The record-union., 1891-04-24
Special to the REcoRD-UNIoN.


ROME, April 23.-About Z o'clock this
morning tremendous explosion shook
the city to its foundations, spreading
terror and dismay on all sides. The peo-
pie rushed affrighted from their homes
into the streets, houses rocked, pictures
fell from the walls, thousands of panes of
glass Were broken everywhere, crockery
was shattered, furniture overturned, and
chimneys crashed down upon the roofs,
and in some instances toppled over in the
streets below. The cupolas on the houses
Of Parliament Immediately after the ex-
plosion shook violently and then col
lapsed with a 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 dur
ing the history of modern Rome. All
the thorOughfares were strewn with
bricks, stones, splinters and other debris
hurled there by the force of the powerful
conclusion.
In the houses the doors, windows and
cupboards were burst open, rents and
cracks appeared in the walls, plaster fell
from ceilings and general desolation pre-
vailed.
In many instances people were thrown
from their beds by the shock, and cries of
families rushed out into the streets
Parents with their children in their arms,
and children leading aged parents, the
younger helping the elders-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 prevailed that
1so1 ITA Il
and that second shock might reduce the
city to ruins. Many fell upon their knees
and prayed aloud.
Finally, when something like order
was restored, the real cause of the explo-
sion became known. 1t was discovered
that the immense powder magazine at
Pozze Pantaleo, four llilometers from
here, had exploded, and that it had
caused enormous damage to neighbor-
ing fort, which was filled with soldiers.
Reports of the affair which have reached
here say that happily the officer in COM
mand of the fort heard a rumbling sound
previous to the final explosion, and
hastily ordered the soldiers to leave the
fort. He succeeded thus in aVerting a
terrible disaster. AS it was, several peas
ants who were III the vicinity of the scene
Of the explosion were killed outright and
number of others were more or less in
jured.
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 of the
Italian Cabinet, left this city for the scene
of the disaster
Around the ruins of the powder maga-
zine and fort Gordon of troops has been
drawn in order to keep back the crowds
of people, who now, that the cause of the
explosion is known, have focked to
Pozze Pantaleo.
All the houses within the radius of
kilometer of the scene of the explosion
are seriously damaged
The exact number of the killed and
wounded is unknown at present.
Two officers are dangerously wounded
and fully l2O civilians have been taken to
the different hospitals, suffering from
wounds or bruises caused by the ex-
plOsion.
King Humbert used his own carriage
to convey the wounded people to the hos
pital.
The races, which were to have been run
this afternoon, are postponed on account
of the explosion.
The Vatican shook with the rest of the
Roman buildings when the force of the
explosion was felt, and several famous
historical Stained-glaSS windows in the
old buildings were shattered. The full
amount of damage done is not known at
present, but the loss was very severe.
The interiors of many old palaces and
churches have suffered to great extent.
Another report says five people were
killed, in addition to the large number of
wounded already mentioned, and that
forty small houses are reduced to ruins
by the explosion.
The magazine contained $50 tons of
powder. The cause Of the explosion is
unknown.
The official report made in the Cham
ber Of Deputies this afternoon says that
seven persons We're killed and forty-eight
injured at the scene Of the explosion, and
about 200 persons in the city slightly
hurt. There We're 265 tons Of powder in
the magazine.
The explosion was purely accidental,
and rumors that it was of Anarchist
origin are without foundation.