Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-01-17
Nearly One Hundred Towns
and Villages Leveled
BY Shock.
NUMBER KILLED IS
MERE GUESSWORK
Thousands Lying Beneath
Crumbled Buildings
Still Are Living.

n ONE, Jan. 15.-FrOm $4,000 to
IN 10000 still remains the unofficial
estimate Of the casualties resulting
from the earthquake which rocked
southern and central Italy early
Wednesday morning,
The amount OF damage done can
not yet be determined from the
meagre descriptions Of the catastrophe
that reached Rome over the hampered
lines OF communication. Such details
as have come through leave 10 doubt.
however, that nearly one hundred
towns and villages have been utterly
demolished or partly wrecked and that
great loss Of life resulted.
Thousands of persons now have
lain for nearly three days beneath
crumbled buildings throughout the
earthquake zone. Some are dead,
while others still are living. Many
have been removed from the wreck
age and brought to Rome hospitals
for treatment or are being cared for
in their home towns in temporary
structures presided Yer by physicians
and nurses rushed from the capital
and other cities in Italy,
Victims Cremated.
II Is believed many Of those caught
IN the wreckase were not injured, but
persisted from cold and hunger or
were %incinerated In fires which broke
out amid the ruins. The lumber
buried probably was largest at AVez-
zano and Magliano Di Marsi, where
fires started and there was no water
to quench them.
A|vezzano apparently suffered most
from the disaster. Ten Thousand per
sons in hat district are said to have
persisted and the entire town has
been leveled.
Sora and Pescina each has 1000
dead, while the fatalities at Giosimarsi
reached $500 and at San Benedetto
5000. Numerous other towns report
a death toll running from ten TO over
two thousand.
In the stricken districts the people
are camping in the open.
Troops are guarding the demolishci
or partly demolished town to prevent
footing.
Caste distinctions everywhere have
been laid aside and members OF the
nobility, senators, deputies and high
officials, are working shoulder to
shoulder with private soldiers and
laborers in their efforts to rescue the
living or remove the bodies Of the
dead.
\ phase OF the political situation I'm
the kingdom resulting from the earth
quake is that the call for conscripts
in the damaged zone has been res
ended by the military authorities.
Accept Private Money.
Thomas Nelson Page, American am
bassador to Italy, today asked whether
assistance from the United states gov
eruueut. financial or otherwise, i'm aid
ing the people stricken by the earth
quake would he acceptable .
Ambassador Page was told today
that owing to the International situa-
tion the Italian government had de-
cided to abstain from accepting, Of
ficially. any foreign aid. As this Will
not prevent private initiative on the
part Of the Americans or other for
eigncIs living in Italy and their friends
at home. Ambassador Page Is now
approaching the government with a
view of ascertaining the best way of
directing relief work.
Automobiles containing members Of
the Roman aristocracy left Rome at
intervals throughout the day, carrying
relief stores to the earthquake victims.
Prince Colonna, mayor of Rome,
has arranged to supply all the stricken
villages with oil for Illuminating pur-
poses at the expense of the city of
Rome. This will enable the rcscuer
to work throughout the night.
\ refugee arriving here from Mag
liauo hi Marsi says 500 persons are
dead in that locality and that barely
200 persons survived the disaster.
After the earthquake. he says, fire
completed the work of destruction.
Look for Relatives.
ANEZZANO, via Rome. Jan. 10
4.20 p. mJ-FrOm all parts Of Italy
there came to Ave2Zano today anxious
relatives of persons who were living
here when the city was RACED by tho
earthquake Wednesday morning. They
had believed that the descriptions OF
the destruction wrought were exag-
gcr1tcd and were stunned when con
fronted with the mounds of masonry
which represent all that is left OF the
town.
Many Of the visitors realized at
once the utter uselossness Of searching
for friends and relatives. but others,
more hopeful, climbed aimlessly over
the debris for hours. trusting to find
some landmark which would aid them
in tracing loved ones. Among those
searchers many were successful i'm To-
eating the wrecked homee OF relatives
or friends.
Try the Impossible.
Frantic. many of the scarchers
threw themselves upo the ruins and
called upon their loved ones to answer
them. but in ain. They appealed for
help in attempting to remove the
stones. unmindful OF their lscerated
hands. cut by the Jagged tones and
broken glass. Frequently searchers
collapsed and 1t was necessary to re-
move them TO lmprovised hospitals for
treatment.
Seldom did a visitor to the city find
. relative or friends alive.
These rare reunions were marked
by demonstrations of JOY. Women and
men threw themselves into each
others arms. laughing Historically or
weeping silently. These exhibitions of
delight made all the deeper the grief
Of those who searched without sue
cess.
Enriei Bcncath Church.