The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-16
SOLDIERS DIGGING DEAD FROM
RUINS AND BURYING VICTIMS

are on the ground and at work digging
out and burying the victims and caring
for the survivors. The need of the lat
ter, of whom there are thousands upon
thousands homeless and generally pen
niless, is urgent and the people, from
the king down, are doing all possible to
alleviate their condition. The cold
weather, which continues, adds to the
terrible suffering and temporary build
ings of wood are being erected as fast
as possible to house the homeless.
The list of dead can still only be es-
timated but from what is known it is
believed that at least 10000 persons
persisted and that twice that number
were injured. Avezzano, with probably
ten thousand, and Sora, with 1000
dead, were the heaviest sufferers. The
other victims are credited to the three
score or more of towns and villages that
folt the effects of the shocks.
Diocese Turned Into Cemetery
just how severely the Marsiea dis
trict suffered in which Avezzano is To-
Gated, is best told in terse telegram
from Monsignor Bagnoi, bishop of the
Marsica region, sent to Pope Benedict.
The telegram reads:
iho Ahdi ol'd uluCeSe HIS uetu ITdHS-
formed into a great cemetery Avezzano,
Capelle and Paterno razed and almost
all inhabitants dead. A few villages in
the diocese are immune but generally
desolation reigns. 1t is an immense and
distressing catastrophe.
The Pope, in reply to this distressing
information, wired the following:
Being the father of all the faith
full, but first of the unfortunate, | am
pierced with grief with this immense
misfortune. | extend my arms to my
unhappy children and am praying for
peace for the dead and comfort for the
survivors.
Pope Again Visits the Injured
More wounded having been brought
to Santa Marta Hospital, which is close
to the Vatican, the Pope again visited
the patients there to comfort them. To
each he gave medal.
King Victor Emmanuel and the
Queen Mother Margurita made the
rounds of the hospitals in Rome yester-
day, visiting the injured, of whom num-
bers are arriving hourly.
The American Ambassador, Thomas
Nelson Page, will visit the earthquake
district to-day or tomorrow. The Am
bassador has agreed with the Mayor,
Prince Colonna, that the best way for
Americans to participate in the relief
of the victims is to do so as private in
dividuals. The kind sympathy, gen
eroslty and tact of the Americans, by
which they will not infringe on Italy's
decision to decline foreign official as
sistanee, though they viii still largely
contribute as private individuals to al
levlate suffering is causing a profound
sentiment of gratitude.
Extricating Victims Alive
The motor car with the staff from
the American embassy, visited the
earthquake district yesterday and wit
messed the work of rescue They saw
some of the victims extricated alive
from the ruins and also visited the
camps where refugees are centered.
They gave such help as they could.
which was gratefully received. They
inquired about the victims and gained
the information that there were no
Americans among them, although some
are said to have claimed American
citizenship as they had lived in the
United States for a time.
The American automobile was greet
ed everywhere most cordially. 1t was
the first embassy to show tangible SYM
pathy by sending its staff to the scenes
of deSoratlon.
Colonel George NJ. Damn, the Ameri-
can military attache, motored to Avez
zano and returned from that place last
night. In speaking of what he had seen
he sad
Tells of Avezzano' Ruin
- never dreamed of such horrible
situation. The whole town is ruined as
every house is down and only three
stables remain intact. Churches, pal
aces and dwellings have crumbled to the
ground. What once were streets are
now full Of debris to the height of six
or seven feet.
Within short time the work of
rescue will be useless, as all those bur.
led under the ruins will be dead. The
entire population is extinguished. the
people either being dead or wounded in
hospitals.
The dead in the ruins compose the
greater percentage of the inhabitants.
over ten thousand were killed at Avez.
zano alone, while the remainder of the
population, about one thousand persons.
are practically ali injured. verv few
escaped without wounds because every
house collapsed at once and nobody had
any chance to run out.
Colonel Dunn said that Avezzano was
now provided with all kinds of sun
plies and that the attention of relief
parties must be turned to the smaller
and less accessible villages.
American Wemen Help in Relief
Fhe railway service is now running
regularly to the earthquake districts
and on their return each train is filed
with wounded, most Of whom are being
transported to Rome, where they are be-
ing cared for in a most admirable man.
ner Prince Colonna, the Mayor. is
doing all in his power for the injured.
He has been on his feet for over fifty
hours and is giving splendid example
of tireless activity. The ladies of the
aristocracy, including some Americans
by birth, have taken their places in
the hospitals and are helping to nurse
the injured.
A committee of American women
has been formed to help in the relief Of
the sufferers. 1t is headed by Mrs.
Page, wife of the American Ambassa-
dor, and includes the other women of
the embassy. This committee will
work in conjunction with the general
committee of American women, which
is headed by the wife of Premier Sal |
andra.
The goods collected by the Americans