The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-04-24
EVEN THE vATicAN
Was Nor Spared Wnen the Eterna
City Was Shaken,

ROME, April 23.-At about O'Clock this
morning tremendous explosion shook this
city to its foundations, spreading terror aud
dlsmay on all sides. The cupola on the
House of Parliament Immediately after the
explosion, shook violently and then collapsed
with crash which added still further to the
feeling Of horror which bal spread through
Rome. The scenes sin the streets and 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 streyn
with bricks. stones, splinters and other
debris hurled there by the force Of the DOW
erful concussion which had caused r me to
t0tter on its foundation. In the houses.
doors, windows and cupboards were burst
open, and the tables, chairs and other pieces
OF furniture were thrown crashing to the
hoor. Rents and cracks appeared in the
walls, the plaster fell from the ceilings and
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 upon their knees and
prayed aloud.
Finally, when something like order had
bsen restored, the real cause of the explo-
sion became known. 1t was discovered that
the immense powder magazine at POzzo Pan
talee, four kilometres from here, had ex-
ploded, and that 1t had caused enormous
damage TO the neighbOring fort. which was
filled with soldiers. The reports of the affair
which have reached here add that, happily,
the ofl1cer In command of the fort heard
rumbllng sound previous to the fiual expl.-
sion, and hastily ordering the soldiers to
leave the fort he succeeded In averting ter
ri6le disaster. As it was, several peasants
who were in the vicinity of the scene of the
explosion were killed outright, and a num-
Der OF others were more or less injured. As
this dispatch Is sent King Humbert and his
military staff, accompanied by the Italian
Premier and the Marquis di Rudini, and by
all the members of the Italian Cabinet, have
left this city for the scene of the disaster.
All the lhouses within q radius Of a kilo-
metre OIL the scene OF the explosion are se-
riously damaged. Two officers were danger
ously wounded and fully 120 civilians have
been taken to the different hospitals. suffer-
ing IrCm wounds or bruises caused by the
explosion: King Humbert, who was hearth
ly cheered whenever his presence became
known to the populace and sOldiery. used
MS own carriage to convey wounded people
to the hospital, fact which won him re-
doubled applause when 1t became known.
Inc races, which included the Italian Der
Dy, which were to have been run this after
plosion.
The shock which caused Rome to tremble
did not spare the Vatican. That venerated
pie shook with the rest Of the Roman build.
ings when the force Of the explosion was felt.
and several of the famous historical stained
glass windows Of the buildings were shat
tered.
Naturally, the full amount Of the damage
done Is not known at present, and, possibly,
may never be known, but all the accounts
agree that the loss Is very severe.
The minister Of the interior stated In the
Chamber Of Deputies this afternoon that As
persons were injured at the scene of the ex-
plosion and about 200 persons In this city
slightly hurt The minister Of war said that
there were 265 tons of powder In the maga-
zine, but more of the new explosive balestte
was stored there.