The Ambassador and I talked much of Sicily, of its sunshine, its people and the happy months I had spent there, and then of his family who lived in or near Catania, not far from Messina.
Jovial, contented, and pleased we parted at midnight on that Friday. Before daylight on the Monday following two hundred thousand people had been killed, wounded, or rendered homeless in a few seconds in Messina. Terrible indeed was the disaster. The earth opened and practically swallowed Reggio on the opposite shore, while a huge wave overswept the Sicilian coast. Houses fell like packs of cards, and the beautiful city of Messina cracked to pieces like the smashing of glass.
For hours—yes, for many hours—the Italian Ambassador in London did not even know whether his entire family had been swept away or not. All his relations felt the shock, though happily none succumbed. His son, the late Marquis di Capizzi, wrote to me a couple of days after the catastrophe, and said:
“We are still suffering from the terrible impressions of the earthquake that completely destroyed Messina, killing nearly 200,000 persons. It lasted so long and so much that we were sure we should all be killed here (Catania) and yet we escaped.”
Then followed details of death, horror, and misery, of starvation and naked humanity running about in torrential rain. Thus flashed across my mind an idea which matured in the above-mentioned letter to the Press:
“CLOTHING FOR SICILY
“30, York Terrace, London, N.W.
“Sir,—Nothing in the world’s history can compare with this disaster which swept away 200,000 persons in a few seconds.
“In view of the appalling want of clothing among the survivors owing to this terrific earthquake, it seems to me that there may be many who cannot afford to contribute to the Mansion House Fund, but who would willingly give something to the sufferers in ‘kind.’ The Italian Ambassador has promised that anything I collect shall be rightly distributed by competent officials. I hope I may manage to persuade some good folks to send the boxes out free, or to send a small contribution in money to pay for their speedy transit. The sooner we can land contributions the greater their value. The first box of clothing, old and new, will, I hope, start on Friday.