The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-01-22
$4,000 KILLED BY
EARTHQUAKE THAT
SHAKES ALL ITALY
New Horror Rivals Disaster of
1908 and the Need of Help
Taxes Entire Nations
Aid Resources.
SOME CITES BURIED

City Of AVezzano in Ruins and the
Entire Population Has Been
Killed or Hurt-Historic
Buildings are Dust.
All Italy is vale of tears and
a cradle of sorrow. An earth
quake shook the country from
end to end on the afternoon of
January Ii and left vast destruc-
ton in it's 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. 1G.-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 Messma 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
1908, 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 to
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 1.id 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 in
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-
lus 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 of
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 more
than was at first supposed, An inven-
tory taken reveals damage to fifty
places and churches.
Even the great structure of st. Pet
er's was not immune, for $50 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 to-
wards the vast piazza, was split in
twain. Furthermore, the giant mar
BILE apostle which was precipitated
from the facade of the Basilica Of st.
John Lateran, killing a worshipper,
turned out to be that of Judas Is
CARROT
Besides the broken windows in st.
, Peters, number of deep cracks
were made in the masonry of the
stairway leading to the huge ball on
the top of the dome Visits to the
ball will have to be suspended. Sew
erai mosaics inside the basilica have
been damaged,
In the Lateran Palace, especially
that part occupied by the Profane Mu-