Commander Belknap. In this he has had the efficient assistance of
Lieutenant Allan Buchanan and Ensign J. W. Wilcox, two capable young
American naval officers assigned to this duty from the naval yacht
_Scorpion_, which spent the spring in the harbor at Naples. John Elliott,
the well-known American artist of Rome, laid aside his brush and
willingly became the architect and draftsman for this extensive American
project. With headquarters in Reggio, Mr. Winthrop Chanler, of New York,
took charge of the building of over two hundred American houses in some
of the smaller towns near Reggio. Several young noblemen of Rome, fired
with zeal to help in the work of relief, joined Mr. Chanler and, under
his guidance, spent some weeks in individually going among the people
in the ruined villages of Calabria, studying their particular needs and
supplying them with tools, sewing machines, and other equipment necessary
to enable them to become self-supporting.
At the end of March the lumber from America had been all unloaded from
the five ships that carried it to Italy, the working forces engaged in
putting up the cottages had been completely organized and Captain Belknap
had the great satisfaction of reporting that twenty-four complete houses
were erected every working day of ten hours. The American houses are
turned over to the municipal authorities of Messina and Reggio and the
assignment of the houses to individual families is in the hands of the
municipal officers.
It should not be supposed that America is the only agency engaged in
building temporary homes. Some have been built by other countries and
a very large number by the provinces of Italy. I was informed at the
office of the Minister of Public Works in Rome that sites had been
assigned at the end of March for the erection of fifteen thousand eight
hundred temporary houses. Considering the size of the average Calabrian
or Sicilian family, it is probable that these temporary buildings will
provide shelter for most of the survivors of the earthquake who are
unable to obtain homes through other means.
_Attitude of Italian Authorities._
This informal account of the situation in the earthquake zone, two
months after the disaster, cannot with justice be closed without a word
of appreciation, of the extremely friendly and helpful attitude of
the Italian authorities. They gave every possible facility to Captain
Belknap and his assistants, and the engineer who represented the Federal
Department of Public Works in Messina co-operated with the American
builders constantly and cordially. The Italian Navy assigned one of its
brilliant young officers, Commandante Brofferio, to constant duty at
the American encampment. He lived on board the supply ship Celtic until
it sailed away for America and then with Captain Belknap and the other
Americans moved into a group of the new cottages in the American Village.
Practical, obliging, tireless and of few words, Commandante Brofferio
soon became indispensable and was respected by every one. The Italian
Navy also placed at the command of the American officers a torpedo boat
for the purpose of conveying Captain Belknap and others back and forth
across the Straits of Messina as their duties required. In every way the
representatives of America, engaged in the work of Italian relief, have
reason to regard the Italian federal and municipal officers, the officers
of the army and navy and the heads of the Italian Red Cross and the
Central National Committee with feelings of the highest esteem.
REPORT OF EARTHQUAKE IN PORTUGAL
BY LOUIS H. AYMÉ, American Consul-General at Lisbon.
I have the honor to furnish additional details of the earthquake shock
experienced here April 23 and already briefly reported by me in my No. 75
of that date.
[Illustration: KING OF PORTUGAL.]
It is now learned that while some slight damage in the way of fallen
chimneys, cracked walls and ceilings was caused in Lisbon, very serious
damage was done on the other side of the Tagus to the northeast. Four
villages were completely destroyed, 37 persons were killed, a very large
number wounded and some thousands made homeless. The greatest damage
occurred at Benavente, about 23 miles from Lisbon.
Twenty persons lost their lives at Benavente and some idea of the
severity of the earth movement there may be gathered from the fact that
the great church, the walls of which were more than 13 feet thick, was
entirely wrecked.
At Samora de Correia there were seven killed. At St. Estevao three were
killed and two deaths occurred at Salvaterra de Magos. Nine hundred
buildings were destroyed in this last place and some 3,000 persons made
homeless. The other three villages are also heaps of ruins.
Telegraphic communication was destroyed and the news came by messengers.
Instantly energetic measures were taken for the relief of the sufferers.
A dozen doctors, full ambulance corps, a huge quantity of medical,
surgical and other hospital supplies were rushed to the scene; police,
engineers, fire brigades and soldiers were also sent and the King,
accompanied by his uncle, Dom Affonso, were on the spot as quickly as
special trains and automobiles could carry them after they received the
news. The parliament voted unanimously $100,000 to be at once available
for the relief of those needing it, and great quantities of provisions
were sent to the afflicted district.
The shock here in Lisbon upset a small lamp in a shrine in a private
house, setting it on fire. The King and Dom Affonso were there almost
with the arrival of the firemen. Too much praise cannot be given to
the cool, clear-headed, swift and effective aid extended, especially
in view of the fact that Lisbon was utterly panic-stricken. The usual
idiots had issued predictions that another and greater shock would occur
in twenty-four hours. Two light shocks, at 2 o’clock and 6 o’clock the
morning of April 24, and the fearful news from the Trans Tagus made
terror yet greater. Thousands had passed the night in the streets. In the
Avenida, in front of this Consulate, many hundred richly dressed women
slept out under shelters made from the park benches and chairs with
shawls and rugs stretched over them to make a sort of roof. Amid this
universal terror and fear everyone in authority gave evidence of coolness
and energy. The newspapers used their heaviest type and great headlines
for rational arguments to reassure the people; all parties in parliament
praised the generous and energetic action of the King and the government,
and the longest speech made in that body yesterday was devoted to
counteracting the panic. There is no seismographical observatory or
instruments in Portugal, but the scientists have come out with quieting
explanations of what has happened and advised that all should think only
how to relieve those who had actually suffered. I repeat that too much
praise cannot be given for the able manner in which Portugal is handling
the whole matter.
The last earthquake shock felt in Lisbon occurred in August, 1903, but
was much less severe than this. Prior to that there was a shock in 1859.
I have spoken with two gentlemen who were then here and they tell me it
was not anything as severe as this. The whole lower city is built on made
ground, filled in after the great earthquake of 1755, and in case of a
severe shock great damage might be done there, but the new city is built
on rock and all houses are built with a special view to withstanding
earthquake shocks, having a skeleton of peculiarly and skillfully
interlaced timbers that gives great elasticity and at the same time
resistance.
While writing this I learn that the Portuguese Red Cross is already
sending in stretchers and ambulances with the wounded from the villages
to be taken care of in the Lisbon hospitals, and that doctors and nurses
are now busily at work in the field. Thousands are still thronging the
parks and wider avenues, but confidence is being gradually restored.
Examination of this Consulate yesterday revealed that the heavy moulded
ceiling in the main business office is very badly cracked and a portion
several feet square is liable to fall at any moment. The whole ceiling
will probably have to be taken down. One of the large windows is also
somewhat sprung. These damages are examples of the results of the shock
in this city.
I do not believe that any foreign relief will be required and, should it
be, our legation here would of course be the proper and natural channel
by which such information would be forwarded. I have wished only to give
a brief notice of the most salient features of the catastrophe, but could
not refrain from saying an appreciative word regarding the splendid
manner in which the calamity has been met, and I have had some experience
in such things.
As later information the press told of much distress in spite of all the
work done by the Portuguese Government and the Red Cross. The American
Red Cross, through its representative in the State Department, Mr.
Huntington Wilson, requested information as to whether any assistance
would be accepted by the Portuguese Red Cross.
On May 17th the following reply was received from the American Minister
at Lisbon: “Portuguese Red Cross accepts proffered assistance.” On
receipt of this information the following message was sent to the
Secretary of State:
“Will the Secretary of State please telegraph to the American Minister
in Lisbon for, the Red Cross, as follows: ‘Draw for one thousand dollars
and pay to Portuguese Red Cross for earthquake relief, contribution of
American Red Cross.’”
Our American Red Cross has not forgotten the fact, not generally known,
that during the Spanish-American war the Portuguese Red Cross sent to the
then president of the American Red Cross $1,465.00 for the care of our
sick and wounded.
LISBON, May 25, 1909.
THE AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen—I am directed by the Central Committee of the
Portuguese Red Cross Society, Lisbon, to present to the
American National Red Cross, Washington, our most earnest
thanks for your kind and valuable contribution of $1,000.00
for our Earthquake Relief Fund, this sum having been forwarded
in a draft signed by His Excellency Col. Charles Page Bryan,
American Minister, Lisbon.
The receipt of said sum has been acknowledged by means of
our local press and duly appreciated by our citizens as an
eloquent proof of your sympathy towards the poor victims of
the disaster, and was, at same time, of invaluable benefit to
sufferers.
I avail myself of this opportunity to assure you of my high
consideration.
PELA SOCIEDADE PORTUGUEZA DA CRUZ VERMELHA,
G. L. Santon Terreira, Secretary.
A TESTIMONIAL TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS FROM ITALY
Under the advice of the American Ambassador at Rome and the Italian
Minister of Foreign Affairs, T. Tittoni, $50,000 of the relief funds sent
by the American Red Cross were placed in the hands of a special Italian
Committee on rehabilitation. This Committee was called the Committee
of American Offerings. The Chairman was Donna Tittoni and among its
members were Countess Taverna, the Duke of Terranuova, the Marquis of San
Ferdinaveto, Signor Tenerami and Signor Mario Ferdiani.
As a token of the appreciation of these offerings the Committee presented
to the American Red Cross, through our National Director, Mr. Ernest P.
Bicknell, a silver tablet upon which is inscribed the following Latin
sentence:
“Fortuita non civium tantum modo, sed urbium damna,
munificentia vindicat.”
Mr. Herbert Putnam, Librarian of Congress, in reply to a request for
a translation and for the source of the quotation kindly wrote, “The
quotation is from Velleius Paterculus, the Roman historian. It is part of
a recital of the achievements of one of the Caesars, I believe (though
this I have not verified), and might be rendered thus:
“Your bounty repaired the catastrophe (fortuita damna, i. e., accidental
injury) not merely of individual citizens but of entire cities
(communitas).”
[Illustration: A TESTIMONIAL TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS FROM ITALY
(About One-Quarter Actual Size.)]
REPORT OF PARTIAL EXPENDITURE OF AMERICAN COMMITTEE IN ROME
The following table contains a preliminary statement of the Italian
relief operations of the American Committee in Rome. A complete
statement will be prepared later which will show a substantially larger
expenditure. The table here given, however, conveys a very fair idea of
the extent and variety of the extremely important work carried on by the
American Committee.
Thousands of vouchers covering every item of expense have been preserved
by the Committee and will eventually be filed in the office of the
American Red Cross in connection with the report of the Committee. It
will be recalled that the members of the American Committee in Rome were
Honorable Lloyd C. Griscom, American Ambassador to Italy, Chairman, and
Messrs. George B. Page, H. Nelson Gay, Winthrop Chanler, William Hooper
and Samuel L. Parrish.
EXPENDITURES. Lire
The Relief Ship “Bayern”:
Charter and other expenses L. 64.650,33
Cash distributed:
Messina—To the Archbishop for relief work L. 1.000—
Messina—Refugee journalists ” 151—
Acireale—Local Relief Committee ” 5.000—
Taormina—Municipal Relief Committee ” 4.000—
Giardini—Local Relief Committee ” 6.000—
Catania—Prefect ” 30.000—
” Conservatorio S. Vincenzo di Paola ” 500—
” City Hospital “Vittorio Emanuele” ” 1.000—
” Hospital “Santa Marta” ” 1.000—
” Municipal Hospital and Hospital
“Garibaldi” ” 1.000—
Catania—Little Sisters of the Poor ” 1.200—
Towns between Giardini and Messina. Distributed
by C. K. Wood and H. W. C. Bowdoin L. 10.000—
Syracuse—Mayor ” 10.000—
” To be distributed by Marchesa di
Rudini L. 10.000—
Syracuse—To be distributed by Miss K. B.
Davis L. 15.000—
Palermo—Donatuti family for relief work ” 400—
” Caserma “Benedetto Cairoli” ” 100—
” R. Commissary, President of the
Relief Committee L. 20.000—
Palermo—American Consul for relief work ” 10.000—
Food, clothes, etc. distributed:
at Messina ” 11.000—
” Reggio ” 57.000—
” Catania ” 109.000—
” Taormina and neighboring villages ” 34.500—
” Acireale ” 2.500—
” Palermo ” 13.713—
-------------- 418.714,33
The Ladies Auxiliary Committee for direct
relief work in Rome and Naples 85.423,80
Money delivered to private persons or institutions
for relief work:
Caspar S. Crowninshield, American Consul at
Naples, for relief work among the refugees L. 8.341,60
William H. Bishop, American Consul at Palermo
for relief work among the refugees L. 10.000—
Thomas Spencer Jerome, American Consular Agent
at Capri for local relief work conducted
by an American citizen, Major Metcalfe L. 2,500—
Stuart K. Lupton, American Consul at Messina,
for local relief work L. 6.000—
Archbishop John Ireland for the fund of His
Holiness Pope Pius X. L. 25.000—
Italo-American Baptist Mission in Rome for
relief work L. 10.000—
Reverend Walling Clark of the American Methodist
Church in Rome for relief work L. 2.500—
Reverend Arthur Muston, of the Waldensian
Church in Rome, for relief work L. 5.000—
To the ten principal Hospitals in Sicily; 5000
Lire each L. 50.000—
Miss Florence Bayard Kane, an American citizen,
for the Taormina Hospital L. 1.000—
Marchesa Etta de Viti de Marco, for refugees
in Rome L. 5.000—
Commendatore Marco Besso for the rehabilitation
of professional people L. 5.000—
Mr. F. Marion Crawford, an American citizen,
for relief work at Sorrento and neighboring
villages L. 5.000—
Miss Katherine B. Davis, an American citizen,
superintendent of the New York State
Reformatory for women at Bedford, for relief
work conducted by her at Syracuse, Sicily L. 1.000—
Marchese Enrico Visconti Venosta, for medical
supplies to be carried by him personally to
certain villages in Calabria L. 2.000—
Principe Pietro Lanza di Scalea, for houses
bought in Rome to be carried by him personally
to certain villages in Calabria L. 13.200—
Mr. H. Nelson Gay for relief work in Rome.
Mr. Gay investigated the individual appeals
which were made to any member of the Committee
and administered relief in deserving cases L. 6.500—
Italian Commercial Committee for rehabilitation
of tradesmen, Rome L. 5.000—
Principe Ludovico Chigi for an old women refuge
in Rome L. 1.000—
Monsignor Morabito, Bishop of Mileto, for relief
work in his Bishopric in Calabria L. 5.000—
Mr. Bowdoin, an American citizen engaged in
relief work between Messina and Catania L. 5.000—
-------------- 174.041,60
Relief Expedition of Mr. H. Nelson Gay and Mr.
W. Earl Dodge to Calabria:
Clothes, utensils and medicines L. 48.474,25
To Generale Tarditti, Military Commander at
Palmi, for building purposes L. 44.432—
Tarred roofing for barracks ” 14.935,20
Tarpaulins for tents in the stricken mountain
villages L. 61.120,30
Shipping and expenses of the expedition ” 10.143,75
-------------- 179.105,50
Relief Expedition of Mr. Winthrop Chanler and
Associates to Calabria:
Lumber and shipping L. 113.021,87
Building expenses ” 47.000—
Tarred roofing ” 8.109,90
Cash distributed by Prince Chigi and Lieut.
Serpieri L. 6.000—
Medicines and expenses of the expedition ” 24.765,30
-------------- 198.897,07
Building Expenses at Messina and Reggio
(Capt. Belknap) 25.000—
To the Relief Committee for the families
of Italian Officers and soldiers 10.000—
Outstanding Obligations:
A Hotel at Reggio L. 27.000—
Forty houses at S. Giuseppe ” 40.000—
Twenty houses at Gallico ” 20.000—
Kitchens to be added to the houses ” 15.000—
To Her Majesty the Queen for outfitting
two hospitals at Messina and Reggio L. 50.000—
-------------- 152.000—
Telegrams, clerical expenditures and
Red Cross Cables 4.637,55
Balance up to date 1.319,03
------------
TOTAL LIRE 1.249.138,88
NOTE.—The amount of expenditures is given in terms of Italian money.
It is to be remembered that one lira amounts substantially to twenty
cents of United States money, and that accordingly the number of dollars
expended was one-fifth of the number of lire indicated. For instance, 500
lire would be equivalent to $100; 100 lire, to $20, and so on.
THE RED CROSS NEEDS MEMBERS. IF YOU ARE NOW A MEMBER WILL
YOU NOT ENDEAVOR TO INTEREST OTHERS? SUBSCRIPTION TO THE RED
CROSS BULLETIN IS 50 CENTS A YEAR. HELP US TO INCREASE THE
CIRCULATION.
THE RED CROSS AND PRESIDENT TAFT’S INAUGURATION
At the time of presidential inaugurations between two and three
hundred thousand strangers, including large civil and National Guard
organizations, come to Washington. The great crowds at the railroad
station, in public conveyances, on the streets, the excitement and
exposure involved—all tend to produce an unusual number of accidents
and sudden illnesses. Under the Inaugural Committee a sub-committee on
Public Comfort has heretofore taken entire charge of such emergency
cases as have arisen, but a need was felt for a number of well-equipped
relief stations with a competent personnel to act in co-operation
with the physicians of the city. The American Red Cross offered its
services, which, having been accepted, it immediately began its work of
preparation. A relief column with thirty-six members, many of whom were
medical students, devoted two months to weekly instructions in First Aid
and hospital drill. The first course was given by Dr. Charles S. White,
lately resident physician of the Emergency Hospital, and the second
by Captain Reynolds, of the U. S. Army Medical Service. Each of these
surgeons kindly donated their time and services for these instructions.
The District Red Cross Branch, at an expense of over three hundred
dollars, provided uniforms and equipment for the members as prescribed in
Major Lynch’s Red Cross First Aid Book. Through the New York Branch the
Brooklyn Relief Column was invited to take part and promptly accepted the
invitation, meeting themselves the expense of their uniforms, equipment
and transportation.
The question of the nursing personnel was next considered. The committee
on nurses of the District Branch secured thirty-six of its enrolled Red
Cross nurses, each nurse promising to secure a substitute in case she was
prevented from serving. Besides those from the District the Pennsylvania
Branch sent eleven, the New York and the Maryland Branches each five.
These branches paid for the transportation of the nurses and the National
Executive Committee defrayed their expenses here. The salary of the six
nurses who were on duty for the week at the Railroad Relief Station, two
nurses being on duty for each eight hours in the twenty-four, and those
of the nurses who were on duty parts of several days at the Pension
Office station were paid by the National Executive Committee, but the
nurses who were on duty for the day of the inauguration all gave their
services.
Thanks to the Army Medical Service and to the Quartermaster General’s
Department twenty-two hospital tents, with a complete equipment of
cots, tables, chairs, oil stoves and field hospital chests for all of
these stations, was procured. It is always a great help as well as a
pleasure to have the Army as an assistant in any Red Cross work, and too
much praise cannot be given to the efficient and prompt assistance its
officers are always ready to render the Red Cross. Major Merritte W.
Ireland, of the Surgeon General’s Office, knew what was required and how
and where to obtain everything not only for the relief stations along
the line of march, but for the larger station at the Union Station and
for a complete small hospital equipment, with operating room, installed
at the Pension Office. Major William E. Horton, of the Quartermaster’s
Department, under direction of the Quartermaster-General, procured the
tents, made plans for wooden beam foundations, where they had to be
raised on asphalt, and the Chief of Staff gave an order for a detail of
soldiers to put them up. General Johnston, who was the marshal in charge
of the inaugural parade, gave the Red Cross every assistance in his
power, as did Major Sylvester, Chief of Police.
Dr. D. Percy Hickling was Chairman of the Sub-committee on the Hospital
and Ambulance Service, Dr. Wm. P. Reeves and Dr. Emory W. Reisinger had
charge of the Emergency Hospitals at the Union Station and the Inaugural
Ball, respectively, and Dr. Frank E. Gibson of the relief stations along
the line of march. All of these busy physicians, with a large number of
others, gave up many hours of their time to this work and the Red Cross
Personnel served gladly under their competent direction.
[Illustration: RED CROSS RELIEF STATION. THERE WERE 22 OF THESE STATIONS
ON LINE OF MARCH.]
Washington’s oldest inhabitant had to tax his memory to recall a worse
morning than presented itself the fourth of last March. A driving wet
snowstorm that had raged all night still filled the air with large flakes
and covered the ground with several inches of melting snow. The picture
of one of the relief stations gives some idea of conditions later in the
day when the storm had ceased, but unfortunately no picture was taken of
the tents that collapsed under the wind and weight of snow, no picture is
given of the brave efforts to again erect these tents, nor of the nurses
driven out of the tents taking refuge in the ambulances so as to remain
on duty, or securing in two or three cases a room in a nearby building
for their station. At every station in spite of the weather our nurses
reported promptly for duty and the Red Cross is proud of their record
and reliability. Our Relief Column men likewise did excellent service, as
will be noted in the doctors’ reports. With equal devotion to duty the
Brooklyn Column, twenty-two in number, left for Washington the night of
the third, but with many others were detained by the storm-demoralized
railroad service, and did not reach the city until late on the afternoon
of the fourth, so that it was not possible for them to take active part,
much to their and our regret.