The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1891-04-24
Two Score Of Houses and Fort
Wrecked by Powder Maga-
zine Explosion.
Buildings All Over the City Rocked
on Their Inhabi-
tants Panic Stricken.
The Vatican and Other Historic Places
Badly Damaged = Five Peoples
Killed-Hundreds Injured.

ROME, April 24.-At Z o'clock a. m.
the inhabitants Of Rome were terribly
startled by tremendous explosion
which shook the city to its center.
Houses rocked and trembled as though
smitten with ague, while glass from
thousands of broken windows was
hurled through the air and fell in dam
gerous showers on the streets. The
great cupola surmounting the parlia-
ment building was mashed to pieces and
the surrounding streets strewn with its
debris. The doors of offices and private
residences were burst open by the ter
rife conclusion and heavy articles of
furniture Were overturned. Many of
the people, whom the hour found asleep,
were jerked from their beds and
Dashed Violently Upon tho Floors
OF their apartments. Panic-stricken the
bewildered people in thousands poured
out upon the streets, fearing and fully
expecting to find the city in the throes
OF the great earthquake. Confusion and
terror were everywhere for the time
being Men looked in each others faces
only to find reflected there the fear
which they possessed themselves
Women, some praying aloud, others
hurrying with their children to find
refuge from an unknown danger, and
still others weeping Historically and
aimlessly wringing their hands, were
met at every corner. 1t was soon dis
covered that the fearful shock had been
caused by the
Explosion Of y Powder Magazine
at the fort at Pozzo Pantaleo, four kilt,-
metres from Rome. When the city had
Qu1eted down, and when an inyestiga-
tion had been had, it was found that
enormous damage had been done to the
fort, which was filed with soldiers a
few moments before the explosion oc-
CURED. Fortunately the commandant
heard the warning rumble and at once
ordered the men to vacate the building.
This was promptly done, and terrible
disaster was at once averted. Several
peasants who were in the vicinity of the
magazine were instantly killed and a
number of others severely injured King
Humbert, accompanied by Premier
Rudini and every member of the cabinet
went to the scene of the disaster. Al
military Gordon was established at Pozzo
Pantaleo, and the people were forbidden
to approach toward or pass by the vicin-
ity OF the wrecked fort. %
Five Kilied-Many wounded.
1t is now known that FIVE persons
were killed outright by the explosion.
besides large number being wounded.
Forty small houses in the neighborhood
of the exploded magazine were entirely
ruined. Many more were seriously in
Jured. The appearance of the king in
the streets on his way to Pozzo Pantaleo
excited the utmost enthusiasm among
the people who still thronged the thor
oughfares and exerted decided infiu-
ence In reassuring the timid. When
King Humbert was seen returning from
the wreck conveying some Of the
wounded to the hospital in his own car
rage, he was given an ovation all along
the line of his progress.
The Vatican Damaged.
Two officers dangerously wounded
and 120 civilians have thus far been
taken to the hospitals. Every house
within radius of kilometre from the
point of the explosion is more or less
damaged. 1t has been ascertained that
250 tons of powder was stored in the
exploded magazine. The Vatican was
not spared. The edifice was shaken.
and several of the famous historical
stained glass windows of the old build
ing Were shattered. The windows in
the ancient Raphael chambers, and the
stained glass in the royal staircase, pre-
sented to Pope Plus TX. by the king of
OF Bavaria. were seriously injured. The
interiors of many of the cid churches
and palaces have also suffered.