Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-24
A ROMAN IN TROUBLE.
Prince Shirra Squeezed by Large Real
Estate Speculations.
FEARS OF A FINANCIAL CRASH.
English Taxpayers Grumbling at the E1
pense of the Navy.
FAILURE OF THE CROPS IN IRELAND.
rsY CABLE TO THE D1srArcH.i

tBY CABLE TO THE D1sPATCH.l
LONDON, August 23.- Copyright. 1.-The
financial situation in Rome is growing daily
more serious, and sensational development
is predicted In the collapse of the fortune OF
Prince Schirra, great Roman noble.
Schirra, during the building movement in
Rome, MOI tagged his estate, which is valued
at 20, 600 900 francs, for 5000, 900 francs,
and, since the financial crisis, finds it i'm
possible to redeem his property. The
bankers who hold the mortgages at per
cent, are pressing him for payment, so that
unless he obtains assistance soon the crash
of one OF the Oldest Roman families must
ensue. This catastrophe will be Of more
than local interest, since it will probably
involve the breaking up Of the well-known
Schirra gallery of paintings, which contains
the famous violin maker of Raphael.
An incident of this possible calamity is a
difficulty that has arisen between Premier
Crisipi and the leading italian journal, the
Tribuna, in which Schirrs is large owner. :.
STIRRING UP A SCANDAL.
1t is alleged in Ministerial circles that
Crispi has letter from the editor OF the
Tribune making proposal for an alliance
that the Premier declined. Crispi has
threatened the Tribune with the publica-
tion of the letter, and that journal, as mat
ter of retaliation, sent agents to Palermo,
where the present Madame Crispi formerly
resided, to look up her antecedents. These
agents profess to have discovered that the
lady, who was widow when she married
Crispi, had lived with him before the death
OF her husband, and the Tribune promises
to make things unpleasant for the Premier
and his wife unless the compromising letter
of its editor is returned.
The present Mrs. Crispi is the third wife
of that gentleman, and he was obliged to
make threats to enforce her reception at
court, particularly as Roman society is not
positive whether death or law divorced him
from the other two Apropos to this cir
cumstance 1t is related that when Crispi
called the recent travels of the Prince Of
Naples ga voyage in search of WIFE," the
Queen placidly remarked that the Prince
at least was not searching for three.
cRIsPI OUT OF FAVOR.
Crispi, in consequence, is not in favor
with the Queen, and the Roman people are
indignant because he has appointed a royal
commissioner to conduct their municipal
affairs, and dismissed the town council of
Rome by reason of pitched battle in that
body brought about and largely participated
in by the Duke of Sermoneta, one of the
richest and possibly ablest noblemen in
Italy, who is well-known throughout
Europe as the former President of the Ital-
ian Geographical Society.
The present conditions in Rome have been
brought about by the great extravaganza of
the administration of vast public works
that have brought SO many thousands of
laborers to the City Government. At pres
ent it has not money enough to continue
these works, and unless some plan is devised
to meet the situation great financial crash
must soon result.