South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-18
Heavy Rain in Central Italy
ExtinguiShing Fires and
Saves Many Imprisoned
from Death by Burning.
QUICKLIME TO DESTROY
ALL UNBURlED BODIES
Mere Shocks Raze Few Build
ingS Left in Stricken District
Relief Fund of $1,000
900 Appropriated.

ROME, Jan. IS.-EffOrts 10 carry re-
lief to surviving victims of the earth
quake shocks and to clear up the
debris in the stricken district were
redoubied today.
Five trains carrying quicklime were
sent into the earthquake zone today
while shocks continued to raze the
few buildings left standing in the 60
towns and villages that were turned
into tOmbs by the disaster of last
Wednesday, The lime will be used to
destroy the bodies that the troops,
digging frantically in the ruins, have
no time 10 inter in separate graves.
1t is believed that the immediate de-
structiOn of the bodies of the dead
will remove all danger of an epidemic.
which would otherwise be a menace
because of a sudden warm wave that
has scheduled the intense cold follow
ing the disaster.
a heavy rain is falling in central
Italy, eXtinguishing the fires that
broke out in several towns near Avez-
zano Friday night. Though the rain
has saved from death many who were
in danger of being burned to death in
the ruins of their homes it has in
creased the sufferings of the refugees
gathered i'm concentration camps
about AveZZanO, SOra and Capelle.
Try to Straighten Reports.
With the latest official reports 10
Premier Salandra recording 32.764 as
dead in % towns. efforts are being
made to straighten out the confusion
that has hitherto prevailed as to the
number of injured and homeless. The
premier said today that the reports
thus far received from the heads of
the relief forces caring for the injured
and homeless indicated approximately
81. 600 had been injured, but that the
great majority of these were only
slightly injured. The homeless, he
said, number at least 125,000. With
$1,000. 600 Just appropriated the gov
ernment will be able TO care for all of
these as soon as conditions permit
their being gathered at central points
The premier denied the charges made
by some Of the Rome papers that the
government had failed to act as
promptly as it should asserting that
this criticism was instigated by en-
emies Of his cabinet
According to the premier adVices
from the towns and villages thus far
unheard from are not expected to
swell the death list beyond 200. Be
cause of great chasms that have open
ed in the region north of Lake Fucino.
il may be impossible 20 reach some of
the little mountain hamlets for weeks,
however.
6bU IEtAtD lIlSdut.
More than 300 men and women
have been driven insane by the earth
quake disaster and their subsequent
sufferings. While numerous stories
have reached here of herOism shown
by mothers and fathers in rescuing
their children. some even sacrificed
their own lives. more grewsOme de
tails are now beginning to trickle in.
A woman of San NicenZo, little
town in the Liri river valley, whose
children were all killed and herself in
iured and driven mad by brooding
the loss Of her children, Friday night
killed with knife II children sharing
with her and other refugees a shelter
set up by the troops near SOra. After
Staying the children as they slept the
woman committed suicide Overcome
by the tragic scenes he witnessed at
Capistrello, one priest became insane.
He refuses to leave the ruins of his
church, declaring he Will await the
resurrection of his parishioners
In the little village of Ortucchio
desperate efforts are being made to
rescue victims buried in the ruins of
the church. where they had taken
refuge when they felt the first shocks.
The building was thrOnged when the
hardest shock came. Two Of the
priests were fatally injured but they
refused 10 let themselves TO be car
RED away while their Pensioners
were still buried in the ruins. Both
died while watching the work of res
cue.