Evening star., 1915-01-15
Relief Work Quickly Started.

neip from the stricken people Thou
sands of troops have been sent to the
scene and the work of rescue and relief
is going on night and day Supplies of
food. clothing. blankets and medicines
nave been dispatched by train where
possible and by motor ears where the
railroads are blocked
Ihe central committee of the Red
Cross WAS quick to act having ordered
al OF Its members to join in the relief
work at the scene of the disaster
troops have been sent by the govern
ment wherever needed, and they are
ordered to assist in eXcavating the
runs to build wooded huts for sur
vlvors. transport the injured and guard
property.
Ambassador Page Acts.
The American ambassador, Thomas
Nelson Page, called at the ministry of
the interior yesterday to express the
sympathy of America over the disaster
which has befallen Italy. He intimated
a desire to send members of the en-
bassy to the earthquake district to
give such aid as they could, if there
was no objection. He was informed
that the Italian government would
much appreciate such sympathetic ini-
tiative. and soon thereafter the am
Second Secretary Norval Richardson,
Lieut.. Commander Charles Train. the
naval attache and Private Secretaries
John Harrison and Marion Sims Wyeth.
They started for the Avezzano district
with supplies: especially blankets.
which they will distribute. The party
expects to return to Rome by FRIDAY
night.
Ambassador Page is ready to anpoint
an American relief committee, While
Mrs. Page will appoint a committee of
ladies If necessary to aid in the Italian
work of relief
Having heard that means of transpor-
tat1on are still lacking the king has
ordered that all the automobiles at the
royal palace be Immediately dispatched
ior use In the stricken districts.
Pope Deeply Grieved.
Pope Benedict is deeply grieved over
the misfortune which has befallen the
Italian people. He showed his deep in
terest and sympathy yesterday by an
unusual visit to the Santa Marta Hos,
pital. where forty-one persons, injured
during the earthquake, are receiving
treatment.
His holiness spoke to each single one
of the patients, asking for particulars
of the disaster and inquiring about their
families. He consoled them by saving
that he would intrust to the clergy the
task of seeking their relations and by
imparting to all the apostolic benedic-
ton.
Some Of the newspapers announce that
POPE Benedict. in visiting the wounded
at the Santa Marta Hospital, left the
Vatican. thus interrupting the tradition
al imprisonment of the Pope ALWAYS ad-
hered to by Popes Plus TX, Leo and
Plus x after the fall of the temporal
the occupation of Rome.
In reality the pontiff did not leave the
Vatican. but, passing through the apos-
tolic palace inside Of ST. Peters, he
reached the hospital without touching
Italian soil His predecessor did the
same thing when he visited the wounded
brought to Santa Marta HOSPITAL after
the earthquake in Messina.
Refugees Received in Rome.
The refugees are received at The sta
tion here by representatives of the mu-
nicipal authorities, and are distributed
among hospitals and private houses.
Every hospital in Rome was filed to
its capacity early in the day.
Prince Colonna the mayor of Rome
placed at the disposal of refugees sew
eral hotels, where food and lodging
will be furnished at the expense of the
city.
Trains are running from Avezzano tn
Tivoli WITHOUT Interruption, taking the
injured there for treatment. Survivors
arriving in Tivoli say many persons
are under the ruins in Avezzano. The
enormous amount of debris piled in the
town makes rescue work very difficult
1t is estimated that in Avezzano 4,OO0
persons are buried alive. Only four
soldiers of the garrison of 400 in the
town escaped when the barracks fell.
Second Big Shock.
At Sora. sixty miles northeast OF
Rome, In the province of Caserta. a
second heavy shock occurred yesterday
The town. which has population OF
some 10000. was almost DESTROYED
About two-thirds of the houses col
lapsed under the shock, and others
which were cracked, tumbled dowr
later.
Rossi Palace fell in, burying twent,
laborers who were working in the
courtyard. Among the victims in Sora
are many of the town authorities ant
persons of note in the distric, FouI
hundred and fifty bodies alread, have
been taken from the ruins there and a
large number of injured are undel
treatment
otOT1eS Ol survivors.
Some of the survivors at Avezzano
have not even yet sufficiently recover
ed from the shock of their experiences
TO tell a connected story of the vista
ton.
One man who was taken yesterday
from a ruin said: II had a sensation
as though some one was forcing me tt
dance Then was thrown tn thx
ground, and the roof and the walls fell
upon my head. Even after I was hal,
| buried the earth seemed to heave anC
| grow hot"
| A priest was saying mass in a church
when he felt the first shock. He rushed
under an arch OF the building and thi:
| saved his life. His acolytes were
| struck down and killed.
| The shocks destroyed the aqueduc
system of Avezzano. and there is toda,
| no water in the town.
| 1t is reported that statue of tn.
| Virgin, forty feet high, which stood OF
!, the shore of Lake Fucino, has beer
thrown into the water. There is con