Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-01-20
Earlier Estimates of Destruc-
ton WROUGHT In Italy Fully
Confirmed King Directs
Relief and Rescue Work.
MANY W DESTROYED
Avezzano Is Worst Sufferer
Widespread Suffering Fol-
lows Visitation-Troops
Digging In Ruins.

Paris. Jan. 16.--A dispatch to
Rome. quotes the Messagero as
saying that the number OF dead
at Avezzano is larger than has
been believed. According to this
paper, II, 900 persons lie buried be-
Meath the ruins of their city.
Rome. Jan. l6.-There is reason
to believe that only Il few hun
dred persons out Of the 1900 who
inhabited Sora have been saved. 1t
rs impossible as yet to ascertain
the exact number of the dead and
wounded. Relief expeditions have
been hurried to Sora and every
hour is bringing more narrowing
particulars of the destruction of
the town. The River Liri is in
food.
Rome. Jan. 16.-Constantly shifting
estimates. based OF reports that con-
tfnue to trickle in. now place the death
TON from Wednesdays earthquake at
10000 and the injured at q number In
excess of 35. 1000.
Hundreds, possibly thousands of VIC
Tins still are buried alive in the wreck
age OF their homes. while rescuers from
every walk of life struggle desperately
to dig them out.
King Victor Emmanuel. Who returned
to Rome from A%vezzano last night. per-
sonallN superintendent the release Of q
number of such u~nfortunates.
The KIM reached the capital in his
private car. to which were attached
three coaches. bearing 40 wounded.
These. like the other hundreds who are
slowly reaching Rome. were distributed
about the hospitals. regular and ex-
tr~anrdinary. in the city.
Pope Benedict this morning offered to-
the mayor of Rome h use of the hos
pital of Santa Marta. The offer was
accepted.
The principal loss of life and probably
the chief property damage appears to
have been in Avezzano and Sora, Is
miles away. Both of these m%unicipali-
ties were destroyed and their population
virtually wiped out.
Latest reports place the number Of
dead in A~vezZano at 10000 and in Sora
at 1000. In at least 60 other towns.
more than 5000 have been killed. From
these towns come the majority of the
injured. In Avezzano and Sora almost
every one was killed.
The situation in Avezzano is increas-
OF the aqueduct system and the con-
sequent shutting off of the water sup
ply.
Getting Situation in Hand.
Communication slowly is being re-
established and two hastily improvised
uOSD1tdlS ana one refuge Camp nave
been set up.
The rescue forces have been aug
mented by the staff of the United
States embassy at Rome. dispatched to
Avezzano In automobiles by Ambas-
sador Thomas Nelson Page. The Sec
retaries and attaches carried supplies
Of clothing and provisions for the suf-
ferers.
Reports from Switzerland show that
the quake was felt among the Alps
and caused destructive a%valanches
there.
AS in the Messina catastrophe. II Ia
believed, 1T will be weeks before the
loss OF life a be known or the prop
erty loss accurately compiled, The
work of recovering bodies is proceed
ing slowly.
Troops Aid Rescusrs.
The Italian government and people
have quickly responded to the call for
help from the stricken people. Thous-
ands OF troops have been sent to the
scene n the work of rescue and re-
lief Is going on night and day. Supplies
OF food. clothing, blankets and medi-
cines have been dispatched by train
where possible and by motor cars
where the railroads are blocked.
The central committee of the Red
Cross was quick to act, having ordered
all OF it's members to join in the re-
lief work at h scene of the disaster.
1EOopS nave DeeN sent Dy the govern
ment wherever needed and they are
ordered to assist in excavatinE the
ruins, to build wooden nuts for sur
vivors. transport the injured and guard
property.
King Victer Emmanuel, according to
advices reaching here, is ~tireless in his
e%ndeavors to spur on the rescue work
and In encouraging the survivors.
Messages reaching here from along
the line from Rome to Tivoii, Carcoli
and Aveszano say that everywhere the
king passes the people rush to greet
him to express their gratitude. The
king, it is stated, has asked all to
unnecessary ~formalities.
His only wish, he says, is to assist
n wounded and express to them his
sympathy and to ascertain what is DOS
sible to be done to relieve SO much
misery.
Having heard that means Of trans
portatiOn were still lacking the king
has ordered that all the automobiles at
the royal palace be Immediately dis
patched for use IN the stricken dis
trict: In his travels whenever be
reaches a telegraph station the king
sends messages to Queen Helena, VINO
wishes to hear all details Of the dis
aster
TO HOLD UP LETTERs.