The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-24
ALL ROME TRENIBLED.
Tremendous Explosion Shakes
the Eternal City.
NOT ONE BUILDING ESCAPED.


rc~v Anil za-Abous O'Clock this morn
ing 4 tremendous explosion shook the CITY 20 its
foundation, spreading terror and dismay on All
sidea People rushed afrighted from tneif
homes into the streets; houses rocAeu III
nictures fell from the walls: Thousands OF panes
Of rIas. were broken: everywhere crockery was
shattered. furniture overturned, chimneys
craahed down upon the roofs, and In some
instances toppled over in the streets below
The cupols OF the house OF parliament, immedi-
ateiy after the explosion. shook violently, ana
then collapsed with . crash which added sui
further to the feeling of terror. The sceisss IN
the streets and in the houses after this fearful
explosion have possibly never before been
eoualed during the history of modern Rome
All the thoroughfares were sfrewn WIKI
bricks, stones, splinters and other debris,
hurled there by the force of the powerful
conclusion. Houses, doors, windows ana
cupboards were burst open; rents and cracks
Appeared In the walls; plaster fell from the cell
ings, and general desoiation prevailed In
MANY instances people were thrown from their
beds by the shock, and cries OF terror filled the
air as thousands of families rushed out into the
street. Parents with their children In their
arms. children leading aged parents. the younger
helping the elder, all made for the streets as II
their only chance OF salvation depended on
reaching the open air. The general opinion was
that Rome was visited by an earthquake shock,
and that second shock might reduce the city
to ruins Many fell on their knees and prayed
aloud. Finally, when something like order was
restored, the real cause of the explosion became
known.
II was discovered that the immense powder
magazine at Pozzi Pantaioe, four kilometers
from here had exploded and that il had caused
enormous damage to the neighboring fort.
which was filed with soldiers. Reports OF the
affair which have reached here say that happily
the officer in command OF the fort heard .
<r~t Sr1nI ayr.ff,z inn
and hastily ordered the soldiers to leave the
fort, and succeeded in avoiding terrible catas-
trophe.
King Humte-t and his military staff, accom-
panied by the Italian premier the Marquis di
Rudiui, aud all OF the members OF the Italian
cabinet, went to the scene OF the disaster.
Around the ruins of the powder magazine and
fort Gordon of troops has been drawn, in order
to keep back the crowd of people who. now that
the cause of the explosion 10 known, have
doeked to Pozzi Pantaloe. All the houses
within q radius of q kilometer OF the scene Of
the explosion are seriously damaged. King
Humbert used his own carriage to convey the
wounded to the hospital.
The races which were to have taken place this
morning were postponed on account of the ex-
plosion.
The Vatican shook with the rest OF the Roman
buildings with the force of the explosion, and
several famous stained glass windows In the
building were shattered full estimate OF the
damage done il not yet known, but il is severe.
The interiors of the old palaces and churches
. are severely injured.
An Official report made in the chamber OF dep
uties this afternoon says seven persons were
killed and forty-eight injured at the scene OF
the explosion, and about 90 persons in the city
slighsiy hurt. There were 265 tons OF powder
in the magazine. The explosion was purely ac-
cidental, and the rumors that it was OF anar-
chistic origin are without foundation.