Los Angeles herald., 1891-04-24
The Eternal City Violently
Shaken Up.
A Powder Magazine Exploded
Near the City.
Much Damage Done in the Ancient
Capital by the Shock.
Large Buildings Rocked as by an Earth
quake-Many People Killed
and Wounded.
Associated Press Dispatches.

ROME, April 23.-About z O'Clock this
morning a tremendous explosion shook
the city to its foundations, spreading
terror and dismay on all sides. The
people rushed affrighted from their
homes into the streets, houses rocked,
pictures fell from the walls, thousands
of window panes were broken, every
where crockery was shattered, furniture
overturned, chlmneys crashed down
upon roofs, and in some instances top
pied over into the streets below. The
cupola of the house of parliament imme-
diately after the explosion shook vio-
lently and then collapsed with crash,
which added still further to the feeling
of terror.
The scenes IN the streets and in the
houses after this fearful explosion have
possibly never before been equaled
during the history of modern Rome. All
the thoroughfares were strewn with
bricks, stones, splinters and other debris
hurled theirs by the force of the power
full concussion. In the houses, doors,
windows and cupboards were burst
open, and rents and cracks appeared in
the walls. Plaster fell from the ceilings
and general desolation 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 streets.
Parents with theil children in their
arms, children leading aged parents, all
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 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. 1t was
discovered that an immense powder
magazine at Pozze Panteleo, four kilo-
metres from here, had exploded, and
that it had caused enormous damage to
the neighboring fort, which was filed
with soldiers. Reports of the affair
which have reached here, say that the
officer in command of the fort heard the
rumbling sound previous to the final
explosion, and hastily ordered the SOL
diers 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 ex-
plosion were killed outright, and num-
ber of others more or less injured. AS
this dispatch is being sent, King Hum
bert and his military staff, accompanied
by the Italian premier, Signor Di Ru-
dini, 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 fort
a Gordon of troops has been drawn in
order to keep back the crowds OF people
who, now that the cause OF the explo-
sion is known, have flocked to Pozze
Panteleo.
All the houses within a radius of
kilometre of the scene of the explosion
have been seriously damaged. . The ex-
act number of killed and wounded is un-
known at present. Two officers were
dangerously wounded, and fully one
hundred and twenty persons have been
taken to the hospitals suffering from
wounds or bruises caused by the explo-
sion. King Humbert sent his
carriage to convey the wounded
people. The vatican shook with the
rest of the Roman buildings when the
force of the explosion was felt, and sew
eral famous historical stained glass win
dows of old buildings were shattered
The full amount of damage is not known
at present, but the loss is very severe.
The interiors of many old palaces and
churches have suffered to a great extent
Another report says five people were
killed in addition to the large number of
wounded already mentioned, and that
small houses were reduced to ruins by
the explosion. The magazine contained
1000 tons of powder. The cause of the
explosion is unknown.
Later-The official report made in the
chamber of deputies. this afternoon,
says seven persons were killed and
forty-eight injured at the scene of the
explosion, and about two hundred per-
sons in the city slightly hurt. There
were 265 tons of powder in the maya
zine. The explosion was purely acci-
dental, and the rumors that it was of
anarchist origin, are without foundation.
Pay Your City Taxes.
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