Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-01-14
Dead Total Thousands.

ESllHldleS, WHICH wrought uchLiI
and ruin to numerous small towns
and cities in the province of Rome
and department of Abruzzi, and vir-
tually demolished the entire city OF
Avezzano, where the toll was terrific,
is totali1g into the thousands.
The first shocks calle in the early
morning, driving the panic stricken
populace to the streets. Belated re-
ports meagerly describe the horrible
catastrophe; houses tumbling on ter
rorized and screaming persons; Of
children trampled in the maddening
rush, rivaling scenes of previous sim.
liar disasters. Father Alfani, direc.
tor of the Pompeii observatory, says
the earthquake appears most disas'
trous for a radius of hundred miles.
He fixes the center of disturbance in
the province of Potenza. Commune
cation with the town of Potenza has
been interrupted, and grave disas-
ter there is feared, which is likely to
swell the tremendous proportions OF
the already large death list. -.
Reports are Alarming.
Details of the catastrophe arrived
throughout the day, and it is appar-
ent that the disturbance in the prov
ince of Rome was greater than at first
believed. *
At Naples, in the church of the
Divine Providence, the sisters were
praying around the bier of a dead nun,
when the first tremor OF the earth
quake caused the arm to move. The
listers first cried out "a miracle" think
ing resuscitation had occurred, but
simultaneously the candles sticks and
crucifixes in the chapel began to fall.
They then realized what was happen
ing and rushed terror stricken to the
treet. Great crowds fed into the
thoroughfares.
Buildings Totter.
The historic edifaces of Rome were
damaged and pillars moved, striking
terror in the hearts of the inhabitants.
Walls cracked and tatues were twisted
out of plumb. The hall in the Cham
ber of Deputies was cracked. Many
churches were damaged, including the
Oldest church of Tuetonic origin in
Rome.
Much Country Affected.
In country places people are camp
ing in the open. The town of P0fi,
with four thousand Inhabitants, is re-
ported ha'f destroyed. Two were
killed in Giuliana.
At Monterotondo, town of five
thousand population, three were xiv
ed and two wounded. The dome Of
the church at Zagarolo fell, while at
Caliano, part of the cathedral was
wrecked. Two we're killed and two
injured at Veroli, one killed at IT,
voli, while many houses collapsed.
killing and injurying many in that VI
cinity. The entire village of Tore
Cajetani, thirty-seven miles east Of
Rome, was almost entirely destroyed.
Calls for doctors and medicine are
reaching Rome from numerous places
affected by the earthquake.
Pope Remains Calm.
Pope Benedict was reciting thanks
giving after morning mass when the
shock came. He retained his compo-
sure, and gave orders to ascertain
the damage to the vatican. King
Victor Emanuel, also ordered the
minister of the interior to investi-
gate the stricken cities. At the
Palazzo, where Thomas Nelson Page,
the American ambassador lives, sew
eral cracks in the building widened.
but with no damage to the inhabitants.
Strikes at Heart.
Avezzano, the town where the great
est number of casualties were report
ed, is 63 miles east of Rome :,nd
short distance from the base of Mount
Velino. 1t is an ancient town with
a population of 10000. Most of the
towns damaged are situated virtually
in the heart of Italy, in line running
northeast and southeast from Rome
and eastward to the Adriatic sea.
The country in the province Of Rome
and department of Abruzzi. is mostly
mountainous but thickly populated.