Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-04-23
THE VATICAN TOTTERS.
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION IN
ROME THIS MORNING.

-
Two Hundred and Fifty Toms of
Powder MysteriOusly Ignited I'm
AN italian MaRazine-Five Kill
ed and Many wOunded-Great
Damage Done I'm the Holy CITY.
ROME, April 23.-About seven O'Clock
this morning a tremendous explosion
shook this city to it's foundations,
spreading terror and dismay on all sides.
People rushed affrighted from their
homes into the streets, houses rocked
pictures fell from the walls, thousands of
pancs Of glass were broken everywhere,
crockcry shattered, furniture overturned,
chimneys crashed down upon roofs, and
in some instances toppled over into the
streets below.
The cupola Of the houses OF parlia-
mcnt, Immediately after the explosion,
shook violently and then collapsed with
crash which added still further to the
feeling of horror which had spread
through Rome.
IN THE STREETS.
The scenes in the streets and in the
houses after this explosion have never
before been equalled in dramatic effect
during the history OF modern Rome. All
thoroughiarcs are strcwn with bricks.
stones, spinters, and other debris
hurled there by the force of the
powerful c0ncussion which had
caused Rome to tOtter IN its foundations.
People OF all ages and conditions went
rushing pale with fear about the streets,
trying to seek consolation from Others
who were as thoroughly terrified as
themselves. Rents and cracks appeared
in walls, plaster fell from ceilings, and
general dcsoation prevailed In many
instances people were jcrked from their
beds by the shock. Cries Of terror filled
The air as thousands Of families rushed
out into the streets Many left their
homes in their night drcsscs and in other
states OF undrcss. All made for the streets
as if their only chance of safety depended
upon their being able to reach the open
AR.
THE VATICAN SHAKEN.
Hc SHOCK ulu not spare the vatican. |
That vencratcd pile shook with the rest
of the Roman buildings when the force
of the explosion was felt, and several
famous historical stained glass windows
OF the old buildings were shattered. The
windows in the ancient Raphael cham
bcrs and the stained glass in the royal
staircase presented to Pope Plus TX. by
the King OF Bavaria, were also seriously
injured.
The general opinion that prevailed was
that Rome had been visited by an earth
quake shock, and that the second shocl; |
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. 1t was dis
covered that the immense powder maga-
zine at Pozzo Pantaleo about three miles
from here had exploded, and that it had
caused immense damage to the neigh
boring fort, which was filled with sol.
dcrs.
ANBRTBD A DISASTER. |
Reports of the affair which have reach |
cd here add that the officer in command
of the fort heard rumbling sound pre-
vious to the final explosion and hastily
ordering the soldiers to leave the fort, |
succeeded in avcrting terrible disas-
ter. As il was, several peasants in the |
vicinity of the scene Of the explosion were
killed outright, and a number of Others
were more or less injured
Around the ruins of the powder maga- |
zine and Of the fort a Gordon of troops |
have been drawn, in order to keep back
the crowds of people who, now that the
cause of the explosion is known, have
tlocked to the Pazzo 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 investigation
being made into the origin OF the cxplos.
ion has been completed.
Two officers are dangerously wounded
and fully 100 civilians have bcen taken
to the different hospitals, suffering from
wounds or bruises.
THE DAMAGE.
Naturally the full amount of damage
done is not known at present and posi-
bly, may never be known. All accounts
agree that the loss is very severe. The
interiors of many OF thc old palaces and
churches having suffered to greater or
less extent. The exact number of killed
and wounded is also unknown at
present.
Another report says that five people
have been killed in addition to the large
number of wounded already mentioned,
and that forty small houses have been
reduced to ruins by the shock following
the explosion.
The magazine contained two hundred
and fifty tons of powder. The cause of
the explosion is a mystery.
King IIumbert and his military staff,
accompanied by Premier Rudni, and all
the members of the Italian cabinet, left
at once for the scene of the disaster. The
king was heartily cheered whenever his
presence became known to the people
and soldiery He used his own carriage
to convey the wounded people to the
hospital;
The races, which included the Italian
derby, which were to have been run this
afternoon, have been postponed on ac-