New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-16
FIRES FUNERAL
PYRES OF VICTIMS
Dead and Alive Burned
Together at Avezzano,
Says MarCOni.

Rome. Jan. 10. William Marconi.
Who -eturncd here to-day from Avez-
zano on board the train with King Vic
tor Emmanuel. declared that words
were insufficient to describe the horrors
he had witnessed. The town had been
absolutely leveled, he said, and those
Of its populace who had escaped death
were now destitute.
king Victor Emmanuel told me,
said Mr.. Narconi. that he had visited
the scenes Of all the earthquake dlsas-
ters in Italy since he was a child, but
that this one surpassed all others, even
including Messina. The King said the
survivors Of Avezzano were only be
tween = and . per "on' Of lts 9onula-
ton. while In Nessua oue-third OF the
people escaped
Describing the damage done nm Avez-
zauo. Mr.. Marcoui said:
"Avezzano has absolutely ceased 20
exist. I'm Messua some buildings, eape-
ciallv the palaces along the sea front
give one the impression that they are
still intact. their facades having sur
vived the shock. while only their IN
tcriors fell in Net so with Avezzano.
No wall there remains erect. II seemed
as though the town had been ground to
rowder By some gigantic machine.
The people Of Avezzano, according 10
Mr.. Marconi. have abandoned their ci-
fort TO take the bodies of the dead from
tho v,reckage and are giving their en-
tire attention TO trying 10 rescue the
living who are prisoners in the debris
Tho catastrophe was of such vast pro
nortiors. Mr.. Marconi said, that no or
canization of men could possibly have
done ANYTHING to give immediate relief
The people were i'm despair at their
powerlessness to render aid to those
whose voices cried out from their places
Of entombment for assistance.
During the first day Of the disaS-
for" Mr.. Ma.coni continued, the res
cuers were so few that they could not
oven attempt TO eXcavate at places from
which cries Of distress came, and
nlanted poles here and there at such
spots. hoping TO return later with ade-
ouste forces Of men 10 effect the re-
lease Of the imprisoned persons. Nhen'
bowever. would-be rescuers did arrive
most OF the voices had been stilled and
the poles we're merely markers OF spots
under which dead lay.
Mr.. Narconi personally heard coming
from under the ruins Of the girls
school in Avezzano the voices OF two
of the pupils. imploring aid. The girls
said thew we're uninjured. They we're
protected from injury by piano under
which they had fallen, and which be,
came wedged i'm the wreckage ana acted
as a screen from the tumbllng walls OF
the schoolhouse At first chok;ed by
dust. and later numbed by cold, they
had remained for two days without
nourishment. and, despite the strenuous
efforts made 20 release them tne girls
were still prisoners when Mr.. Marconl
left Avezzano for Rome.
Prior to his departure. Mr. Marconii
said. he endeayored to organize smail
parties Of men TO attempt to eXtlnguis61
fires. which had broken out at several
noints. among the debris, and which,
he declared. undoubtedly had burned
some of the pinioned victims TO death.
The difficulty Of igh,fng the flames was
almost insurmountable because OF an
insuficiency Of pumps.
Mr. Marconi left Rome tonight for
London.