The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-20

Avazzano, via Rome, Jan. 20, 1.25
A. M.-The sunerings of the surviving
victims III the earthquake districts
around Avezzano, particularly to the
southeast of that place, have been great.
~ aggravated by a sudden change in
the weather, Litter cold and heavy
snow falling succeeded brightness and
dryness of the previous days.
The snow which began to fall early
Tuesday afternoon, penetrated into the
hastily constructed wooden huts which
shelter all too few of the many thou
sands of homeless and added greatly to
the discomfort that prevailed Hun
dreds are compelled to spend the night
in the open air. Fortunately the re-
lief work appears to be well organized
and more abundant so that practically
all of the larger places that have been
devastated are receiving attention.
Living persons are still being dug
out of the ruins and it seems surpris-
ing that more vigorous efforts are not
being made to extrciate scores of others
who are enduring the horrors Of
lingering death.
Between Pezzina, San Bedatto aud
Gioja de Marsi great cracks and depres.
sions are visible in the roads and fields,
probably due to the rich soil of that
region which has made Goia the
wealthiest town in the district This
condition is also responsible for the
fact that Gioja suffered more severely
than any other place destroyed by the
earthquake. Only about one-ffth of the
population was saved, 700 persons out
of 3,6S2. Two women were taken
alive from the ruins there to-day. The
destruction of all buildings in the town
is even more complete than in Avez.
zano, for only single wall in the
place is standing above the height of
the first floor.
Many women were at mass in Gioia
when the church fell in, but onlv the
priest escaped. -Four women were dug
out alive later. Five hundred soldiers
arrived Sunday and are guarding the
property in the ruins which is more
valuable than any other place.
Rome, Jan. 20, 1910 A. M.-Next
to Avezzano, one of the places to suffer
NEST from the earthquake was Ortue
thio, few miles from Gioia de Marsi.
"hSio iooS thdH fVu people were saved
out of population of $500.
In the church, which was a large
edifice, there were between three and
four hundred people when the earth
quake came. The priest and the entire
congregation were imprisoned under the
ruins as the whole building suddenly
collapsed Only four women have since
been taken out alive.
Collarmele, 1900 feet up in the
mountains, is another of those towns
in this part of Italy from which many
persons had emigrated to-, America.
Here thousand out of a population of
1900 were killed. The priest in this
town perished while conducting services
at the altar and the worshipers, chiefly
women and children, died with him.
The church is in ruins, but two statues
of saints are still standing uninjured
The survivors at Collarmele are shell
tered in the railway station.
Some signs of returning life are al.
ready beginning to be visible in the
terribly devastated earthquake dis
tricts. Stalls where meat and fruit are
offered for sale have been opened, while
in Celano an eating house has opened
its doors and is doing business. On
the whole, however, the population is
still utterly Frustrated by the calam-
ity. The fact that slight shocks are
experienced every morning keeps ma
iority of the people still in a state Of
panic