The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-14
Vast Area From Rome to the
Adriatic Feels Greatest
Shock in Years.
SCORES OF TOWNS ARE
NOTHING BUT RUINS
UncOnfirmed Report Says
1,4O0 Lives Were Lost
in AveZZanO.
HISTORIC BUILDINGS
IN CAPITAL SUFFER
st. Peters Damaged-Column
of Marcus Aurelius Is
Twisted.
Speciai cabr. pespatch 70 Tnr stN.


ROME, Jan. 13.-An earthquake that
lasted for thirty-four seconds this morn.
ing laid waste 4 large section Of central
Italy, killed probably more than 10000
persons and injured $1,000, destroyed
priceless works Of art, levellcd thou
sands of buildings and caused panic
throughout the stricken area that has
not yet abatcd.
The exact extent Of the damage done
cannot he ascertaincd AT present he
cause communications with many towns
and villages in the path Of the uphcaval
are interrupted, hut from scores of
places there come tonight frantic ap-
peals for aid of every sort-food medi-
cines, doctors and nurses
The shock, which was first felt nj
I 90 o'clock this morning. apparently
did the greatest damage in region
including Rome. Naples. Avezzano and
the region to the south and east of the
capital. II is announced officially that
the centre Of the disturbance was he
tween Campobosso and Sarno.
Rome was just setting about its busi.
ness for the day when of sudden
buildings rocked, the earth writhed
and the crashing OF broken structures
was heard on every hand. in the Quir-
nal, at the Vatican, in the humblest
dwellings as well as in the proudest.
Scores Of people were thrown to the
ground, thousands rushed about in ter
ror, many believing and crying aloud
that God was visiting His punishment
upon those who had offended Him.
upon the human race for allowing the
great war.
Pope Feels shock.
The Pope was reclting the thanks
giving after the morning mass when
the walls Of the papal dwelling rocked
and groaned under the shock. The pom
tiff retained his self-possession and sent
emissaries to ascertain the harm done
both without and within the Vatican
King Victor Emmanuel, hearing that
the people Of Rome were I'm terror and
that many persons had been killed, en-
tered the royal equpage and drove
about the streets for some hours, hop
ing that his presence would reassure
the public and stay the panic. The po-
lice and military authorities took con-
troll Of the situation at once, forced fear
crazed men, women and children out pt
tottering structures, checked wild
PUSHES OF those blinded by dread and
generally restored matters to a normal
condition.
Naples has been hard hit by tho catas-
trophe, comparable only To the Messina
disaster of 1908. There is scarcely
town or hamlet in a region embracing
several hundred square miles that has
not suffered.
So far as is known tonight Avez-
zano, n historic town OF about 5000 in
habitants, on the site of buried lake
in the Province OF the Abruzzi, sixty
seven miles east OF Rome, has been
practically wiped out.
II is reported that l 400 persons there
lost their lives and the list is expected
to grow when full information IL forth
coming. Next in extent Of casualties is
Ain. where there are 1000 dead and
500 injured. Arpino has $50 dead, md
the towns OF Torres, Castani and Pipp,
the latter near Florence. furnish a large
quota. Frascati, Citta Ducale, Rocca di
Papa, Albano, Ariccia, Vicovaro, Son
nino. Cerveteri. Palestrina and Sanyito
also have suffered,
Many Bodies In Ruins.
Some Of the latter places report much
material damage and many wounded but
no loss OF life. Reports from other
towns tell OF the recovery of some bodies
and say that there are scores OF bodies
in the ruins and in crevasses in the
earth.
Premier Salandra announced to-nigh'
that King Victor Emmanuel viii visit
the wrecked towns in person Under
Secretary Of Public Works Vtsocchi lett
Rome at once for Avezzano' Caoih~