Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-15
so, 900 ARE DEAD
IN ITALIAN QUAKE

Continued from Page One
have added to the terror and thousands
of the residents of the poorer quarter of
Rome have refused to return to their
homes, but remain quartered In the open
squares of the city.
Valleys below stricken Avezzano are
| now facing a new danger. The outflow
| of Lake Fucino has been damned by the
| earthquake and It Is feared that unless
| this speedily can be remedled a break
| will come and the valleys be flooded.
QUEEN WINS PRAISE.
The Queen, having been forbidden by
her physicians to leave the palace, be-
cause of the recent birth of her baby, has
directed that she be put in touch with
the stricken district by telegraph
She is making arrangements for send
ing necessary clothing to the women and
| girl victims and has already obtained the
opening of thousands of private houses for
| the reception of referees. Always the
idol of the Roman people, her praises are
| now being chanted by every one, as 1t
| is realized that in taking the steps she
| has she has endangered her own health.
| Hundreds of injured persons are stream
ing INTO Rome and all of the public build
ings have been ordered opened and turned
| into temporary hospitals to relieve the
nressure on the regular hospitals already
| crowded to the limit
| II ia now declared that not less than
100 cities, towns and villages suffered
from the earthquake. The number OF
| nersons who are in need of at least
temporary relief will reach half a million
and it will require several months to re-
store the wrecked district.
The chief reason for the large loss OF
life was the construction of the houses,
which were of stone, for the most part
piled on each other without mortar to
hold them together. When the earth
| quake came these houses collapsed.
The American Ambassador, Thomas
Nelson Page, has thrown open the
Palazzo del Frago, his official residence,
for the use of refugees and he and all
of the Embassy staff are aiding where
ever possible.
Unificial estimates of the damage run
| as high as $100, 100000. In some places,
particularly Rome, where serious loss
| was caused to famous buildings, the dam
age can never be repaired.
| These losses have been increased by
tremors more or less severe that have
been felt ever since the main earthquake
shock Nearly 200 such tremors have been
recorded in the last As hours.
Thirty thousand italian soldiers are con-
Quoting the rescue work in the stricken
district. All yesterday afternoon and last
night they dug for the dead and living In
the ruins of Avezzano and Sora, where
the loss of life was heaviest.
Their work last night was facilitated as
far as possible by searchlights that had
been sent from Rome on one of the trains
carrying nurses, physicians and medical
supplies.
KING wHEPS FOR LOST CITY.
King Victor Emmanuel went to Sora
on1
charge of the work in the ruins in the
former beautiful town of 10000 inhab-
itants, The King wept when he saw the
desolation wrought by the earthquake
there.
There was a heavy fall of snow in CEN
tral Italy last night. This increased the
sufferings of the tens of thousands OF
homeless. Hundreds have been stricken
with pneumonia and 1t is feared that the
death roll of the earthquake VIII De
greatly increased by disease.
Refugees from the district of Avezzano
say that not more than 10 per cent. or
the population escaped.
"The destruction of the city was only q
matter OF seconds" said one refugee.
"In less than a minute 1t was changed
from a beautiful, peaceful. prosperous
city into a vast cemetery, where piles or
wrecked houses and uptorn earth rose In
a monument to the wrath and power of
nature. over the wreclSage wandered
hundreds OF stupefied survivors searching
for their dead or for entombed relatives.
who. they hoped. might still be living. "
NO GHoULIsE ACTS.
Deputy Sipan, who was one OF the firsS
public officials to visit the scene. said;
zone feature of the disaster. from which
a crVlmb of comfort can be derived. was
the complete absence of ghoulish acts
Although the safes of three rich banks
were lying unguarded in the streets OF
Avezzano for hours, while the town was
completely isolated, not single robbery
was reported. Another pleasing feature
was the vtgor with which survivors
started the work OF rescue Withoutswait-
ing for outside help"
The King, who arrived at Avezzant
yesterday afternoon. spent hours inspect
ing the ruins and comforting the sur
viyors. some of whom were dug out o.
the ruins In his presence. The King sen
a telegram to Rome after inspecting tbs
wreckage, asking for more soldiers "a
/ carry on the relief work
/ Hundreds of men. women ana ohlldrei
! were buried alive and the work of res
J cue was pushed to the utmost to try Il
{ save their lives. In some quarters o.
! Ayezzano mufied shouts could be hearC
coming from the interior OF piles o
wreekage. showing Il TO be living toni
for some man. woman or child that haf
been overwhelmed In the debris but no
: killed outright.
q The King, while walking with his aides,
passed a pile of debris and heard sound
resembling a human voice. Soldiers Were
? put 10 work at once and soon the torr
: body OF a young man was brought out
Although on the point OF collapse, al
soon as he saw the King the young mar
raised his hand to his head in salute
| and cried. ffdurrah!"
\ The King was so overcome at this acl
! OF devotion that he wept and, tufnins
: n MS military aide, said: <Isnft Il
heart-brsaking that such q brave fellow
should der