New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-15

been protected by q wardrobe when
mad fallen across wall.
Troops are arriving constantly TO
assist Do the work of rescue. The ur-
yiyors are in a pitiab.e condition.
Hardly one of them is without rela-
tives buried under the wreckage OF
thor homes.
The streets Of the city are nothing
more than huge piles Of stone and
brick Through this the rescuers are
digging wherever they have reason 20
believe they may find survivors. Their
work Is difficult.
81 can best describe Avezzano by
calling il an immense cemetery SAID
a refugee. From the ruins Of the
college for young women we heard a
frantic appeal for help:
There are 40 Of Us still alive
here; help US quickly
Soldiers and civilians III he'd 90 the
scene, and when / left were dong
their best TO cut way through the
mass of ruins.
Il believe that twenty other towns
suffered severely. These include Ce-
lano, with 10000 inhabitants"
Other refugees reaching Rome from
Ayezzano say many of the survivors
there are in a condition Of utter col
lapse. They do not seem TO be aware
Of the extent Of the visitation.
The weather at AyezZano Is clear,
but IL was cold last night, and prom
ises to be the same tonight.
Fifty persons from Carsoli, headed
by the Mayor, rendered first aid at
Ayezzano. They succored at least
twenty Of the injured.
A young Italian driver, who left
Avezzano a few minutes before the
shock, told of his experience when he
reached Rene.
The first intimation of trouble was
when his horses refused 20 90 further
As they stood trembling there came q
deep rumb.ing sound, similar to the
roar Of railroad train going over a
bridge. Three minutes later the stand
ing walls Of some quarries along the
road had crumbled and were lying in
dust covered heaps.
From Avezzano came the cries of the
frightened people. Amid the crash Of
falling houses could be heard the
voices of women calling on the saints
10 help them. The city was under
cloud of dust. To the driver it looked
as if the earth had opened TO emit col
umns of white smoke.
He tried 20 drive back 20 Avezzano,
but could make no headway He and
his horses were blinded b. the dust.
Soon he saw survivors struggling 70
make their way from the city. Many
had sustained injuries and were drag
ging themselves through the dust and
confusion in pitiable plight. Some were
20 weak they fell by the roadside. The
objective Of the refugees was the rail
road station, which was soon crowded
with a half-frantic gathering of men,
women and children.
Those who were only slightly wound
ed returned 10. search the ruins Of
their homes for relatives and friends.
Many heartrending scenes were wit
messed. Survivors dug hastily into
heaps OF plaster and stone, stained
with blood. The Crewsome search was
only too often successful. In many in
stances survivors tainted as their dead
were. brought to light amid the ruins
Of the home. Then the heartbroken
searcher had TO be cared for by the
members Of the hastily organized re-
lief committees.
At Scurcola a woman who unearthed
the body Of her three-year-old child
became insane. At Popoli young hus-
band, returning from the fields where
he had been at work, rushed 20 his
home and found it a heap OF ruins.
lie tore away the fallen masonry and
entered what remained of his home
only to find his wife lying dead with
the baby IN her arms.
At Sora an old grandfather, the sole
survivor of his family. insisted in fore
ing his way through the shattered
walls Of what had been his home. Sud
denly the walls collapsed, and he was
buried with the other members of his
family.
It is estimated that 1000 persons
were buried alive under the wreckage
at Ayezzano. Throughout the night
shouts for help could be heard. In one
instance o school building collapsed,
burying 200 children. many Of whom
are believed 20 be still alive.
II is said that 400 soldiers were in
the barracks al Avezzano when 10 col
lspsed, and that only four Of them es-
caped