Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-14

not as great as was at first feared. but
the dispatches thus far received indicate
that $1,000 is a conservative estimate OF
tho dead. CThls statement was made be-
fore the Premier received reports that
reduced his estimate OF the dead to fewer
than 40O0)
"Our relief efforts are already well
under way. II Is essential that these be
carried out with all haste, as the weather
In some of the districts affected by the
earthquake Is very cold. which will bring
suffering to the homeless.
Although the damage here In Rome
was also very severe, the loss of life
was very small, and those who have
been driven from their homes are being
cared for"
At least 81 public buildings in Rome
wero more or less seriously damaged by
the quake More than 100 windows were
broken in the great dome OF st. Peters.
Eighty houses, among them some fine
residents of Italian notables, were de-
stroyed. The marble cross at the en-
trance to st. Pau's collapsed officials
of the Vatican report that, among the
windows broken IN the buildings Of the
Vatican group, were 46 belonging to
Mlchelangelo's cupola.
Several mosaics were damaged and the
statue of the Redeemer, adorning the
facade of the Basilica, also suffered.
Special prayers for the earthquake suf-
fcrers were said by Pope Benedict In his
chapel during the morning, and at the
same time preates throughout the strick-
en- districts were ordered to hold special
services and to give what relief they
could to the victims.
General Zupell Minister OF War, has
dispatched 5000 soldiers into the devas-
tated sections to help care for the home
less and to clean up the debris Food,
blankets and tents from the military
stores are being distributed among the
sufferers. The relief trains, filled with
surgeons and engineers and medical
equipment, were dispatched from Rome
this morning, and others were made up
to be sent later In the day.
Word was received at noon that the
first batch of injured would arrive to-
night from Avezzano on special train.
From the adviceB received by official
and private agencies II was estimated that
100 were killed In Sevra and 100 In Arpino
The towns of Palfarano, Bussi and Gu
cullo were said to have been razed. At
Sera, in the district of Abruzzi, 40 persons
were crushed to death by falling wreck
are.
The province of Aquila suffered heavily
Forty persons are reported dead in the
village of Mogliano in that province. APP
parently every city, town and village in
the district of AbruZZi and the compart-
ment of Campania suffered more or less
Most of the public buildings were dam
aged in some degree and many dwellings
collapsed entirely.
a refugee from Avezzano gave the fol-
lowing account OF his experience:
when the shock occurred l was driv-
ing near the town. l felt the ground rock
and almost Immediately l heard the
screams of a naked girl. who implored
me to help her dig out her father and
sister who had been buried In the COL
lapse of their home.
Presently | met two wounded soldiers
who told me that the town had been COM
pletely destroyed. I tried to drive into
the town, but could not do so on ac-
count of the debris which filed the
streets and the dense clouds of dust and
smoke which rose from the ruins. ] was
able to make my way near the site OF
tho railway station, but found II a mass
OF ruins"
At Sora. In the province of Caserta, the
cathedral was damaged. and among the
buildings razed were the railway station
the telegraph office and many dwellings
Ancient castle walls. which formerly
stood near the city. were shaken down
Aquila, the best built commercial city In
the Abruzzi, was hard hit. hospital
there collapsed. the debris burying the
patients. Factory buildings In the neigh
borhood were cracked and tumbled.
A dispatch from Naples said
Father Alfana. director of the Pomer-
elan observatory. declares that the earth
quake appears TO have been most disas-
trous for a radius OF more than 100 miles.
He fixes the centre of the disturbance in
the province of Potenza compartment OF
BasilicataJ'