The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-09-08
EARTH SHOCK WIPESO
WHOLE TOWNS; LIFE AND
PROPERTY L0SS1S. HUGE
FamousGeaning1bvwo Of
Pisa Bad nznd !
ReporteGTalllng. I'd

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Roma 6egA,a-Ssvsnr1m-
dred pensas lots- thsir lives IN
tho eaEthquake e RivizsanA
and many moro wcre injured,
according to . dispatch to the
Tribuna from Nasal.
Az reports from the stricken re-
gion come in over faltering tele-
graph and telephone lines. the ex-
tent of the disaster seems to bo
growing and there is q posstbil-'
ity the damage done may be much
more serious than was at first be-
lieved.
The territory violently disturbed
seems to be between Florence and
Modena In this district there are
many populous towns, and 0>tid-
ings have as yet been received from
many of them.
Towns Are Leveled.
There is every indication that
the shock was severe one, and re-
ports from cities in the earthquake
zone show that buildings crumbled
beneath the strain of the convulsion
Of the earth. At Fivizzano, which.
has 1900 inhabitants and is near
Carrara. almost every building waa
damaged and many were complete
ly destroyed.
Whole Towns Wiped Out
Rome, Sept. s, 10 a. m.-tBy the
United Press.)-The casualty list
resulting from yesterdays earth
quake in north central Italy was
growing today as additional re-
ports we're received.
Relief parties sent word that the
towns Of Quercia, Molassa and Ia
rasco had been completely wiped
out. The whole region around
Spexia was said to have been SER
iously damaged.
Signor Bertini, under-secretary
of public works, has left for the
devastated area to personally su-
pervise relief work.
Scores Of persons were killed
quake, according to scattered re-
quake, according to scattered re-
ports. Property damage was said
to be enormous. Owing to inter-
ruption of communication. details
we're lacking. 1t was learned that,
Villa Collemandia and FivizzanOt
were completely destroyed. The
former had 1000 population In
the latter place 20 were known
dead and scores injured.
Tower Of Pisa Falling.
Fifty-seven bodies were said to,
have been recovered from ruins I'M
| Pisa, where the famous leaning
tower was reported to have beeni
so badly shaken it was in danger,
of falling.
Troops and volunteer workersi
have been sent to the stricken area
with medical and food supplies.
The shock, which centered in the
province OF Massacarrara, lasted
, about twenty seconds and was thel
most severe ever felt in several
towns in that zone. Serious DAM
age and many casualties were re-
ported from II towns.
Churches Destroyed.
At Calcinniana a church and
several houses were raZed. Two
persons were killed and many in
jured The church Of st. Paul at
Via Reggie was badly damaged and
workman was killed and several
injured. A church and hospital at
Pistoja were shaken down and the
churches of San Francisco and San
Lorenzo were damaged.
At Castel Franco the famous
Ceilini theatre was destroyed. The
entire population of Forte Marmi
was said to be camping in the open
country nearby.
! The ceiling Of the church Of st.
Prospero. at Molinoquosa, fell
while worshipers were in the edi-
fee.
According to the Nuovo Giornale
of Florence, the districts of Lun-
giana and Garfagnana were the
hardest hit.
Vast Region Affected.
The earthquake which shook
northern Italy yesterday apparent
ly was one OF the most extensive
that ever struck that region.
Reports received here today in
dicated an area more than 800 miles
long and $50 miles wide was af-
fected. Score Of deaths and hun
dreds of injuries already have been
reported and it was feared the
casualty list would continue To
mount as communication was re-
established. Property damage was
expected to reach millions Of dol
lars.
:; King Visits Stricken Area.
King Victor Emmanuel, who was
visiting in Pisa, was reported to
have left that city to visit the de-
vastated districts.
/. Relief work was being conducted
under government supervision
Soldiers and volunteer workers
were being rushed into the stricken
: area.
i The earthquake, which occurred
: early yesterday. apparently extend
8 ed from the region of San Stefano
: in the Appenines, SO miles south
= east Of Florence, northeastwarl
o into the interlaken district q
b Switzerland. The more impoftAz
. cities which felt tho shock -
. Florenee, LegAoen, apeda Ge
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