Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-10
Quakes Are Less Violent.

QuakeS Are Less Violent.
FLORENCE, Italy, September o.
Minor earthquake shocks which have
been felt since the disastrous tremor
of Tuesday morning in the devas-
tated zone north of this city indicate
the disturbance is subsiding. accord
ing to Father Alfani. director of the
observatory here. He said today that
small shocks succeeding one another
rather frequently show the seismic
phenomena are wearing themselves
out, while if a long pause succeeds
a severe earthquake, another strong
shock occurs, which may be consid-
cred as the elimination of the small
shocks which should have come a,
intervals.
..The shocks in the present case" he
declared, "are to be considered as good
omens, indicating that no serious re-
currence of the earthquake may be ex-
pected.'
Already some of those working
bravely to rescue and help the suffer-
ers from the earthquake have been
killed. At Fivizzano three men. includ-
ing a earibineer, were trying to move
masonry from behind which they heard
the groans of some one imprisoned.
when a new earth shock occurred, the
wall falling on all three and crushing
them in sight of the onlookers.
II Thief Benten to Death.
When the first earthquake occurred
the prison at sFivizzano Was~-ba1ly
shaken. the doors being wrenei14d from
their fastenings. The inmates rushed
out, declaring that they would at least
die in the open. But when the shocks
had passed .caribineers compelled them
ception of one man who slipped away
and later was found at the neighboring
station of Gragnola, engaged in the
robbery of those seriously injured ly-
ing in a special train waiting for
transport to a hospital. With diff
Guilty the caribineers saved him from
the angry crowds which gathered.
. During the night, while others were
engaged in the work of rescue. a de-
termined. attempt was made to carry
off the strong box of the savings bank
at Fivizzano. One of the thieves was
attacked by peasants, and before the
soldiers could rescue him he received
injuries from which he died.
Two women living near the bar
racks climbed out of window to a
balcony when the first shock oc-
Cured. All the floors of their house
collapsed. and for more than two
hours they remained on the balcony,
which was in such threatening state
that it was impossible to scale the
wall.
Finally they were rescued by means
of ropes.
Royal Family Visit Stricken.
King Victor Emmanuel. accom-
panied by Queen Helena and Princess
Yolande, today passed through the
smaller villages which suffered dis
aster from the earthquake. In these
places, if the tragedy was on a smaller
scale. the Inhabitants were afflicted,
of the imrossibility of providing for
the outlying districts promptly.
Princess Yolande, who is nineteen
years of age, proved almost as COM
petent and practical as the queen her
self nssuggesting remedies and max
ing lists of what was required over
and above what had been brought in
the automobiles.
Yolande even had a store of toys
with which she coaxed smiles from
the frightened and fretful children.
Survivors Are Stupehed.
FIvIZZANO. Italy. September o.
Survivors of Tuesday mornings
earthquake. which laid the once -four
fishing and cheerful town of Fivizzano
ing to realize more and more the ex-
tent of the calamity that has befallen
them, and they seem stupefied with
the horror of the disaster.
The work of rescue went on all last
night, and doctors, sanitary assist
|
naught Cavour, students, nurses and
volunteers wore themselves out in
their efforts to bring comfort to as
many. sufferers as possible. Motor lor-
ries are beginning to arrive regu-
larly. bringing cooked food and tools
for the men engaged in the work of
excavation. Portable ovens are being
set up. since there is hardly a house
standing in the city.
AS in former earthquakes, some
families have been rescued almost
without injury from the ruins of their
homes, while in other cases every in
mate of shattered dwellings was kill
ed. One little girl, whom nobody rec
ognizes. wanders about the town with
her frock torn and tears running
down her begrimed face, asking pite-
ously for mamma mia" She possibly
is a child of visitors here for the
summer season and was playing in a
field when the earthquake came. Her
family was probably wiped out She
| cannot tell where she lives and knows
only that her name is Tina" and
that she came here with her father.
mother and little brothers.