Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-15
FULL TRUTH LIES
HIDDEN IN DEBRIS
OF ruined TOWNS
When All Is Known, It Nav
Be Found That Messina
Is Surpassed.
AvEZZANO'S DEATH LIST
HAS MOUNTED TO $4,000
In More Than Score of Towns
There Are Known to Be
Many Victims.
SURVIVORS ARE IN TERROR
Slight Tremors Visit Stricken Dis
trtct, Completing Destruction
OF Damaged Buildings.
AvEZZAN0'S DEATH LIST
HAS MOUNTED TO $4,000
SURVIVORS ARE IN TERROR

ROME January 1.-The victims of
the earthquake disaster, according To
latest reports received here number
about $4,000. including dead and
wounded
Oficial reports received from Avez-
zano declare that the dead in that city
and In It's vicinity in the earthouake
yesterday number more than $4,000
persons
The destruction Of tho town OF Avcz-
zano. community OF some IL. 600 neo.
pie in Aquila Province, is virtually
complete. There Is good authority for
the statement that not more than 10
per cent OF the population survived the
disaster.
The full truth of the extent Of the
disaster wrought by the earthquake.
which rocked tho entire width OF Italy
In 3oo-mile belt, destroying Avczzano
and more than twenty other towns. and
causing loss Of life and property In
less degree In a score or more of towns.
tonight lies hidden behind n tangled
mass OF wires and debris -clogged high
ways.
BELIEVE DISASTER
WILL SURPASS MESsINA
A member of tho Chamber OF Drpu-
ties from Lipari to day telegraphcd to
Premier Salandra that the disaster
would surpass in degree OF violence
and percentage of dead and injured the
Messina earthquake Of 1905, i'm whicSS
10000 were killed and Injured
Premier Salandra told his assistants
at the Cabinet meeting held to-day to
provide relief for the inhabitants of
the stricken area that he feared the
loss of life might reach 10000. and the
number OF injured 10000. He said the
disaster was second only to that of
Messina
brief dispatch transmitted to Rome
after communication had been restored
between Naples and Solmona, twenty
two miles east OF Avezzano. the cen
tire of tho earthquake belt, said re-
ports OF the losses had been greatly
exaggerated and that the toll OF death /,
would not exceed 1000
Oficial circles adhere generally to
the estimate OF about $1,000 killed and
10000 injured.
Survivors are living in terror of now
earthquake shocks. following the yis,-
tation of several slight tremors early
Today. which COMPLETED the destruc-
tion or many buildings which had been
severely damaged Many persons were
INJURED oy the recurring shocks.
among them being a number NJ tho
rescuers
All reports agree that yesterday,
disturbance, which In forty seconds
turUed fourishlng and ponulous
stretch OF country into an immense
cemetery. was the worst. In noint ~
area affected, OF any ever visited unop
Europe.
Avezzano. a city OF / 1000 Inhabitants
was completely destroyed. Nine-tentbs
OF tho population were killed pr,c-
ticaiiy every person who was NOT In
the streets at the time of the earth
quake lost his life. The personne, ~
Its entire civil and military adn,n,s-
trhion. with but few exceptions. was
"iped out. Including the country
roundabout. the losses In killed and
injured Mt Avezzano will reach $4,000
MEASURES FOR RELIEF
ARE PUT IN MOTION
tremendous relief measures have
been put In motion. King Victor En-
manuel has left for the vic,nI,, -,
AVez"ano TO lead tho rescuers. Queen
teiena, deferred by illness, delegated
the Duchess Of Aosta to represent her
10 "uShesS mas gone to Monterotondo
where she Immediately Installed b.r,
SELF as hospital nurse to care for the
wounded. ~
Trainload upon trainload OF iniur.a
are rolling into Rome. Every train mr.
irving from the Province OF Abruzzi
brings hundreds OF persons who hsy.
heen wounded. The refugees ar. dis-
triouted among the hospitals and pri.
Vate dwellings The Mayor Of Roma
Prince Colonna. has placed at tho dis,
posal OF the refugees several hotals
and public buildings. where food also
Is provided by the city.
Reports from the officials In charpa
OF the relief work In tho various locau.
ties. while still incomplete. give an IN.
dex of the extent of the catastrophe n.
1t affected the following towns:
AVezzano and vicinity-I5,ooo killed
and injured.
Aielli--Nearly 1000 dead and Injured
Arpino-l5o known dead; scores in
Jured.
Albano--Many dead; town severely
damaged.
Arricia-Fifty dead and injured.
Campo -Basso-Twenty known dead: