New-York tribune., 1891-04-24
ROME SHAKEN BY AN EXPLOSION.
SEVEN LIVES LosT-MANY PERSONS HURT lN
ROME AND AT THE FORT WHEEE

DNSN--@N
Rome, April pa tremendous explosion SHOOK u'i'
city to its foundations at about O'Clock this morn
ing, spreading terror and dsmay on all sdes' lhe
people rushed afrighted from their homes into the
streets houses rocked, pictures fell from Tue ""h
thousands OF panes OF glass were broken, FURNITURE
was overturned, chimneys crashed down upon uie
roofs and in instances toppled over lnto ule
streets The clipola Of the Houses Of Parliament
Immediately after the explosion. shook violently ana
then collapsed with crash The scenes in the streets
and In the houses after the explosion have perhaps
never been equaled in dramatic effect in the history
OF modern Rome. All the thoroughfares were strewh
with bricks, stones, splinters and other wreckaSc
People Of all ages and conditions were rushing pale
with fear, about the streets. In many instances
people had been jered from their beds BY the shock
and cries OF terror filled the air as tnousahdS oi
families rushed out into the streets.
The general Opinion was II at Rome had been visited
by an earthquake shock and that second shock might
reduce the city 10 ins. Many fell upon their Knees
and prayed aloud. Finally, when something like order
had been restored the real cause Of the explosion De-
came known. 1t was discovered that &c immense
powder magazine at Pezzo Psntaeo four kilometres
from here bad exploded, causing enormous damage to
the neghbhng fCt.
King Humbert and his military staff. accompanied
BY the Italian Premier the Marquis d Rudnl, and by
all the members of the Italian Cabinet promptly lett
.hs city for the scene of the disaster.
All the houses within radius Of a kilomeire Of the
Icene of tie explosion arc seriously damaged. Two
officers were dangerously injured, and fully 13O
civilians have been taken to tho different hospitals SUI
ierng from wounds bruises caused by tho explosion
King Humbert who heartily checrcd wheEever
his presence became known to the pOpulace and sol
dlery used his carriage to convey injured people
to the hospital, an action which won him redouDled
applause when it became generally known.
The shock which caused Rome to trcmblc did not
spare the Vatican. Several of its hstO cal stained
glass windows werc shattered. The windows I'm the
ancient Raphael chambers and the stained glass in the
royal staircase, presented 10 Pope Plus TX by The kHS
OF Bavaria, also seriously damaged.
Sienor NicOtcra NnistcC OF the Interior, stated in
the Chamber of Deputies This afternoon that forty clit
pers injured at the scene OF the explosion,
and that about 200 persons in this city were slightly
hurt The Minister of War said that thete was 26j
tons of powder in the magazine but that none OF tho
explosive bacstte, stored there. 1t IS sur
missed that the explosion resulted from slow cOmbus-
ton Of the powder
King IInmbert received an enthusiastic greeting on
visiting the hospital whe,e the injured are being
cared for.
II was learned tonight that lives had been
lost The that the explosion Of Anarchist
origin are without foundation. The official report
saws that inquiries made the spot tend TO show that
the explosion purely accidental.