New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-30
their decision comforting upon The Princess the pro-
Visonal guardianship Of the children.
AMERICAN LEGATION LOOTED
OFFICES or THE MINISTER AND CONSUL
GENERAL AT ROME IN RUINS
MANY or THE ARCHIVES DESTROYED AND
OTHERS FOUND PARTLY BURNED-APPAR-
EMILY NOTHING sTOIEN-No CI.Ew
TO TIE INTRUDERS-THElR PROB
ABLE MOTINI,

TO THE INTEUDERS-TIIElR PROB
ABLE MOTIVE.
Rome, Jan. 29.-Unknown men last night forced
entrance into the American Legation, No. -
Via Nazionale. by breaking the locks. The in
trulers broke open the safe and the desks Of the
Minister and COnsul-General and then set fire
to all the papers in the Offices. Several Of the
archives were completely destroyed and others
partially burned.
The Legation Offices this morning were a scene
of ruin. In the first large room. where visitors
usually wait. only the charred remains Of
table ana set Of drawers were left. In the
smaller room adjoining. used by Vice-Consul
Wood there were no traces Of fire. but all the
papers Of the Vice-Consu were streWn in dis
order about the nool. In the room occupied by
the Consul-General the woodwork and the desks
had been set on fire. and most of the archives
were in ashes. Some partially burned docu-
mcnts were found scattered about The Offices Of
Minister Potter were in a similar condition. ana
1t was evident that fir, had been applied every
where except in the Nice-Consurs room. 1t was
obvious that the fellows had spent several hours
undisturbed in their work Of destruction.
Minister Potter said that valuable docu-
ments had been destroyed. The Minister in
formed Baron Blanc. Minister Of Foreign Affairs.
of the outrage as soon as he himself learned OF II.
and the police were Immediately put 10 WORK Oh
the case. hut yet they haN" found nothing
which would lead L. the Identification of the sup
posed robbers.
Less property was destroyed In the two cham
bers occupied by the Legation than in the rooms
Of the Consulate. where special attempts had
evidently been made II destroy the papers. The
archives of the Offices have been accumulatinS
for zen wears Nobody slept in the Offices.
Neither the Minister nor the Consul-General left
his most valuable papers In his office. The only
article In the Consulate which was leit intact
was a small box containing numismatlc colec-
ton of some value belonging TO the Nlce-Con-
sui.
Both Mr. Potter and the Consul General say
they do not think the object OF the men was
ANYTHING but robbery. They believe the fellows
were only common burglars who after break
ing into the Legation and finding nothing OF
value To reward them for their trouble; SET Tre
to the place ont of spite. The police hOWeIer'
are doubtful OF this explanation of the matter
The belief IL gaining ground that the outrage
was perpetrated not by professional thieVeS' hu'
by some persons interested in DESTROYING the
records of the Office. Nothing. SO lar as a.
present known. was stolen.
The fire in the building was discovered about
midnight by some persons who were lcaNlile a
theatre in which n masked ball was being hcld.
This theatre close to the Legation. ~
the people were coming ont they saw fire through
the windows Of the Legation. ana lmihrdilteE
gave the alarm. Firemen ana policemen Wrir
soon on the spot. and the names were f"''h'E
extnguished. ...
All the newspapers comment on the attempt
to loot and burn the United states Legation.
They agree that Il Is difficult To imagine Will
could have been the inCendiarys motive IN"
"Tribuna' recalls that small bomb recentlE
was found near Minister Potters residence. buI
dsclaims all knowledge of connection between
that discovery and the attempt Of last night.
The police are severely criticised Tor their IacK
of vigilance in the neghborhood OF the Re-
CATION. The press take advantage OF the Tr-
casion 10 make exceedingly friendly remarks
concerning the Legation and the American MIL
listers who have occupied ~.