The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-04-24
LNH AN EARTHQUAKE.
The City of Rome Totters and
the People in a Panic,
THE TERRIBLE EXPLOSION
Which Shook the City to It's sounda
tions and Caused an Immense
Amount Of Damase.-..The
Vatican Did not Escape

RoxE, April 23.-At about 2 o'clocl
this morning a tremendous explosion
shook this city to its foundation, spread
ing terror and dismay on all sides Tn,
people rushed from their homes into thl
streets, houses rocked, pictures fell from
the walls, Thousands Of panes OF glasl
were broken everywhere, crockery wa
shattered, furniture was overturned
chimneys crashed down on the roof
and in some instances topplsd over into
the streets below.
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
Of modern Rome.
All the thoroughfares were Btrewn
with Tricks, stones, splinters and other
debris hurled there by the force OF the
powerful conclusion which had caused
Rome to totter on its foundation. Peo.
pie Of all ages and conditions, were rush.
ing, pale with fesr about the streets try.
ing 70 seek consolation from others who
were as thoroughly terrified as them
selves. In many instances people were
thrown from their beds by the shock
which caused 80 much alarm, and cries
Of terror filed the air as Thousands Of
families rushed out into the streets.
THE LOSS OF LIFE.
The general opinion that prevailed
was that Rome had been visited by an
earthquake shock, and that q second
shock might shake 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
discovered that the immense powder
magazine at Pozze Panatele, four kilO.
meIrts from here, had exploded and
that it had caused enormous damage to
the neighboring fort, which was flled
with soldiers. The report Of the affair
which has reached here adds that hap.
plly the officer In command Of the fort
heard q rumbling sound previous TO the
final explosion, and hastily ordering the
soldiers to leave the fort, he succeeded
in avsrting terrible disaster. AS it
was, several peasants who were in the
vicinity OF the scene Of the explosion
were killed outright and q numbUr Of
othera were more or lees injured.
AS this dispatch is sent, King Hum.
bert and his military staff, accompanied
by the Italian Premier, the Marquis Di
Rudini, and by all the members;o ;of the
Itslian Cabinet, have left this city for
the scene Of the disaster.
SHOOK THE VATICAN.
The shock which caused Rome to
tremble did not spare the Vatican. That
yenerated pile shook with the rest OF
the Roman buildings, and several Of the
famous historical stained glass windows
Of the old buildings were shattered.
The full amount Of damage, and the ex.
act number Of killed aud wounded, is
not yet known.
Another report says that ave people
have been killed in addition 10 the large
number Of wounded, and that forty
small houses have been reduced to ruins.
The magazine contained 250 tons Of pow.
der. The cause Of the explosion is un.
known,
Signor Nicolera, Minister OF the In.
terror, stated in the Chamber Of Deputies
this afternoon that forty.eight persons
were injured at the scene Of the explos.
ion, and that about 200 persons in this
city were slightly hurt. The Minister
Of War said there was EOS tons Of pow.
der in the magazine, but that none OF
the non.eSp!osive haiestite was stored
there. It is surmised that the explosion
resulted from slow combustion Of the
powder.
IATER-sRvERAI LIVES LOST.
II is now learned that several lives
were lost. The rumors that the explos.
ion was Of Anarchist origin are without
foundation. The official report says
that inquiries made on the spot tend TO
chow that the explosion was purely acci-