Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-20
CALABRIA SHAKEN
BY EARTHQUAKE
People Of Cities Of Southwestern
Italy Driven from Homes by
Violent Seismic Shock.
EXTENT OF DAMAGE UNKNOWN


ROME, Jan, 1s.--An earthquake of great
force has shaken all Calabria, in the
southwestern part OF Italy. but so far
as Is known thus far. has caused no loss
OF life.
The shock appears 10 have been most
severe In the ncighborhood of Cosensa,
capital OF the province. II frightened
thousands OF persons and drove them into
the open, where they insist on staying.
They prefer to risk cold and It's conse-
quent suffering rather than run the risk
of being buried alive in the ruins OF
their homes.
Throughout the earthquake belt in CEN
tral Italy. even In towns where many Of
the buildings are stlll standing apparently
intact. the survivors OF the catastrophe
refuse 10 seek shelter In their houses
and are suffering terribly from exposure.
Death roll IL Increasing.
As relief work goes forward Il appears
that some districts just south OF AvezSano
! were as badly afflicted as that town with
the percentage of dead to the total pop
ulation almost at large. The situation
in the case Of many towns and villages II
more desperate because as yet adequate
NNHtA HfaohI0a nave not Uctn IHk0ns
Ortucohio, southeast of Avezzano is
reported as having at least 2.ooO victims.
fully half OF whom have been found
buried In the ruins of the cathedrais
there. The town has been virtually raxed,
and now, more than six days after, the
first shotck. sanitary conditions among
the living are becoming almost unbear-
able.
The same story comes from other town.
In the vicinity from San Bensdetto with
1000 Of its $500 population dead; Celano
1000 feet up In the mountains, with f:00t
dead; Peterno, with only 800 OF its 2,OoC
persons stilI alive: Pescino. with 400 and
moro buried, and many other towns.
Many Places stan InaeceaaibIc.
Though many ~ these places are near
Aveszano. the supposed center OF the
disturbance and the CONSEQUENT relief
work, they have been almost inaccessible
because of blockaded roads. The food
supplies are reported as very insufficient
and the shelters entirely inadequate. The
organized rescue work is being pushed
with all haste 20 reach the inhabitants
OF these towns in time TO prevent great
loss Of life among the survivors. King
Victor Emmanuel is touring the stricken
district by automobile constantly dis.
tributing supplies. cheering. the Victims
sending the orphans TO Rome for care
and rendering other assistance.
| Panic in Cosenza.
| CosENzA. Calabria. Jan. ls-The en-
tire population of Cosenza. as we'll az
the inhabitants Of Psola, Apantea, Cas-
trovillari and Rossano left their houses
when the earth shock occurred Fortu.
nately there were no victims in thest
towns The people. however. cannot be
induced to return to their dwellings. a,
they fear repetition or the shock.
Several houses collapsed In LuKzi, 4
town OF 5000 people, eleven miles nortf
of here. but so far as Is known no lives
were lost.
The shocks were especially severe a.
San Benedetto U1iano, a town OF 2Ss
inhabitants; at Montaito Uffugo, with ,
population OF LTs. and at San Pietr,
Valano and Nappl. Houses were damaged
at these places, but there were no victims
The inhabitants, however. were greatl,
frightened and abandoned the villages
camping in the open air. or retiring into
the interior of Caverna, where some
times the Calabrese people remain 10,
months In fear OF shocks