The King and the Vagabond.
His majesty had beon threatoned
by u drunken vugnbond who crowded
past tho guards, Tho king promptly
knocked him down. ,
"With which of your august fists
did you strike tho ruillan?" nnxloualy
Inquired tho king's chief advisor.
"With my loft," replied tho monarch.
"Good," cried tho advisor. "It would
havo boon Bncrllogo to uso your divlno
right upon such u low rulllnn."
And tho king luughod und strode
along.
