Chapter 13

Extracts from J.’s Letters“Zona Case Americane, April 28, 1909.“The rush is increasing every minute. I cannot get the drawings done fast enough for the carpenters at the hotel, and the sill layers are howling for ground plans of the schools. I have tried to do all these things and get some sketching done for myself. In the latter I have pretty well failed,—you see I have got hold of a live wire and can’t let go!”

Extracts from J.’s Letters

“Zona Case Americane, April 28, 1909.

“The rush is increasing every minute. I cannot get the drawings done fast enough for the carpenters at the hotel, and the sill layers are howling for ground plans of the schools. I have tried to do all these things and get some sketching done for myself. In the latter I have pretty well failed,—you see I have got hold of a live wire and can’t let go!”

AMERICAN VILLAGE, MESSINA. HOTEL IN CONSTRUCTION.Page 464.

AMERICAN VILLAGE, MESSINA. ENCLOSING GANG AT WORK.Page 438.

GRAND HOTEL REGINA ELENA FROM THE RAILROAD.Page 475.

AMERICAN VILLAGE, MESSINA. VIEW FROM THE HOTEL.Page 475.

“May 2, 1909.“The rush has been growing greater every day; it has been impossible to find a minute save in the evening, when I have taken a short walk with Brofferio and gone to bed beaten out, so much so that I slept through one of the worst earthquakes from all accounts. We have had five very severe ones since you were here, two of which succeeded each other within a few minutes and toppled over a whole lot of ruins along the Marina so that it was blocked again for a day or two. I heard a soldier exclaim, ‘Oh, my poor dancing land!’”

“May 2, 1909.

“The rush has been growing greater every day; it has been impossible to find a minute save in the evening, when I have taken a short walk with Brofferio and gone to bed beaten out, so much so that I slept through one of the worst earthquakes from all accounts. We have had five very severe ones since you were here, two of which succeeded each other within a few minutes and toppled over a whole lot of ruins along the Marina so that it was blocked again for a day or two. I heard a soldier exclaim, ‘Oh, my poor dancing land!’”

“May 25, 1909.“I am sitting on the sand by the sea, with the wonderful mountains across the straits. There is a delightful breeze blowing. The sea is like sapphire and emerald, and not at all beautiful to look upon, oh no! On the other side of me looms up the roof of the hotel; it’s above the railroad embankment and everything. It is covered in and the clapboards are being put on. Yesterday was Sunday. Brofferio got the loan of a Red Cross auto and we had a magnificent spin,—the captain, Brofferio, Buchananand I. We went through thetorrentefor miles. I find that nearly all of them can be used as roads; they are picturesque to a degree. An auto is the greatest thing in the world for seeing the country. Next Sunday, I believe the auto is going to take us to Taormina; if not, Derby and I are going to have a sail with Brofferio, which we should enjoy immensely. All your boys you have sent down here have turned out splendidly. Brush is doing finely at Reggio; I don’t know what we should do without McGoodwin. He came in when everything was decided, and has cheerfully taken up the hardest job in the world, helping to carry out other people’s plans when all the fun of making them is over! Rodolfo Serrao has become quite a pet with every one. He makes wonderful caricatures, and has made them of all the party. I am keeping all I can get to bring back to you.“The hospital at Regina Elena and all the houses are nearly finished. Here the hotel will be finished as far as we are concerned in a few days, and the church and schools. There are no more houses being put up just now. I wish I could tell you how many houses are inhabited—a great many I know. The workshop opposite the camp that you remember, disappeared long ago and cottages are standing on the site, so we are all shut in and living in a common street called Via Bicknell. There is to be a street named for me which I share with the captain. The captain does things his own way and he says the plan (which I have drawn with all these names) is the record of the thing that will be sent to Washington, but even there it will be looked at once and then thrown aside.”

“May 25, 1909.

“I am sitting on the sand by the sea, with the wonderful mountains across the straits. There is a delightful breeze blowing. The sea is like sapphire and emerald, and not at all beautiful to look upon, oh no! On the other side of me looms up the roof of the hotel; it’s above the railroad embankment and everything. It is covered in and the clapboards are being put on. Yesterday was Sunday. Brofferio got the loan of a Red Cross auto and we had a magnificent spin,—the captain, Brofferio, Buchananand I. We went through thetorrentefor miles. I find that nearly all of them can be used as roads; they are picturesque to a degree. An auto is the greatest thing in the world for seeing the country. Next Sunday, I believe the auto is going to take us to Taormina; if not, Derby and I are going to have a sail with Brofferio, which we should enjoy immensely. All your boys you have sent down here have turned out splendidly. Brush is doing finely at Reggio; I don’t know what we should do without McGoodwin. He came in when everything was decided, and has cheerfully taken up the hardest job in the world, helping to carry out other people’s plans when all the fun of making them is over! Rodolfo Serrao has become quite a pet with every one. He makes wonderful caricatures, and has made them of all the party. I am keeping all I can get to bring back to you.

“The hospital at Regina Elena and all the houses are nearly finished. Here the hotel will be finished as far as we are concerned in a few days, and the church and schools. There are no more houses being put up just now. I wish I could tell you how many houses are inhabited—a great many I know. The workshop opposite the camp that you remember, disappeared long ago and cottages are standing on the site, so we are all shut in and living in a common street called Via Bicknell. There is to be a street named for me which I share with the captain. The captain does things his own way and he says the plan (which I have drawn with all these names) is the record of the thing that will be sent to Washington, but even there it will be looked at once and then thrown aside.”

Extract from Captain Belknap’s Journal, and Letters to the American Ambassador“With a large increase of the force, and at the same time of the work, especially as the hotel began to assume considerable proportions, this tallying of the workmen took more of the head carpenter’s time than could be spared. Opportunely, Mr. J. Lloyd Derby, Harvard ’08, who had been one of Mr. Roosevelt’s guests in the party visiting Messina, had accepted the invitation to join us. He had first gone back to Rome, with the two chums with whom he had made a trip around the world, and I had almost given him up, when he telegraphed thathe was coming and, evidently recalling our previous shift to find accommodation for our guests, should he bring bedding? I replied no, but asked him to call at the Embassy and at the ‘Scorpion’ at Naples, to bring anything they might have to send. The Embassy entrusted him with some cigars and champagne, which was all right; but the ‘Scorpion’ produced fifty thousandlire, which was startling. However, another means of sending the money appeared, and Derby arrived with his other charge safe. He stepped right in as Buchanan’s assistant, taking over Mr. Phillips’ work of tallying the men, and shortly after, as he found time for more, he was made the inspector of kitchens. The shop made him a measuring, or ‘divining’ rod, and he fared forth among the masons, who soon found out that poor workmanship was no match for his muscle.“We were fortunate in gaining accessions to our managing staff just when it would seem impossible to carry it on longer without more help. The first one was Mr. Gerome Brush, son of the painter, whom we sent to Reggio just as Wilcox was finding more than he could attend to unaided. As interpreter, accountant,SCYLLA.Page 463.and factotum, Mr. Brush made himself invaluable. Then early in April came Avvocato F. Saverio Donate, who had been in Messina and lived in our camp before, as Mr. Bicknell’s secretary. He was a faithful and untiring worker, and, with Avvocato Rodolfo Serrao, son of the former Prefect of Rome and Messina, who joined about the first of May, took over entirely the harassing duties attendant on the assignment of the houses for occupancy. The last to join the camp was Mr. R. R. McGoodwin, a young architect who was studying in Rome. When he came, we had already begun on the hotel, church, school-houses, laboratory, and dormitory at Messina, and the six-building hospital group at Villaggio Regina Elena. All these were on the lines laid out by Mr. Elliott and the work was progressing well; but without complete plans—which were more than one man could accomplish with so many other things to do—questions of detail were continually arising, which Mr. McGoodwin was able in large measure to settle. Mr. Elliott, McGoodwin and I made the traditional three required for every good firm of architects; but in justice to them it must be said that, onaccount of our exceptional circumstances, I assumed to outvote them occasionally, to the detriment of artistic effect.“Two English ex-soldiers applied for work about the same time, and proved good hands, remaining until the last of our party left.”

Extract from Captain Belknap’s Journal, and Letters to the American Ambassador

“With a large increase of the force, and at the same time of the work, especially as the hotel began to assume considerable proportions, this tallying of the workmen took more of the head carpenter’s time than could be spared. Opportunely, Mr. J. Lloyd Derby, Harvard ’08, who had been one of Mr. Roosevelt’s guests in the party visiting Messina, had accepted the invitation to join us. He had first gone back to Rome, with the two chums with whom he had made a trip around the world, and I had almost given him up, when he telegraphed thathe was coming and, evidently recalling our previous shift to find accommodation for our guests, should he bring bedding? I replied no, but asked him to call at the Embassy and at the ‘Scorpion’ at Naples, to bring anything they might have to send. The Embassy entrusted him with some cigars and champagne, which was all right; but the ‘Scorpion’ produced fifty thousandlire, which was startling. However, another means of sending the money appeared, and Derby arrived with his other charge safe. He stepped right in as Buchanan’s assistant, taking over Mr. Phillips’ work of tallying the men, and shortly after, as he found time for more, he was made the inspector of kitchens. The shop made him a measuring, or ‘divining’ rod, and he fared forth among the masons, who soon found out that poor workmanship was no match for his muscle.

“We were fortunate in gaining accessions to our managing staff just when it would seem impossible to carry it on longer without more help. The first one was Mr. Gerome Brush, son of the painter, whom we sent to Reggio just as Wilcox was finding more than he could attend to unaided. As interpreter, accountant,

SCYLLA.Page 463.

and factotum, Mr. Brush made himself invaluable. Then early in April came Avvocato F. Saverio Donate, who had been in Messina and lived in our camp before, as Mr. Bicknell’s secretary. He was a faithful and untiring worker, and, with Avvocato Rodolfo Serrao, son of the former Prefect of Rome and Messina, who joined about the first of May, took over entirely the harassing duties attendant on the assignment of the houses for occupancy. The last to join the camp was Mr. R. R. McGoodwin, a young architect who was studying in Rome. When he came, we had already begun on the hotel, church, school-houses, laboratory, and dormitory at Messina, and the six-building hospital group at Villaggio Regina Elena. All these were on the lines laid out by Mr. Elliott and the work was progressing well; but without complete plans—which were more than one man could accomplish with so many other things to do—questions of detail were continually arising, which Mr. McGoodwin was able in large measure to settle. Mr. Elliott, McGoodwin and I made the traditional three required for every good firm of architects; but in justice to them it must be said that, onaccount of our exceptional circumstances, I assumed to outvote them occasionally, to the detriment of artistic effect.

“Two English ex-soldiers applied for work about the same time, and proved good hands, remaining until the last of our party left.”

“April 18, 1909.“An urgent request having come from the Genio Civile and from Mr. Bowdoin, for a man to help erect the portable houses at Ali, Mr. Dowling, superintendent carpenter, was sent to Ali, to superintend that work, and assist in any way he could. He was glad to have the detail; Mr. Bowdoin writes me that he has taken hold well; and it will prevent the pieces of those portable houses from being mismated and so going to waste.“In general since you left here, events have been thick and important.”

“April 18, 1909.

“An urgent request having come from the Genio Civile and from Mr. Bowdoin, for a man to help erect the portable houses at Ali, Mr. Dowling, superintendent carpenter, was sent to Ali, to superintend that work, and assist in any way he could. He was glad to have the detail; Mr. Bowdoin writes me that he has taken hold well; and it will prevent the pieces of those portable houses from being mismated and so going to waste.

“In general since you left here, events have been thick and important.”

“April 26, 1909.“I shall reserve the cigars and champagne Derby brought for an appropriate occasion, perhaps to celebrate the completion of the hospital, or of the work. Of the cigars, I took one box over to Reggio and told the mess therethat it was sent with your compliments, and did the same with the other box here. Thank you also for the newspaper extracts about Mr. Roosevelt’s visit.“The past two weeks have been very full ones, so that I have not been able to get the time necessary to draw up a money statement, but that I hope to do in a day or two. All or most of us have had a little touch of stomach or bowel trouble, rather disturbing to work, due to flies or meat probably; but now all of our fly screens have come and been put in place, and we have cut the meat out of our bill of fare almost entirely, so that I hope we may get on without any further sick days.“The food question really gave us a good deal of trouble and some uneasiness, as soon as the supply of pork loins and turkey had been consumed. These had been loaded on board the ‘Celtic’ for the delectation of our men on board of the world-circling fleet; but we enjoyed them just as much, as they certainly did taste good after a long day’s work in the open. By the beginning of April, however, we had to depend on the local markets for meat. Fish was good and poultry killed in the camp wassafe enough, and all meat offered for sale bore the stamp of inspection; but when half the table was dining on soft-boiled eggs, something had to be done, and we could not quite determine what. Dr. Donelson was in charge of our mess and of sanitary supervision in the camp generally; but a steady stream of native patients, from early until late, of all ages and conditions and ailments, left him little time to experiment with the bill of fare. Had it not been for the spaghetti family of dishes, we might have been in a bad way. Our Sicilian cook’s repertoire was limited too; but when the Reggio camp was broken up, we took on Baker, ship’s cook, who immediately gave us a change and some familiar dishes.“The water was good, and we found that we could freely use it without boiling. Our supply was so convenient for the neighbors that our one outside faucet for general use was, in fact, nearly worn out, before the city water supply reached our camp.“Notwithstanding indifferent fare, our mess was a jolly one. Our latest accession, Avvocato Serrao, contributed much entertainment. He was a talented caricaturist and often, during theVIA BELKNAP, AMERICAN VILLAGE, MESSINA.Page 467.course of the day, would disappear to his room for a while, evidently to record his impressions pictorially. Nearly every evening he would produce one or two caricatures at the dinner table, setting forth the latest camp event. Mr. Elliott managed to capture all these,—sometimes, unfortunately, failing to do so before they got into the butter,—and it is hoped that some day we may have them all reproduced.“One evening there was an alarm of fire during dinner, and every one rushed to the scene with whatever water receptacle lay nearest to his hand. It proved to be not smoke, only the dust of a heated domestic argument; but it gave Serrao a fine opportunity to portray each one of us. Mr. Elliott was always represented with a roll of the hotel drawings in his hand; and Dr. Donelson with a squalling baby on his arm.“For our beds, or bunks, we had sea-grass mattresses, of the kind used in steamer steerages, costing forty or fifty cents apiece, and cheap cotton blankets, at two dollars or less each. I have felt softer and warmer beds, yet we soon get accustomed to conditions; and the fact that we lived comfortably in our own cottagesfor three months, is a good proof of their habitability. There were some leaky roofs; but this is a fault shared by some more expensive structures; and in the heat of the day, they were hot, as all unceiled structures must be. The ventilators in the gable ends helped this much, but of course the best remedy was to ceil the interior, which some of the occupants assigned to the houses very sensibly proceeded at once to do.“Earthquakes were of frequent, almost daily, occurrence. A severe one came as we sat at our first dinner in camp, and the jar and loud rumbling were rather startling, though we had nothing to fear. There were some casualties in the city, however, and our Sicilian servants were frightened and anxious for the safety of their families.“In the middle of May we had a severe shock about 9 o’clock, our little frame structures quivering for nearly half a minute. It caused a small panic among our workmen, a stream of them leaving their work and coming to the office for their discharge, saying they were not going to work in Messina any more. An hour or so later, one of the engineers passedby, with the news that Palermo was destroyed. He belonged there and seemed much disturbed.”

“April 26, 1909.

“I shall reserve the cigars and champagne Derby brought for an appropriate occasion, perhaps to celebrate the completion of the hospital, or of the work. Of the cigars, I took one box over to Reggio and told the mess therethat it was sent with your compliments, and did the same with the other box here. Thank you also for the newspaper extracts about Mr. Roosevelt’s visit.

“The past two weeks have been very full ones, so that I have not been able to get the time necessary to draw up a money statement, but that I hope to do in a day or two. All or most of us have had a little touch of stomach or bowel trouble, rather disturbing to work, due to flies or meat probably; but now all of our fly screens have come and been put in place, and we have cut the meat out of our bill of fare almost entirely, so that I hope we may get on without any further sick days.

“The food question really gave us a good deal of trouble and some uneasiness, as soon as the supply of pork loins and turkey had been consumed. These had been loaded on board the ‘Celtic’ for the delectation of our men on board of the world-circling fleet; but we enjoyed them just as much, as they certainly did taste good after a long day’s work in the open. By the beginning of April, however, we had to depend on the local markets for meat. Fish was good and poultry killed in the camp wassafe enough, and all meat offered for sale bore the stamp of inspection; but when half the table was dining on soft-boiled eggs, something had to be done, and we could not quite determine what. Dr. Donelson was in charge of our mess and of sanitary supervision in the camp generally; but a steady stream of native patients, from early until late, of all ages and conditions and ailments, left him little time to experiment with the bill of fare. Had it not been for the spaghetti family of dishes, we might have been in a bad way. Our Sicilian cook’s repertoire was limited too; but when the Reggio camp was broken up, we took on Baker, ship’s cook, who immediately gave us a change and some familiar dishes.

“The water was good, and we found that we could freely use it without boiling. Our supply was so convenient for the neighbors that our one outside faucet for general use was, in fact, nearly worn out, before the city water supply reached our camp.

“Notwithstanding indifferent fare, our mess was a jolly one. Our latest accession, Avvocato Serrao, contributed much entertainment. He was a talented caricaturist and often, during the

VIA BELKNAP, AMERICAN VILLAGE, MESSINA.Page 467.

course of the day, would disappear to his room for a while, evidently to record his impressions pictorially. Nearly every evening he would produce one or two caricatures at the dinner table, setting forth the latest camp event. Mr. Elliott managed to capture all these,—sometimes, unfortunately, failing to do so before they got into the butter,—and it is hoped that some day we may have them all reproduced.

“One evening there was an alarm of fire during dinner, and every one rushed to the scene with whatever water receptacle lay nearest to his hand. It proved to be not smoke, only the dust of a heated domestic argument; but it gave Serrao a fine opportunity to portray each one of us. Mr. Elliott was always represented with a roll of the hotel drawings in his hand; and Dr. Donelson with a squalling baby on his arm.

“For our beds, or bunks, we had sea-grass mattresses, of the kind used in steamer steerages, costing forty or fifty cents apiece, and cheap cotton blankets, at two dollars or less each. I have felt softer and warmer beds, yet we soon get accustomed to conditions; and the fact that we lived comfortably in our own cottagesfor three months, is a good proof of their habitability. There were some leaky roofs; but this is a fault shared by some more expensive structures; and in the heat of the day, they were hot, as all unceiled structures must be. The ventilators in the gable ends helped this much, but of course the best remedy was to ceil the interior, which some of the occupants assigned to the houses very sensibly proceeded at once to do.

“Earthquakes were of frequent, almost daily, occurrence. A severe one came as we sat at our first dinner in camp, and the jar and loud rumbling were rather startling, though we had nothing to fear. There were some casualties in the city, however, and our Sicilian servants were frightened and anxious for the safety of their families.

“In the middle of May we had a severe shock about 9 o’clock, our little frame structures quivering for nearly half a minute. It caused a small panic among our workmen, a stream of them leaving their work and coming to the office for their discharge, saying they were not going to work in Messina any more. An hour or so later, one of the engineers passedby, with the news that Palermo was destroyed. He belonged there and seemed much disturbed.”

“May 10, 1909.“So far, only white paint has been put on; yet the improvement is so great that we have great difficulty in restraining an impatient populace from rushing the uncompleted houses. When the green trimmings and brick-colored base go on, we may need a regiment. The cottages do look very attractive, especially in many places where they are nested among the trees; and there is nothing anywhere around that can touch their appearance. The white color marks them out from a good distance.“Our other work at Mosella is progressing well, especially the hotel, which will have the second story begun in a day or two. It is a larger building than any one had thought it was going to be and has aroused a good deal of interest. It is being well constructed throughout.“After much consideration, the idea has occurred to me that about the best disposition to make of our camp and camp outfit here would be to turn the whole establishment overto the Little Sisters of the Poor. Yesterday I sent Mr. Elliott and Mr. Phillips, head carpenter here, out to examine their former building, to see whether we could do anything to help them; but it is in complete ruin, requiring to be rebuilt from the ground up—an undertaking of course beyond us. They still have the property and garden, and in time their house could be rebuilt. Meantime if they want this camp and its equipment as a temporary dwelling, it would be suitable and available. I know of no other charitable disposition equally good; and as the Little Sisters are indeed poor, it would not trouble them much to move what little they own in, as we move out. Of course all we take will be our personal belongings, and everything else—bedding, table gear, lamps, and such furniture as we have, would be theirs.“One of the houses near the camp has a family recently moved in, in direct competition with the one in the Queen’s house in Reggio, for the first baby born in an American house. I shall telegraph the arrival, whether it occur here or at Reggio.The same day also the Pro-Sindaco came, Commendatore Martino, who expressed muchELIZABETH GRISCOM HOSPITAL, VILLAGGIO REGINA ELENA.Page 469.satisfaction with all he saw, and was very complimentary, even intimating that he would become a siren to endeavor to retain our party here, to continue such energetic work.“In fact the work has spread so since you were here that what you saw is comparatively insignificant. Mr. Derby said this morning that, remembering how comparatively little there was when he was here in April, six weeks ago, he can hardly realize that it is the same place. The growth, the white paint, and the clearing up of the streets, have made a complete transformation; and from the top of the hotel one gets a view of the whole settlements that gives an idea not to be gained in any other way.“At Villaggio Regina Elena, all our houses were finished on Friday afternoon; the door and window hanging and the kitchens will probably be done by the end of this week; and a contract has been given to another painter to paint them by the end of this month. The job has been done very well and quickly, and when the white paint is on the appearance will be all that could be desired.“The foundation for the main buildings ofthe hospital is finished, and the framing is beginning today. I will push that work all possible, so that we may leave a cleanly finished set of buildings. The roofing, foundation, and plastering will each cost more than I had estimated, considerably; and the hardware for doors and windows must be bought.“Here at Messina, we are on the last week of cottage building, all houses being framed that we are going to build. I have told the Prefect that I would leave here on June 12th.“As the houses are completed, after Mr. Derby has inspected the kitchens and passed them, Lieutenant Brofferio and Avvocato Donate go over them, note whether they are ready for occupancy, or whether some minor repairs are needed, and then, on the revised list given by Brofferio, I report to the Prefect that the houses specified are ready for occupation. After the Prefect’s Committee have assigned a house, the applicant brings the written authorization here, and Donate installs him, or, generally, her.“The new aspect of the settlement, since the painting began, and the towering bulk of the hotel, have brought a steady stream of visitors; and on Sunday there were crowds, all over theplace and through the hotel. These conditions are gratifying, but they make it difficult for us to remain and work; so that the date, June 12th, must be regarded as definitely fixed.”

“May 10, 1909.

“So far, only white paint has been put on; yet the improvement is so great that we have great difficulty in restraining an impatient populace from rushing the uncompleted houses. When the green trimmings and brick-colored base go on, we may need a regiment. The cottages do look very attractive, especially in many places where they are nested among the trees; and there is nothing anywhere around that can touch their appearance. The white color marks them out from a good distance.

“Our other work at Mosella is progressing well, especially the hotel, which will have the second story begun in a day or two. It is a larger building than any one had thought it was going to be and has aroused a good deal of interest. It is being well constructed throughout.

“After much consideration, the idea has occurred to me that about the best disposition to make of our camp and camp outfit here would be to turn the whole establishment overto the Little Sisters of the Poor. Yesterday I sent Mr. Elliott and Mr. Phillips, head carpenter here, out to examine their former building, to see whether we could do anything to help them; but it is in complete ruin, requiring to be rebuilt from the ground up—an undertaking of course beyond us. They still have the property and garden, and in time their house could be rebuilt. Meantime if they want this camp and its equipment as a temporary dwelling, it would be suitable and available. I know of no other charitable disposition equally good; and as the Little Sisters are indeed poor, it would not trouble them much to move what little they own in, as we move out. Of course all we take will be our personal belongings, and everything else—bedding, table gear, lamps, and such furniture as we have, would be theirs.

“One of the houses near the camp has a family recently moved in, in direct competition with the one in the Queen’s house in Reggio, for the first baby born in an American house. I shall telegraph the arrival, whether it occur here or at Reggio.

The same day also the Pro-Sindaco came, Commendatore Martino, who expressed much

ELIZABETH GRISCOM HOSPITAL, VILLAGGIO REGINA ELENA.Page 469.

satisfaction with all he saw, and was very complimentary, even intimating that he would become a siren to endeavor to retain our party here, to continue such energetic work.

“In fact the work has spread so since you were here that what you saw is comparatively insignificant. Mr. Derby said this morning that, remembering how comparatively little there was when he was here in April, six weeks ago, he can hardly realize that it is the same place. The growth, the white paint, and the clearing up of the streets, have made a complete transformation; and from the top of the hotel one gets a view of the whole settlements that gives an idea not to be gained in any other way.

“At Villaggio Regina Elena, all our houses were finished on Friday afternoon; the door and window hanging and the kitchens will probably be done by the end of this week; and a contract has been given to another painter to paint them by the end of this month. The job has been done very well and quickly, and when the white paint is on the appearance will be all that could be desired.

“The foundation for the main buildings ofthe hospital is finished, and the framing is beginning today. I will push that work all possible, so that we may leave a cleanly finished set of buildings. The roofing, foundation, and plastering will each cost more than I had estimated, considerably; and the hardware for doors and windows must be bought.

“Here at Messina, we are on the last week of cottage building, all houses being framed that we are going to build. I have told the Prefect that I would leave here on June 12th.

“As the houses are completed, after Mr. Derby has inspected the kitchens and passed them, Lieutenant Brofferio and Avvocato Donate go over them, note whether they are ready for occupancy, or whether some minor repairs are needed, and then, on the revised list given by Brofferio, I report to the Prefect that the houses specified are ready for occupation. After the Prefect’s Committee have assigned a house, the applicant brings the written authorization here, and Donate installs him, or, generally, her.

“The new aspect of the settlement, since the painting began, and the towering bulk of the hotel, have brought a steady stream of visitors; and on Sunday there were crowds, all over theplace and through the hotel. These conditions are gratifying, but they make it difficult for us to remain and work; so that the date, June 12th, must be regarded as definitely fixed.”

Translation of an inscription on a visiting cardleft in camp office(Crown)“Comm. Luigi Majolino“Messina.“Having the concession for the American house of A-7, No. 11,—before occupying it, I feel it due to salute the Egregious Doctor Donelson, Commandant Belknap, Lieutenant Buchanan, and Sub-Lieutenant Spofford, who, with love and self-sacrifice, have borne in among us for all time the good will of the great nation of the United States of America.“(Signed)Luigi Majolino.

Translation of an inscription on a visiting cardleft in camp office(Crown)“Comm. Luigi Majolino“Messina.

“Having the concession for the American house of A-7, No. 11,—before occupying it, I feel it due to salute the Egregious Doctor Donelson, Commandant Belknap, Lieutenant Buchanan, and Sub-Lieutenant Spofford, who, with love and self-sacrifice, have borne in among us for all time the good will of the great nation of the United States of America.

“(Signed)Luigi Majolino.

“Our last Sunday in camp, June 6th, the great Italian national festival, was celebrated at Villaggio Regina Elena, by throwing open the bridge which had been jointly built by the Italian and American working parties, connecting our respective quarters in the village. A very festal occasion was made of this, the children marching around the village in procession, guided by the teachers of the schools provided for them by the Queen, all of them dressed in clothes made in the villagelaboratorio, and waving paper flags of all sizes and nationalities, the Stars and Stripes being prominent.

“On the day of departure of the main body from Messina, June 11, I gave a lunch in the dining-room of the hotel we had built, to which were invited Lieutenant-General Del Rosso, commanding the division, with his brigadiers and chief of staff, Major Andrea Graziani (since promoted to lieutenant-colonel, for exceptional services rendered at the time of the earthquake), the new Prefect, Commendatore Buganza, Pro-Sindaco Commendatore Martino, Captain Pericoli, the senior naval officer, representatives of the Genio Civile, other officials of the Government, our own party, including Mr. Bowdoin and Mr. Wood, from Taormina, and our faithful contractors, Signor Pella and Signor Saraconi, the painter. In all, about seventy persons sat down to a horseshoe table built for the occasion. The room was freely decorated

GRAND HOTEL REGINA ELENA AND CHURCH OF SANTA CROCE, AMERICAN VILLAGE, MESSINA.Page 478.

with flowers and green, the two national ensigns draped together at the head of the table; and, barring a rather slow service, due to the fact that the cooking was done in our camp kitchens four hundred yards away, this first meal in the hotel was a success. It being our last in Messina, there was a warm interchange of sentiments of the most friendly nature, the Prefect saying that the occasion marked the beginning of a new life in Messina, and the Pro-Sindaco, in the name of the Municipal Council, conferring the honorary citizenship of Messina upon Lieutenant Buchanan, Ensigns Wilcox and Spofford, Dr. Donelson, Mr. Elliott, and myself. When I rose to bid them farewell and to commend to their kind offices Ensign Spofford, who was remaining behind for a little while, General Del Rosso rose and stretched his hand across the table to Spofford, saying: ‘You are our comrade.’

“The main body, however, left Messina shortly after our farewell lunch, by the five o’clock ferry, amid a popular and official demonstration that will never be forgotten by any of us.

“What our American party built in theearthquake area may be seen in the following summary; and to quote some of the things said of it, a translation of the decree of honorary citizenship, and a letter lately received from the Little Sisters of the Poor, are added.

“Allowing an average of six to a family, which is not high for the people who occupy our cottages, the number we built would house twelve thousand; and six thousand more could be provided for by the remaining thousand for which material was provided.

“The church would easily hold three hundred or three hundred and fifty people; fifty or sixty sewing women or other people could work in thelaboratorio, comfortably; and seventy-five to eighty children in each schoolhouse. Thelaboratorioand schools were ceiled and plastered, and built on concrete foundations. All these large buildings are permanent structures, and should last for years.

“The Hospital Elizabeth Griscom, at Villaggio Regina Elena, especially is a worthy group of buildings, based on a substantial concrete foundation, strongly framed, and well finished, all corners rounded in the wall plastering, tiled floors in the surgical rooms, bathroom, andkitchen, and roofed first with rubberoid, then with artificial slate. Painted white, with red roof, and situated high up on the hillside, it stands out from its surroundings, as seen from the harbor, most attractively, while from the windows of the wards of the hospital itself the view is unsurpassed.

“The hotel building was turned over to the authorities with all the wood-working part finished, and in such general condition that aconcessionairecould in a short time complete and open it. The form is a wide H, the central part one hundred feet long by thirty-two wide, and each wing one hundred and thirty-two feet by thirty-two feet wide. It is arranged for seventy-five bedrooms, of several sizes, and thirteen or fourteen bathrooms, so grouped as to minimize the amount of branch piping necessary. Great care was taken with the foundation and to make a strongly built structure; and also to make one that should be in some degree worthy of the beautiful site on which it stands.

“Nothing but cottage-building had been contemplated when we went to Messina, and this task had been accomplished at the rate offifteen cottages built for every day we spent there, including Sundays, holidays, and days of rain. The other work—schools, workroom, church, hotel, hospital—were all additional, their undertaking made possible by the allotment of more funds by the American Red Cross.

“To mark the givers, each house completed bore on the door a plate, reading, ‘U Italy S, 1909,’ or ‘American Red Cross for Italy, 1909.’ These were placed on the cottages, in the proportion of three to one, which was about the ratio of the respective expenditures of the U. S. Government and the Red Cross for this particular work,—roundly $450,000 and $150,000.

“As nearly as could be figured, the whole cost of each cottage came to not more than $235, of which about $35 represented the cost to the Italian Government.”

Thanks from the Little Sisters of the Poor

“To the Directing Manager and Gentlemen engaged in the erection of Barracks at Messina.

“Gentlemen:—I, the undersigned, Provincial Superior of the Little Sisters of the Poor, having been apprised of your approaching departure from Messina, feel it my duty tothank you for the great kindness shown to our sisters in that unfortunate country; no words can express our gratitude for the noble manner in which you have treated us.

“We have every reason to hope that our Home will be soon reopened, as it is the desire of our Holy Father, Pius X, that the aged poor should be taken care of.

“Gentlemen, you may rest assured that your benevolence for our work will never, never be forgotten; you will always be considered as our first benefactors and our prayers and the prayers of our dear poor will follow you everywhere. If you come back to visit this desolated country of Messina, we hope you will come at once to see us, as we are really your ‘protegées.’

“Receive, Gentlemen, my most grateful homage, and believe me

“Your most humble servant“In Christ our Lord,“St. Aimée de la Providence,“Provinciale des Petites S’re. des Pauvres.“Piazza, San Pietro in Vincoli, Roma.“August 8th, 1909.”

COMMUNE OF MESSINADate June 9, 1909.SubjectHonorary citizenship of the Commandant and Officers of the Navy of the United States of America, who directed the construction of the American houses.Extract from the Deliberations of the Municipal Council.The year nineteen hundred nine, the ninth day of the month.The Municipal Council of Messina, being called together by a notice of meeting, sent by the Mayor, dated the seventh of May, convened today in a hall of the Palazzo Comunale, with the following present:1. Commendatore Antonio Martino,Mayor, Presiding.2. Avvocato Auguste Bette,Alderman.3. Cav. Avvocato Francesco Martino,Alderman.4. Cav. Ingegnere Amilcare Martinez,Alderman.5. Cav. Ingegnere Arturo Lella,Alderman.6. Dottore Orazio Ciraolo,Alderman.The Secretary-General, Avvocato Giacomo Crisafulli, assisted at the meeting.The President at 1 o’clockP.M.declared the session open.On the motion of the President,The Municipal Council considering that, in the tremendous disaster of the 28 December et seq., all the civilized nations of the world, sympathizing in the distress of the surviving Messinesi, united in various ways, to relieve and mitigate their sufferings, considering that the Republic of the United States of America chose to take part in this great affirmation of the solidarity of humanity by means of enduring works, namely, by the construction of one thousand five hundred houses, for the shelter of a good portion of the surviving population, a magnificent hotel, a church, and three school buildings;considering that this new proof of affection furnished by the worthy American people merits being signalized, and that a tribute is due in equal measure to those also, who, with so much zeal and affection, have devoted their energy and activity to this work for several months; convinced in consequence that the executive body interprets the voice and feeling of the entire populace, in solemnly expressing the most sincere sentiment of gratitude, at the moment in which the gallant officers and sailors of the glorious American Navy are leaving these shores, tried by suffering; assuming on account of urgency, the power of the community, the Council, by unanimous voteDETERMINESa) to communicate to His Excellency the President of the United States of America, through His Excellency the Ambassador, resident at Rome, the profound gratitude of the survivors of Messina for this proof of the common bonds of humanity, furnished on the occasion of the tremendous disaster of the 28 December.b) to confer the honorary citizenship of Messina upon Messrs.1) Lieutenant Commander Reginald Rowan Belknap.2) Lieutenant Allen Buchanan.3) Ensign John W. Wilcox.4) Ensign Robert W. Spofford.5) Assistant Surgeon Martin Donelson.6) John Elliott.c) to make the aforesaid Commandant Mr. Belknap the warmest expression of appreciation for the kindly care with which he assumed a difficult undertaking, and carried through an extensive and complicated work.d) to recognize also the zealous efforts, effective and harmonious, of the other officers and of the EngineerElliott, who contributed their co-operation to such a degree.After being read, the present proceeding is approved and signed.The Mayor.(Signed)A. Martino.The Senior Assessor.(Signed)A. Martinez.The Secretary General.(Signed)G. Crisafulli.The present document has been published in the pretorial bulletin of this Community on the feast day tenth of June, and no objection has reached this Office.The Secretary General.(Signature)G. Crisafulli.The present copy conforms to the original, and is furnished solely and exclusively for administrative uses.At the Municipal Residency, the 11 June, 1909.Compared, [SEAL](Signature)C. Largaro.The Secretary General.(Signature)G. Crisafulli.ViséThe Mayor.(Signature)A. Martino.

COMMUNE OF MESSINA

Date June 9, 1909.SubjectHonorary citizenship of the Commandant and Officers of the Navy of the United States of America, who directed the construction of the American houses.

Date June 9, 1909.

Subject

Honorary citizenship of the Commandant and Officers of the Navy of the United States of America, who directed the construction of the American houses.

Extract from the Deliberations of the Municipal Council.

The year nineteen hundred nine, the ninth day of the month.

The Municipal Council of Messina, being called together by a notice of meeting, sent by the Mayor, dated the seventh of May, convened today in a hall of the Palazzo Comunale, with the following present:

1. Commendatore Antonio Martino,Mayor, Presiding.

2. Avvocato Auguste Bette,Alderman.

3. Cav. Avvocato Francesco Martino,Alderman.

4. Cav. Ingegnere Amilcare Martinez,Alderman.

5. Cav. Ingegnere Arturo Lella,Alderman.

6. Dottore Orazio Ciraolo,Alderman.

The Secretary-General, Avvocato Giacomo Crisafulli, assisted at the meeting.

The President at 1 o’clockP.M.declared the session open.

On the motion of the President,

The Municipal Council considering that, in the tremendous disaster of the 28 December et seq., all the civilized nations of the world, sympathizing in the distress of the surviving Messinesi, united in various ways, to relieve and mitigate their sufferings, considering that the Republic of the United States of America chose to take part in this great affirmation of the solidarity of humanity by means of enduring works, namely, by the construction of one thousand five hundred houses, for the shelter of a good portion of the surviving population, a magnificent hotel, a church, and three school buildings;considering that this new proof of affection furnished by the worthy American people merits being signalized, and that a tribute is due in equal measure to those also, who, with so much zeal and affection, have devoted their energy and activity to this work for several months; convinced in consequence that the executive body interprets the voice and feeling of the entire populace, in solemnly expressing the most sincere sentiment of gratitude, at the moment in which the gallant officers and sailors of the glorious American Navy are leaving these shores, tried by suffering; assuming on account of urgency, the power of the community, the Council, by unanimous vote

DETERMINESa) to communicate to His Excellency the President of the United States of America, through His Excellency the Ambassador, resident at Rome, the profound gratitude of the survivors of Messina for this proof of the common bonds of humanity, furnished on the occasion of the tremendous disaster of the 28 December.b) to confer the honorary citizenship of Messina upon Messrs.1) Lieutenant Commander Reginald Rowan Belknap.2) Lieutenant Allen Buchanan.3) Ensign John W. Wilcox.4) Ensign Robert W. Spofford.5) Assistant Surgeon Martin Donelson.6) John Elliott.c) to make the aforesaid Commandant Mr. Belknap the warmest expression of appreciation for the kindly care with which he assumed a difficult undertaking, and carried through an extensive and complicated work.d) to recognize also the zealous efforts, effective and harmonious, of the other officers and of the EngineerElliott, who contributed their co-operation to such a degree.After being read, the present proceeding is approved and signed.The Mayor.(Signed)A. Martino.The Senior Assessor.(Signed)A. Martinez.The Secretary General.(Signed)G. Crisafulli.The present document has been published in the pretorial bulletin of this Community on the feast day tenth of June, and no objection has reached this Office.The Secretary General.(Signature)G. Crisafulli.The present copy conforms to the original, and is furnished solely and exclusively for administrative uses.At the Municipal Residency, the 11 June, 1909.Compared, [SEAL](Signature)C. Largaro.The Secretary General.(Signature)G. Crisafulli.ViséThe Mayor.(Signature)A. Martino.

DETERMINES

a) to communicate to His Excellency the President of the United States of America, through His Excellency the Ambassador, resident at Rome, the profound gratitude of the survivors of Messina for this proof of the common bonds of humanity, furnished on the occasion of the tremendous disaster of the 28 December.

b) to confer the honorary citizenship of Messina upon Messrs.

1) Lieutenant Commander Reginald Rowan Belknap.

2) Lieutenant Allen Buchanan.

3) Ensign John W. Wilcox.

4) Ensign Robert W. Spofford.

5) Assistant Surgeon Martin Donelson.

6) John Elliott.

c) to make the aforesaid Commandant Mr. Belknap the warmest expression of appreciation for the kindly care with which he assumed a difficult undertaking, and carried through an extensive and complicated work.

d) to recognize also the zealous efforts, effective and harmonious, of the other officers and of the EngineerElliott, who contributed their co-operation to such a degree.

After being read, the present proceeding is approved and signed.

The Mayor.(Signed)A. Martino.

The Senior Assessor.(Signed)A. Martinez.

The Secretary General.(Signed)G. Crisafulli.

The present document has been published in the pretorial bulletin of this Community on the feast day tenth of June, and no objection has reached this Office.

The Secretary General.(Signature)G. Crisafulli.

The present copy conforms to the original, and is furnished solely and exclusively for administrative uses.

At the Municipal Residency, the 11 June, 1909.

Compared, [SEAL](Signature)C. Largaro.

The Secretary General.(Signature)G. Crisafulli.

ViséThe Mayor.(Signature)A. Martino.

On their way to the ferry-boat the newly made citizens of Messina passed through the Piazza del Duomo and by the ruin of an old Norman cathedral, whose foundations were laid in the year 1098, by order of Roger II. The noble central doorway is still standing; over it is a marble bas-relief of the Madonna. The child has dropped from her arms. Then comes a great rent, for the upper part of thefaçade has fallen. The mighty columns of the nave (they once upheld the roof of the temple of Poseidon at Faro Point) are snapped like pipestems. Two only remain upright and uninjured. The high altar, a marvel of jasper, chalcedony, and lapis-lazuli, has fallen, broken into a thousand pieces. The splendid gold mosaics of the apse, so hard to see in the old days, are now easily visible. In the central arch over the ruined altar the figure of the Christ is almost intact. From the rich gloom of the mosaics His grave face looks out on the ruins of Messina, upon His world. For the world has never been so truly Christian as it is today; not even when Richard of the Lion Heart wintered in Messina on his way to Palestine to fight for the Holy Sepulchre, that same winter he took to wife the lovely Berengaria. A new name is added to the long list of those who have made their camp beside Charybdis, opposite Scylla, on the most beautiful, the most deadly coast in all the world—the Americans, who came not to conquer or to ravage, but to help and to save. The little boy who greeted Captain Belknap on Easter morning with the words, “Be thou blessed!” expressed the general sentiment of the Sicilians towards the Americans.

In our bustling young country we are so busy looking forward and looking backward that we sometimes lose sight of the only thing that is really ours to make or to mar—today. In Sicily there is more time, and, in the years to come, the old men and old women of Messina will tell the tale, hand down the story of those latter-day Crusaders, Captain Belknap and his men, and what they did in their camp beside the Torrente Zaera.

There was a certain exaltation in all the people who worked for Sicily and Calabria that seemed to lift them above the smallnesses of every day existence. They saw each other transfigured, they lived the heroic life. Each was eager to do the other’s work,—all were quick to sacrifice themselves to the others, as well as to the cause. It was a time when men and women seemed purged of meanness and jealousy. Each saw the god in the other. There was hardly a discordant note. It was like the time of our Civil War, when a breath of heroism passed through the country. No matter what might follow of discord and jealousy, the men and womenwho passed through that fire of sympathy will never again be quite the same. All their lives they will yearn for the glorified vision of those days; their eyes will never quite lose the keener insight of the mysteries they then attained.

THE END.

FOOTNOTES:[1]Francesco Crispi, the great Sicilian patriot and statesman.[2]When the work was all done, the Americans hung the bell in the belfry of the church of Santa Croce. Our church is now the pro-cathedral of Messina!

FOOTNOTES:

[1]Francesco Crispi, the great Sicilian patriot and statesman.

[2]When the work was all done, the Americans hung the bell in the belfry of the church of Santa Croce. Our church is now the pro-cathedral of Messina!

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