The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-01-14
MORE NEWS OF
THE EARTHQUAKE
Refugees Tell Of Awful Conditions in
One Town Which was Prac-
tIealIy Leveled.

One Town Which was Prac-
tieaiIy LeveIed.
United Press Leased Wire Seryice.l
ROME. Jan. 14.-Despatches from
Ancona say that a heavy storm ragged
yesterday on the Adriatic coast &C
companied by heavy fall Of snow.
Naples reports tidal wave On the
gulf OF Gaeta, probably due to the
earthquake. According to officials OF
the vatican there is a possibility that
Pope Benedict may personally go to
the stricken district. He has directed
chat every priest who can be spared
be sent into the earthquake zone to
aid in caring for the dead and the
injured All details of the disaser as
fast as they are received are rushed
to him.
The king is reported as having al
ready personally inspected some OF
the damaged cities and towns on the
outskirts Of the stricken district. He
is going direct to Avezzano. according
to the premier. The Rome newspa-
pers say that an attempt was made to
restrain him from endangering his
own life by pointing out that the gray
ity of the international situation
made his remaining In Rome almost
imperative. He declared the suffering
Of his own people was nearer his
heart than anything international
could be.
One Of the first refugees from Avez-
zano to leave that city reached here
this evening with thrilling tale OF
his experience. He said that most or
the houses we're literally shaken to
pieces and crumbled into e mass OF
smoking ruins. He said that he was
In the street when the first shock
came and Immediately rushed into
his house. He managed to rescue his
aunt and servant, but all other mem
bers of the family were killed.
Included in the known dead at Avez-
zano are the sub-prefect and his fam
lily, all of the members of the prefecture
staff, all OF the members Of the tri-
bunal government, the mayor and all
Of the municipal councillors; 50 out OF
100 Of the garrison OF carabalneers;
four out Of seven customs officials;
eight out Of nine policemen and prac-
tically every doctor of tho city al
well as Signor Cerr!, formerly mem
Der of the chamber of deputies. Every
factory building in the city is de-
stroyed. The chief structure remaip-
ing practically intact was the noted
old castle of Colonia The survivors
gathered in the principal square OF the
city and spent the night there, vainlS
end.,avoring to keep warm by fire
built with wood, gathered from the
debris. Efforts of rescue were at
tempted from time to time when cries
and groans.,of buried victims became
unhearble, but very little could be
done. A few terribly injured persons
were dug out and given what atten-
ton was possible, hut there were no
doctors and no medical supplies and
the injured persons were In such a
State from their experiences that
they could do nothing. 1t was not un-
til the soldiers arrived today that the
real work of rescue coulG be COM
menessd. Latest reports indicate that
in many of the demolished towns,
people are still alive, buried In the
ruins of their collapsed homes. So
soon as word to that effect was re-
ceived, additional troops ware hur-
ried to the scene from the engineer
garrisons nearest to the scene. They
have been instructed to search all
ruins carefully. -sga
Temporary camps have been estab-
lished at a score Of places. army
tents being used for that purpose.
Train loads of blankets and the like
ar, now being sent out as all of the
survivors lost everything excepting
the clothing in which they stood.