Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-04-30
ROME SHAKEN UP.

ROME SHAKEN UP.
The Explosion Of . Powder Magazine
Causes Great Destruction of Property
and Frightens tho People Out Of Their
Wits.
ROME. April 2L-At about o'clock
yesterday morning q tremendous explo-
sion 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, thousands
OF panes of glass were broken every
where, crochery was shattered, furni-
ture was overturned, chimneys crashed
down upon the roofs and in some In
stances toppled over into the streets
below. The cupola of the house of par
lament, Immediately after the explo-
sion. 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 equalled in
dramatic effect during the history Of
modern Rome. All the thoroughfares
were strewn with bricks, stones, splint-
ers and other debris, hurled there by the
force of the terrible conclusion which
had caused Rome to totter on its found
ations. People of all ages and condi-
tions were rushing pale with fear about
the streets trying to find consolation
from others who were as terrified as
themselves. In the houses, doors, win
dows and cupboards were burst open,
rents and cracks appeared in the
walls, the plaster fell from the
ceiling and general disorder pre-
vailed. In many instances people
were thrown from their beds by the
shock which caused so much alarm, and
cries of terror filed the air as thou
sands of families rushed out into the
streets Parents with their children in
their arms, children leading aged par
ents, 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
earthq uake 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. It
| was discovered that the immense pow
| der magazine at Pozza Pantaleo, four
| kilometers from here, had exploded
and that it had caused enormous dam
age to the neighboring fort, which was
| filed with soldiers.
The reports of the affair which have
reached here say that happily the Off
Ger in command of the fort heard a
rumbling sound previous to the final
explosion, and hastily ordering the SOL
| diers to leave the fort, he succeeded in
averting a terrible disaster. AS it was,
| several peasants, who were in the vi
| cinity of the scene of the explosion,
were killed outright and a number of
others were more or less injured. King
Hunt bert and his military staff, accom-
panied by the Italian premier, the Mar
| quis di Rudini, and by all the members
| of the Italian cabinet, have left this
| city for the scene of the disaster.
Around the ruins of the powder
| magazine and of the fort Gordon of
| troops had 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, have instructions not
| to allow any civilians to pass through
| the Gordon until the official investiga-
| ton, now being made into the origin of
| the explosion, has been completed.
| All the houses within radius Of a
| lxilometer of the scene of the explosion
are seriously damaged. Two officers
were dangerously wounded and fully
1 100 civilians have been taken to the diff
| ferent hospitals, suffering from wounds
or bruises caused by the explosion.
! King Humbert, who was heartily
cheered when his presence became
known to the populace and soldiery,
used his own carriage to convey
wounded people to the hospital The
races, which included the Italian derby
which were to have been run this after
noon, have been postponed on account
of the explosion.
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 sew
eral of the famous historical stained
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
Another report says that five people
have been killed in addition to the larg'
number of wounded already mentioned
and that forty small houses have beer
reduced to heaps of ruins by the shocl
following the explosion.
The magazine contained $50 tons O
powder. The cause of Re explosion i
not known.
| To Exclude Undesirables.
WASHINGTON, April 24.-Secretary o
; the Treasury Foster is very much inter
ested in the immigration question No
only will he do all in his power to en-
force the existing laws prohibiting TIA
landing of the undesirable classes, bu
he says he will give the matter consid
cradle attention in his report. MI