The Washington times., 1931-04-06
Marines Rescue 6 Buried
Nearly Week By Quake

MANAGUA, April 6.-Pinned be-
meath the wreckage of their
homes for almost a week, six sur
vivors of the disastrous Managua
earthquake were found today by
United States Marines.
Although trapped and unable
to move since their houses fell
on them when the quake demol-
ished the city last Tuesday, a
spark of life still remained in
their bodies.
Some Hope For Them
Amazed at their resistance to
death, Marines dug them out Of
the wreckage and rushed them to
the Marine Barracks for hospital
treatmnt. Surgeons hold out
some hope for their recovery.
The rescues spurred relief work
ers to even speedier laborS, in the
belief that other survivors may
lie imprisoned beneath the ruins.
Approximately 1000 refugees
have arrived at Granada, with
the number steadily increasing.
Adequate hospital facilities and a
plentiful supply of food have
kept additional fatalities to a
minimum. Only three refugees
have died of their injuries in
Granada.
Deaths Put At 5000
AS the work of recovering bodies
continue, estimates of the death
toll rose today to 5000. Marines
are guarding against the slight
est sign of pestilence, and no
trouble of this sort has yet been
reported.
Groundwork for the reconstruc-
ton of Managua, capital of Mica
ragua, laid waste by Tuesdays
earthquake, was started in earnest
under the supervision of Hmeri-
can marines today with notifica-
ton to able-bodied natives in the
vicinity that food will be avail
able henceforth only in exchange
for the labor they contribute.
Guards Direct Work
Clearing the streets of debris
piled up by the quake and Subse-
quent fire was assigned rs the
first task, with restoration of
some sort of makeshift water and
sanitary system to follow as soon
as the cargo Of pipe en- route
here arrives.
All pick and shovel work was
carried on under the eyes OF
armed guards, who remained
under. orders to shoot looterS i'm
mediately. .
Sixty-seven of these suspected
offenders escaped from an emer-
gency hospital prison Saturday
accompanied by their two native
guards. The wholesale Jail de-
livery was accomplished under
cover of darkness. Marines were
ordered into the hills in pursuit.
Suffering Is Relieved
Great strides forward were
made in relieving the misery of
the several thousand injured and
helpless who remained in emer-
gency camps after the exodus of
q large part of the native popllla-
tion. The United States naval
hospital ship Relief arrived at
Corinto and unloaded several
hundred cots as we'll as large
amount of field hospital equip
ment. In addition to tons OF
medical supplies, the Relief dis
patched here nine medical corps
men and 1874 assistants and
nurses.
United States Minister Hanna
and Col. Dan Sultan, of the
marines, announced that food
would be distributed under super
vision of a city-wide committee
subcommittee will be assigned to
specified areas to assist the ma
tives in reSuming household occu-
pationS.
Generous rations will be given
to all, but able-bodied men must
work in return for food supplies.
Capital Still In Doubt
The question remains whether
Managua should be fully rebuilt
or abandoned as a capital in ia
vor of some nearby city. 1t was
Dointed out that removal of the
government seat to other cities
might involve extensive new rail