The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-18
Italian Government, Making Ef-
fort To Handle Situation
Without Aid From Outside,
Appropriates $25O,000
Many Survivors
Are Raving Mad
| otal Number Of Shocks Since
First Was Felt Is I85--Pope
and King Visit Ruins Giving
Aid To Suffering Many
Tragic Incidents Presented

Rome. Jan. 1.-THE Government
appropriated today the sam of $685.
o0o for the relief the earthquake
sufferers. This sum will be added to
in any amount needed as Italy Is pre-
pared to handle the situation without
aid from outside. and to use the ma
tional resources to the fullest extent.
terrible feature of the de-
sfrucion Is that many OF the
survivors have gone raving mad
and are wandering about In the
devastated areas, some so violent
that the soldiers have to use force.
Yesterday one of these men.
made maniac by the horror,
split the skull of an injured
refugee with an axe. The ouly
of1ense committed by the victim
was that he rcproached hts muir
derer for footing a wineshop.
The military have been ordered ia
shoot the starving and half wild dogs
which are proving about among tina
heaps of bodies. Every ruined VIII
lage Is now completely surrounded by
sentries who will not allow strangers
to approach.
Ruins obviously Silent
A royal commissioner has assumed
charge of the earthquake area and
has ordered the soldiers not to dir
into the ruins unless they hear tha
means or cries OF victims. The ruina
are now ominously silent and means
are now heard but rarely. The burial
lof the dead has been hastenNd fOH
sanitary reasons. It has been rainnia
all day and the excavating has been
made more difficult.
The inhabitants OF Balzorano and
Raccavtya are fleeing in panic be-
cause of the immense crevasses split
ting lengthwise the crest of Mount
Pixzodetta, 500 feet high. due to the
Earthquake.
Pope Benedict paid another visit to-
day to the injured in the Hospice Of
Santa Marta and spent an hour con-
soling the victims.
Many men and women OF the nobility
have volunteered AS nurses in the
various hospitals and the Prefect OF
Rome has requisitoned beds in many
hotels for the use of the survivors.
Prince Colonna, Mayor of Rome has
accepted the offer of the hye-xtory
villa at Janiculum, containing eighty
Ave beds. which was used as a school
by Martha vichery and Alice Llew-
eilyn.
1856 shocks Registered.
The Government observatory an-i
nounces that since the morning Of
January IL. 1855 shocks have been reg
istered on the seismogra phic instru-
ments. All of these are what Il
known as latter shocks requiring
at intervals after the main quake and
generally of slight force.
The bodies taken from the ruins at
Avezzano have not been buried as vet
because the authorities do not wish
to interrupt the rescue work which
has become intensified since several
LIKES were saved The %eieAs of vie-
Tins buried alive are still heard Al
detachment of soldiers excavating In
the girls schools saved two girls.
There are many crushed bodies. but
also many OF the scholars are vet
alive in the debris and are calling
out I'm agony and begging the military
to save.
This incentive has driven the sol.
diers TO the most frantic efforts and
they are working feverishly. not stop.
ping to eat or sleep even until all the
girls are saved. A young man who
escaped from the wreck Of his home
saved his sister unaided but was un-
able TO find his father His nancee liss
buried alive in nearby house and ef.
forts 10 rescue her have proved fruit.
les, vet she INCREASINGLY begs her lover
to save her. CRYING to him that II he
loves her he will find way to ret
her out. The man is maddened with
grief and his condition has made even
the hardened soldiers weep.
Number of Dead Ahcut 4o.ooe.
King Victor arrived In Sora this
morning and visited the Injured In the
hospital which has been inurovised in
thu prisnn- lie distributed relief to
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