Oakes weekly Republican. (Oakes, Dickey County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1898, 1891-05-01
ROME SHAKEN Up.
The Eternal City Nearly Wrecked By
an Explosion Of $50 Tons Of
Powder.
Several Persons Killed and Nearly
ESQ Seriously In-
jured.
The Streets strewn Gith Debris..'
Many Buildings in Ruins..'Dam.
age Incalculable.

AT about O'Clock on the morning
OF the Esd inst, q tremendous explc-
sion shook Rome, Italy, to Its found
alton, spreading terror and dismay
on all sides. The people rushed al.
frighted from their homes into che
streets, houses rocked, pictures fell
from the walls, thousands of panes OF
glass were broken, everywhere crock
cry was shattered, furniture was over
turned, chimneys crashed down upon
the roofs, and, IN some instances, top
pied over into the streets below. The
cupola of the houses of parliament,
Immediately after the explosion,
shook violently and then collapsed
with crash, which ADDED still further
to the feeling of horror which had
spread through Rome.
The scenes in the streets and in the
houses after this fearful explosion
have, possibly, never before been
equaled in dramatic effect during the
history of modern Rome. ALI the
thoroughfdres were strewn with bricks,
stones, splinters and other debris
hurled there by the force of the pow
erful conclusion which had caused
Rome to totter on it's foundations.
People of all ages and conditions were
rushing pale with tear, about the
streets, trying to seek consolation
from others who were as thoroughly
terrified as themselves. In the hous.
es, doors, windows and cupboards,
were burst open. Rents and cracks
appeared in the walls. the plaster fell
from the ceiling and general desolatlon
prevailed. In many Instances people
were thrown from their beds by the
shock which caused 30 much alarm,
and cries of terror filled the air as
thousands OF families rushed out into
the streets. Parents with children in
their arms; children leading aged par
ents; the younger helping the elders,
all made for the streets, as if Their
only chance of safety depended upon
their being able to reach the open air.
The general opinion that prevailed
an earthquake shock, and that
second shock might reduce the city to
ruins. Many fell upon their knees and
prayed aloud.
Finally, when something like order
had been restored, the real cause of
the explosion became known. 1t was
discovered that the immense powder
magazine at Pozze Pantaloe, four
Kilometres distant, had exploded,
and that it had caused enormous
damage to the neighboring fort, which
was filled with soldiers. he reports
of the affair are that the officer in
command of the fort happily heard
rumbling sound previous to the final
explosion, and hastily ordering the
soldiers to leave the fort, he succeeded
IN averting terrible disaster. AS it
was several peasants, who were in the
vicinity OF the scene of the explosion,
were killed outright and number OF
others were more or less injured.
AS this dispatch is being sent, King
Humbert and his military staff, aG-
companied by the Italian premier, the
Marquis di Rudini, and all the mem
bers of the Italian cabinet, have lefe
the city for the scene of the disaster.
Around theruins OF the powder maga-
zine and OF the fort Gordon OF troops
has been drawn, in order to keep back
the crowds of people who, now. that
the cause of the explosion is known,
have fiocked to Pozze Pantaleo, eager
to see the powder blackened ruins.
The troops, however, nave instruc.
tions not to allow any civilians to
pass through the Gordon until the Off
cial investigation now being made in.
to the origin OF the explosion has been
completed.
Later.-Further facts are gradually
coming to light in regard to the shock
which spread SO much terror through
out Rome and its neighborhood. All
the houses within radius OF kllo.
metre OF the scene of the explosion
are seriously damaged.
Two officers were dangerously
wounded and 12O civilians have been
taken to the different hospitals,
suffering from wounds or bruises caus.
ed by the explosion.
King Humbert, who was heartily
cheered whenever his presence became
known to the populace and soldiery,
used his own carriage to convey the
wounded to the hospital
The races, which included the Ital-
ian derby, which were to have been
run in the afternoon, have been post
poned on account of the explosion.
The shock, which caused Rome to
tremble, did not spare the vatican.
That venerable pile shook with the
rest OF the Roman buildings when the
force of the explosion was felt, and
several of the famo us historical stain
ed glass windows of the old building
were shattered. The windows in the
ancient Raphael chambers and the
stained glass in the royal staircase,
presented to Pope Plus TX, by
the king of Bavaria were also
seriously injured. Naturally the full
extent OF the damage is not known at
present, and, possibly, may never be
known, but all accounts agree that
the loss is very severe, the interiors of
many OF the old palaces and churches
having suffered to a greater or lesser
extent.
The exact number of killed anl
wounded is also unknown at present.
Another report says that five peo-
pie have been killed, in addition to
the large number OF wounded already
mentioned, and that forty small
houses have been reduced to heaps Of
ruins by the shock following the ex-
plosion. The magazine contained
$50 tons of powder. The cause ofthe
explosion is unknown.
i.i
John Rockefeller's Home.
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