Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-01-30
Towns and Villages LeveIed
and Their Inhabitants Lie
Crushed and Bruised.
ROME MUCH DAMAGED
Many Fine Churches and Statues
Suffer, But There Was No Loss
of Life in city-NapIes
Shaken, Too.


Rome, Jan. 14.-Italy again has been
visited by an earthquake of wide ex-
tent, which. according to the late ad-
vices, has resulted in the death of
thirteen thousand persons and injury
to possibly twenty thousand more in
the towns and villages destroyed. The
shock was the strongest Rome has
felt in more than hundred years.
The town of Avezzano, in the Abb
ruzzi Department, sixty-three miles
east of Rome, has been leveled to the
ground. There eight thousand per-
sons are reported to have been killed.
In many small towns surrounding
Rome buildings were partly wrecked,
while at Naples a panic occurred and
houses fell at Caserta, a short dis
lance to the east.
Shock Was Widespread
From below Naples in the south to
Ferrera in the north, distance of
more than 500 miles, and across al
most the width of the country the IN
dulatory movement continued for a
considerable period.
In Rome it was thought at first that
two shocks had occurred, but the seis-
mographic instruments in the observa-
tories showed there was only one,
which beginning at q: So o'clock in the
morning, lasted from twenty-five to
thirty seconds.
In the capital itself, so far as known
there was no loss of life, but a great
deal of damage was done, churches
and statues suffering most. The build
ings on both sides of the Porta del
Popolo, the north entrance to Rome,
threatened to fall and the eagle decor
Il
Shook the ObeIisk.
The obeIisk in ST. Peters square
was shaken and badly damaged, while.
the statue of st. John Lateran and the
statues of the Apostles surmounting
the -Basilica are in danger of collaps-
ing The famous colonnade decorat-
ing ST. Peters Square was lowered
four feet while the adjacent house.
once occupied by the Sisters of Pope
Plus x, was badly cracked
Owing to the wide extent of the dis
turbance and the terrible conse
quences, the actual effects of the earth
quake are not at present known, ow-
ing to the cutting off Of communica-
TONS
The fortified city of Aquila has in
this way been cut off, but it is report
ed several villages in that region were
destroyed. Likewise, Potenza, capital
of the province of the same name, on
the eastern declivity of the Apennines,
which has population of nearly
twenty thousand, has been isolated.
In 1857 this town was almost de-
stroyed by an earthquake
Pope and King Offer Aid.
Pope Benedict was reciting the
Thanksgiving after the morning mass
when the shock occurred. The pontif
retained his composure and gave or
ders Immediately that the damage
inside and outside the Vatican be as
certained and requested a report
whether assistance was required.
King Victor Emmanuel also ordered
the minister of the interior to furnish
him with all details of the earthquake
The king expressed desire to visit
the damaged cities.
At the capitol two magnificent can
dlesticks fell and were broken. At
the Palazzo Del Drago, where Thomas
Nelson Page, the American ambassa-
dor, lives, several cracks in the build
ing, which already had existed, opened
wider and plaster fell in several of
the rooms. The glass was broken in
| the embassy office.
| Church of ST. John Iateran Damaged.
In addition to the statue of ST. Paul,
| on the column of Marcus Aurelius, the
facade of the Church of ST. John Lat
| eran was damaged, and the statue of
| the Savior, which is fifty feet high,
| was twisted out of plumb.
In the Lateran Palace, especially
| that part occupied by the Profane Mu-
| scum, the earthquake caused cracks
of sufficient size to permit outside
| light to penetrate the building. The
hall of the chamber of deputies like
| wise was cracked
| Among other edifices damaged were
| the churches of ST. Andria Fratte and
| ST. Agatha of the Goths, the latter be-
| ing the oldest church of Teutonic
| origin in Rome