Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-24
That is typical Of scores ana
scores of families.
Scenes Of Horror

Scenes of Horror
Villanova is situated on top OF
peak, dominating this province.
From it's summit one has a sorrow
fully impressive view, for miles in
every direction, of the devastation
and desolation.
The horror of the scenes in Viii
lanova reach their height in the
long lines of grievously injured in
habitants, lying on home made
stretchers in torture while they
await motor trucks to take them to
Avellino or Benevento for such
treatment as can he given.
NV inspection of this wrecked
town gave the impression that not
more than 800 persons were alive
here.
Every building in Nillanova is in
ruins. Roofs are crushed in and
Wills have fallen. The entire roof
was torn from the cathedral, and
the building is unsafe.
And yet, as the sole gathering
place in which they might hope to
find refuge, little knots of peasants
who survived through some strange
circumstance, gathered at h e
ruined church to lament their rela-
tives.
Owing to th fact that Nillanova
is isolated from the remainder of
+ the provinces, and because the
+ temblor severed every line Of com
munication, tn early reports Of the
ira gedy failed to give authorities
/ ~ -n tS
As the true horror of the sltua-
tion reached Benevcnto, however,
additional troops were sent to the
town to rescue the wounded, bury
the dead, and aid in the evacuation
of the ruins.
Present information appears to
Indicate that Fillanova is the hcav-
lest sufferer in this province.
In the stricken area just south OF
BeneYento, and in Ariano and sur
rounding villages, the death list Is
estimated at 800, with similar toll
at Montecalvo-Irpino, half Of which
is completely destroyed.
Tragic Stories
There. as at Nillanova, the sold
ierv were at their painful work OF
extricating the dead. \ typiea
tragedy was pointed out to thi'
correspondent as he came upon Al
fred Percisco. weeping while thu
soldiers were digging in nearby
ruins, | asked his story.
"Mv whole family is burie'
there" he said. "My wife, my tw'
daughters and my father. Only
am alive"
The recording Of death totals /
, made difficult through the utter i'm
possibility of looking up man,
families which have disappcare'
without a trace, therefore there ar
various estimates of deaths every
where.
{ The more conservative reports fl
, the number of dead, both at Arian
and Montecalvo, at 800 each, thi
. figure presumably accounting fo
scores crushed in surrounding vi
lagos.
Benevento is the center of the r'
lief activity. All supplies are SEN
on requisition of the project, troI
, this town. All automobiles an
omnibuses have been impressed int
service. as ambulances to conVe
: wounded to temporary hospitals,
s as food supply wagons, forcing the
: wav over almost impossible road
/, to stricken towns miles away.
Throughout the day, therefor
It there was an almost wartime fra
|. fic along the route from Ariano an
Montecalvo to Bcncvento. OF Il
r entire region, probably not a Yillas
J. escaped without some casualties
E No endeavor has been made to c
= innate the property damage. \
that can be said is that 1T WI
y amount to millions, but Italy is tc
!, busy rcscuing the wounded and gi'
ing burial to the dead to think
terms of physical property.