The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-04-24
Italy's Holy City Thrown Into a Fer
ment of Terror Yesterday Morning.
Thcroughfares Filled with Debris from DAM
aged Buildings. the Vatican Shaken and
the People Thrown Into Frenzy.
Seven Persons Killed and 12O Injured
by the Blowing Up of Magazine.
Forty Small Houses Reduced to Splinters-
Walls of Old Palaces and Churches Rent
--latest Phases of the African Disputes.
ITALY's CAPITAL SHAKEN.

ITALY'S CAPITAL SHAKEN.
Great Damage Caused by q Terrific Explosion
ofPowder-A Few Minutes OF Terror.
ROME. April 23.-At about o'clock this
morning tremendous explosion shook this
city to Its foundations. spreading terror
and dismay on all sides. The people rushed
from their homes into the streets, houses
rocked, pictures fell from the walls. thou
sands of panes of glass were broken every
where. crockery was shattered, furniture
was overturned, chimneys crashed down
upon the roofs and in some instances top.
pied over into the streets below. Tho
cupola of the House of Parliament, i'm
psediately after the explosion. shook
violently and then collapsed with crash
which added still further to the feeling of
horror which had spread through the
room. The scenes in the streets and in the
houses after this frightful explosion have
possibly never before been equaied in
dramatic effect during the history Of
strewn with bricks. stones, splinters
aud other debris hurled there by
the force of the powerful conclusion which
had caused Rome to totter on its founda-
tions. People of all ages and conditions
were rushing pale with fear about the
streets trying to seek consolation from
others who were as thoroughly terrified as
themselves.
10 the houses doors, windows and cup
boards were burst open. Rents and cracks
appeared in the walls, the plastering fell
from the ceilings, and general desolation
prevailed. In many instances people were
thrown from their beds by the shock.
Cries of terror filled the aIr as thousands Of
families rushed out into the streets. Par
epts with their children in their arms, chill
dren leading aged parents. the younger
helping the elders, 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
was that Rome had been visited by an
earthquake shock, and that a second shock
might reduce the city to ruins. Many fell
upon their knees and prayed aloud.
SCENE OF THE EXPLOSION.
Finally, when something like order had
been restored, the real cause of the explo-
sion was made known. Ii was discovered
Pantaleo, four kilometers from here. had
exploded, and that it had caused enormous
damage to the neighboring fort which was
filled with soldiers. The reports of the af-
fair. which have reached here, add that.
happily, the officer in command of the fort
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 q num-
Der of others were more or less
injured. King Humbert and his military
staff. accompanied by the Italian Premier,
the Marquis Di RudIni, and all the men,
bers of the Italian Cabinet. left the city at
once for the scene OF the disaster. Around
the ruins of the powder magazine and Of
the fort q Gordon of troops was drawn in
order to keep back the crowds of people
who. when the cause of the explosion be-
came known, focked to Pozze Pantaleo,
eager to see the powder-blackened ruins.
The troops. however. had instructions not
to allow any civilians to pass through the
Gordon until the Official Investigation into
the origin of the explosion was completed.
LATER-Further facts are gradually com.
ing to light in regard to the shock which
spread so much terror throughout Rome
and its neighborhood this morning All
the houses within q radius of q kilometre
of the scene of tho explosion are seriously
damaged. Two officers were danger
ously wounded, and nearly 40 civil
ians were taken to the hospitals
suffering from wounds or bruises
caused by the explosion. King Humbert,
who was heartily cheered whenever his
presence became known to the populace
and soldiery. used his own carriage TO con-
vey wounded people to tho hospital. The
races, which included the Italian Derby,
noon, were postponed on account Of the sx-
plOsioD.
The shock which caused Rome TO tremble
did not spare the Vatican. That venerated
pile shook with the rest of the Roman
buildings when the force OF the explosion
was felt. and several of the famous histori-
cal stained glass windows of the old build
ings were shattered. The windows in tho
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. The full amount Of
damage done is not known at present. and
possibly may never be known, but all 40
counts agree that the loss is very severe,
churches having suffered to q greater or
lesser extent.
Seven lives were lost. in addition to the
large number of wounded already men,
toned. Forty small houses were reduced
tc heaps of ruins by the shock following
the explosion. The magazine contained
over $50 tons of powder. The rumors that
the explosion was of Anarchist origin are
without foundation. The official report
SAYS that inquiries made on the spot tend
TO show that the explosion was purely acct
dental
Signor Nicotra, Minister OF the Interior,
stated in the Chamber of Deputies this aft
ernoon that forty-eight persons were in
jured at the scene of the explosion. and
that about two hundred persons in this
, city were slightly hurt The Minister of
War said thai there were 265 tons of pow
der IN the maSazine. but that mono of the
new explosive. balestite, was stored there.
1t is surmised that the explosion resulted
from slow combustion of the powder
Hing Humbert received an ovation on
visiting the hospital where the injured are
being cared for.