The Washington times., 1930-07-24
TOTAL
Still ON
RISE
Horror Follows Tragedy; Wild
Religious Scenes Enacted.
Pope Sends Condolences
fcen.inaed Q Frem e D

Pope Sends Condolences
Tceatindsd From Paes n
ually working their way toward
them. Before many hours have
passed some word Is expected
from the silent towns. which N,
clnde Rapacalldida. Avigliar0s FL
lanO, CancellariO, San Severino
and GaF1lo. .s
with the speed and thorough
ness cliaract dstic Of the MlssO-
iihi regime, the work Of rescue
and Of checking the full scope
Of the catastrophe is proceeding
apaCe. Thousands Of survivors
are being evacuated from ruined
towns, where crumbling houses
and cclIapsing masonry combine
with the danger Of famine and
disease To threaten the lives of
those spared by the temblores.
Cracked and weakened homes
which 3 few hours before were
happy ffearthsides, are being
pulled down by the dozen.
At least 10000, according to
official estimates. were either de
Stroyed or rendered unfit for
human habitation.
Ayellino Losses Great
The greatest loss Of life, accord.
ing TO the Italian government,
occurred In Avellino province,
where 1,4O0 were killed and more
than 1900 injured. with 1900
homes In ruins.
It is this oz1ce thriving province
which Is now the focal point Of
rescue efforts.
OF individual towns, Villanova.
q community or approximately
5000, was hardest hit.
Direct communication by tele-
phone with that town revealed
that 400 persons are dead and
500 injured.
Members Of relief expeditions
told narrowing tales Of the un-
restrained, hySterical panic reign
ilag hours after the quakeS, with
fear-crazed, half naked survivors
rtnniTlg through the debris-c choked
streets, crying and shouting and
claWing in the debris for rela-
tives whose lives were snuffed
out when their homes tumhled
about their heads.
Similar scenes were enacted at
Sannicola, where not q house was
left standing, and at LacedOnia,
AQuiIOnia and Montecalyo.
Scores Of others, either partially
or wholly destroyed, escaped mir
aculousIy with q comparatively
small loss Of life. Among these
was ancient Naples herself, be-
meath the towering crater OF MT.
Vesuvius, where only . dozen fell
victims to falling walls, although
hundreds Of houses were shat
tered and wrecked.
Refuse To Return
throughout the entire devas.
tated area, residents refused to
return to their homes today. Fear
Of new quakeS and OF being
trapped like rats in their own
homes, drove them to the outly-
inR countryside, where armies OF
rescue workers in temporary
camps and canteenS, were nlrs.
ing the injured and providing
some measure Of comfort.
Members Of the aristocracy, the
nobility, doctors, nurses, war vet
erang and the ordinary rank ana
file Of the population whose lives
were SHARED, co-Operated with p0-
lice and troops In the difficult task
OF searching for victims and car
ing for the injured.
Working under the direction Of
Premier Mussolini, police ana
TROOPS buried the dead, side BY
side. Ike victims Of 3 Flanders
battle, the moment they were
found.
when possible, identitications
were made, but the principal OBJ
tect Ia the minds OF the, rescue
workers was to prevent disease
and further suffering.
Losses Unestimated
The financial loss resulting
from the disaster Is impossible to
compute.
Ancient castles and churches
of priceless historic interest. tuEn-
bled along with modest little
farm homes and crowded village
tenements.
Railway stations, business build
ings, bridges and other struc-
lures crashed like houses Of
cards. 3.
Forty-five seconds after the
first temblor shivered the ground,
appalling damage and loss of life
had been wrought.
Almost that same number Of
hours after, the fun extent Of
the catastrophe had vet to be
realized.
Pet Rabbit to Send