Your message sent me at Reggio by wireless telegraph has been received, and I will have the honor to deliver it to His Excellency the American Ambassador at Rome, for communication to the United States Government and to the Red Cross of America.
The warmth of your appreciation of our efforts makes a deep impression in our hearts. To be so cordially associated with the noble work of the King’s Government and the devoted people of the Province of Catania is an honor that will always be remembered with pride and affection.
With distinguished consideration,
R. R. BELKNAP,
Lieutenant-Commander U. S. Navy, Naval Attachè at the American Embassy, Rome, in charge of the American Red Cross Expedition.
Although no refugees were to be sent by us, we were asked, and properly authorized by the Prefect, to take twenty-four orphan children, under charge of a carabinieri, to Genoa for delivery there to representatives of the Provincial Committee of the Province of Como, where we understood the children were to be placed in families. The Little Sisters of the Poor also were glad to avail themselves of the opportunity for transportation of six of their number, who had been hurt in the earthquake or were completely worn out with their subsequent efforts, and eleven old men and one old woman in their charge, all bound for Rome or Naples. There was, besides, an Italian woman with three children, wife of a naturalized American citizen in the United States, who was to be taken to Genoa. All these were on board by the time our dinner was over, so that we could have the pleasure of showing our departing guests the children, all bathed and put into fresh beds, still wide awake, bright-eyed and happy in the novelty of their surroundings. I am glad to say that the children continue happy, as also the old people, throughout the voyage. They were fitted out with additional clothing purchased at Palermo, and on arrival of the steamer at Genoa they were safely delivered to the proper authorities.
After spending the first day in Catania, Mr. Cutting went by rail to Syracuse, being requested by the Committee to look into conditions there, inform us as to needs, and offer our facilities to the authorities. During the succeeding day, however, the many demands made upon us at Catania and from the surrounding country compelled us to abandon the idea of going to Syracuse, as the amount of supplies remaining to be disposed of would be too small to warrant the extra day’s steamer charges for such a detour. Mr. Cutting was informed of this change of plan by telephone, and tactfully explained it to the authorities of Syracuse; and upon his return on board the Bayern Wednesday evening the Committee allotted 35,000 lire to Syracuse, distributed according to Mr. Cutting’s recommendation.
Leaving Catania at 4 A. M. we arrived at Reggio about 8.30, finding the U. S. S. Culgoa there, just returned from a coastwise trip, relieving small villages. Lieutenant-Commander Patton and I again called together upon General Mazzitelli and Captain Cagni, who said they had use for lumber, women’s and children’s clothing, shoes and some provisions.
We lost a few hours off Reggio trying to find a suitable anchorage from which we could discharge our lumber by rafting it down to leeward into the small artificial harbor, there being no lighter available; but the Bayern was too long and too light, so we remained underway while discharging on this day. This delay did not make any ultimate delay of our movements, however. We discharged a boatload of supplies for the Culgoa to deliver at Messina, and two boatloads for Reggio, then ran over to Messina ourselves for the night, arriving about eight o’clock.