The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-01-23

January Ii and left vast destruc-
ton In its wake. Communication
by wire has been cut off from one
part of the country to another
and details Of the catastrophe are
coming In slowly by messengers.
The full horror of the situation
will not be known for several
days.
Rome. Jan. 16.-With every hour,
as additional and more accurate de-
tails are received, the horror of We'd
nesday's earthquake increases, threat
ening to place it in the list of similar
catastrophes in Europe second only
to the Messina disaster of 1908.
The list of dead, dying and injured
has increased from a relatively small
figure last night to more than 10000
according to an official announcement
today, and it is expected that this
number will grow before the day is
over
The full extent of the property loss
has not yet been determined. In
Rome priceless statues, century-old
buildings and structures that for years
have been the mecca of all visitors,
have been destroyed or injured.
Though the loss of life, and possibly
the damage may be less than it was in
1909 the area of the disturbance
greatly exceeds the Messina earth
quake. 1t covers the whole central
portion of Italy, extending from Ma
pies on the south to Ferrara on the
north.
The most disastrous disturbance
from all reports, seems to have cen
tered in the vicinity of the town OF
Avezzano, where $4,000 persons have
been killed or injured, according tc
the latest official reports.
King Aids in Relief.
Relief measures for the thousands
who have succeeded in escaping from
their ruined homes in safety, but are
in want and without shelter, are go
ing ahead with all possible speed. Spe
cial trains have been dispatched, car
rying physicians and nurses, and gov
eminent officials have been ordered
to provide all necessaries for the
stricken people.
King Victor Emmanuel, despite the
protests of government officials, who
urged the International situation il
Europe as a reason for his staying in
Rome, went early today to the vicin
ity of Avezzano to do whatever he
could, and by his presence give stimu
Ius to the relief work.
Lines of communication, especially
railroad tracks and telephone and tel
egraph wires, have been interrupted
seriously throughout the entire earth
quake belt and the transportation O
supplies furnished by the government
and private sources is going forward
by automobile and horsedrawn wag
ons
Rome's Art Damaged.
Along with the growing list Of cas-
ualties as a result of the seismic dis
turbance Wednesday it has become
apparent that the priceless art treas
ures of Rome have suffered far mort
than was at first supposed. An inven
tory taken reveals damage to fit.
places and churches.
Even the great structure of st. Pet
er's was not immune, for 150 windows
forty-six of them in the mighty dome
were broken. The image of the Re
deemer, thirty feet high, which
crowned the terrace front looking tc
wards the vast piazza. was split il
twain. Furthermore, the giant mai
BILE apostle which was precipitate'
from the facade of the Basilica of 81
John Lateran, killing a worshippel
turned out to be that of Judas Is
CARROT.
Besides the broken windows in 81
Peters, a number of deep crack
we're made in the masonry of tn
stairway leading to the huge ball o.
the top of the dome. Visits to tn
ball will have to be suspended. SeN
eral mosaics inside the basilica hav
been damaged.
In the Lateran Palace, especial
that part occupied by the Profane Nj