Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-04-24
ROME IS ROCKED.
AND TRsxBLES 70 BER EOUSDl ION BY A
TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION
OF Over Two Hundred Ard Fihy Tons Of PoxtG.
Many Houses Are Wrecked, aad Even he
Vatican Is Shakea-A Srmbsr of Psnous
Killed ald Many Wounded.

h'hhf hPIi ~3.-Al ABOUT seven
o'clock this morning a tremendous ca
ploslOn shook this city 70 its founda.
tions, spreading terror Oh all sides.
The people rushed from their homes
into the streets, houses rocked, picture.
fell from the walls. thousands Of pane,
OF glass were broken, crockery WAS shat
tered. furniture overturned. chimneys
crashed down on the roofs, and IN some
instances toppled over into the streets.
The cupola OF the House OF Parlia-
ment. Immediately after the explosion
shook violently and then collapsed with
a crash which added still further 10 the
feeling OF horror which had spread
throughout Rome.
TIE scenes In the streets and in the
houses after this fearful explosion have
possibly never before been equalled ln
dramatic effect during the history of
modern Rome. All the thoroughfares
were strewn with bricks. stones. tim
bers and other debris hurled there by
the force OF the powerful conclusion
which had caused Rome 10 totter on it,
foundations. 10 the houses. doors.
windows aud cupboards were burst
open. Rents and cracks appeared 'n
the walls, plaster fell from the ceilings.
and general desolation prevailed. IN
many instances people were thrown
from their beds by the shock. and cries
Of terror filled the air a. thousands ~
families rushed out into the streets
Parents with their children in their
arms. children leading aged parents. the
younger helping the elders. all made for
places Of safety.
The general opinion that prevailed
was that Rome had been visited by an
earthquake shock. aud that a second
shock might reduce the city 90 ruins
Many fell upon their knees aud prayed
aloud. Finally, when something like
order had been restored, the cause of
the explosion became known. IL was
discovered that the immense powder
magazine al Polze Pautaleo. four kilo-
metres from here. had exploded. aud
that IL had caused enormous damage to
the neighboring fort, which was filled
with soldiers. The reports Of the AZ
fair which have reached here add that
happily the officer In command OF the
fort heard Il rumbling sound previous to
the final explosion, and hastily ordering
the soldiers to leave the fort. he sue
ceeded In avertlug terrible disaster
As II was, several peasants, who were
In the vicinity Of the scene Of the eN-
plosion, Were killed outright. aud
number OF others were more or less iu-
jured.
King Humbert aud his military stan.
accompanied by the Italian Premier.
the Marquis di Rudini. and an the mcm-
bers Of the Italian Cabinet. left the city
for the scene OF the disaster. Around
the ruins Of the powder magazine aud
the fort a Gordon Of troops has been
drawn, 10 order 10 keep back the crowds
of people, who, now that the cause Of
explosion is known, have 1Ocked tO
PoZze PantaleO, eager 10 see the ruins.
The troops, however, have instructions
not TO allow any civilians 10 pass
through the Gordon until the Official Joe
vestigation, now being made into the
origin OF the explosion. has been com
pleted.
Further facts are gradually coming
TO light In regard To the shock which
spread So much terror throughout
Rome aud its neighborhood this morn.
ing. All the houses within the radius
Of a kilometre OF the scene Of the GA
plosion are seriously damaged Two
officers were dangerously injured aud
fully 800 civilians have been taken 20
the different hospitals. suffering from
Injuries caused by the explosion King
Humbert, who was heartily checred
whenever his presence became known
to the populace aud soIdicry, gave hIs
own carriage to convey wounded people
to the hospital.
The shock which caused Rome tu
tremble did not spare the Vatican. That
yenerated pile shoOk with the rest OF
the Roman buildings when the force 90
the explosion was felt. and several of
the famous historical stained gla-. viii.
dows Of the old bIllding. were shat
tered. The window. Boo The ancient
Raphael chamber, aud the stained glass
In the royal staircase. presented
TO Pope Plus ~. Boy the King ~
Bavaria. were also seriously ln-
iured. The fuIl amount of damage i.
not known az present but ali accounts
agree that the loss Us serious to many oi
the old palaces aud churches. The ca-
act number of killed aud wounded I-
also unknown at present
Another report says that five people
have been killed, in addition t0 tho large
number Of wounded already mentioned.
and that forty small houses have been
reduced 10 heap, oi ruins boy the shock
following the explosion. The magazine
contained 250 tons Of powder
Signor NicOlcra, Minister of tse IT,
terror. stated Ia the Chamber of Depu-
ties this afternoon that forty-oighty
persons were injured az the -ccle OF thr
explosion, and that about two hundred
persons In this city were slightly hurt.
The Minister Of War said there were
two hundred and siXty-iiye tons OF pow
der In the magazine but that none ol
the non-explosiye balestite was stored
there. II j. surmsed that the explosion
resulted from slow combustion Of the
powder.
II Is now learned that several lives
were lost. The rumors that the explo,-
ion was OF Anarchist origin are without
foundation. The Official report says
that inquiries made on spot tend tO show
that the explosion was purely accidental