New-York tribune., 1902-07-15
THE CAMPANILE FALLS.
HISTORIC BELL TOWER OF ST. MARKS.
VENICE, A HEAP OF RUINS.
ITS COLLAPSE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN
CAUSED BY SEISMIC DISTURBANCES.

ITS COLLAPSE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN
CAUSED BY SEISMIC DISTURBANCES.
Venice July 14.-The Campanile (bell tower)
of st. Marks Church, 9S metres high collapsed
at 10:40 o'clock this morning, and fell with a
great crash into the Piazza.
The Campanile. which entirely detached
from the cathedral, collapsed where it stood
and is now heap OF ruins. The Cathedral and
Palace of the Doges quite safe, but
ner of the royal palace was damaged. Repairs
on the Campanile were to have been begun to-
day. 1t is feared there some loss of life
| The ruins are surrounded by a Gordon of troops
The ruins piled up to a height of one hun
dred feet, and the Piazza di San Marco and the
adjoining squares are covered with debris and
dust. Some damage done to the Sansovino
Loggetta, vestibule. the east side of the
Campane.
The first intlmation of danger was the sud
den appearance yesterday of a longitudinal
crack in the corner of the wall facing the clock
tower, and the breaking of two windows.
concert which had been arranged to occur on
the Piozza yesterday evening stopped by
order OF the Prefect, with the object OF prevent
ing a concourse OF people.
Closer investigation shows that the Campanle
In falling carried away the SansoS mo Iogsetta
and the library of the royal palace. Fortunately,
premonitory signs of the collapse allowed a
partial clearance of the Piazza, and conse-
quently there were no fatalities, but few per-
sons were injured The disaster caused an i'm
mense sensation.
A little before the collapse a noise OF falling
stones within the bell tower warned the shop
keepers. workmen and tourists OF the impending
disaster, and the latter fed for their lives.
crying, The Campane is falling" When the
disaster comprehended Venetians were seen
in the streets bemoaning the destruction of one
of oldest n art the kingdom.
-Four of Sansovino's statues of Venetian mobiles
demolished in the Sansovino Loggetta.
while beautiful example of a Paul Veronese
painting was destroyed in the palace. The wing
Of angel from the top of the bell tower was
thrown down to the front door of the cathedral.
smashing the Bando column. which hurled
thrty-fve feet. just escaping the column sup
porting the south angle OF the cathedral and
thus aYerting more serious disaster
The fall Of the tower produced thick red
dust, which spread like a hanging cloud over the
city. This, with the rumbilng volcanic noise.
startled the inhabitants of the most remote sub
urbs. Thousands of soldiers and police aided in
allaying the panic.
The Deputies of Venice have telGgraphed to
the government at Rome for authorization TO
tablish lottery for the purpose OF raising funds
to rebuild the bell tower.
The Municipal Council has decided to open
preliminary fund of 100000 lire (about 100000
for the rebuilding of the Campanile and the
Sansovino Loggetta. A public subscription will
also be opened for the same purpose
Queen Margherita and Count Won Bulow the
German Imperial Chancellor, have telegraphed
expressions of regret at the ruin of the tower
to the Municipal Council.
Professor Belar, head of the seismic observ-
atory at Laibach, Austria, is of the opinion that
completed the destruction OF the Campanile OF
St Marks. in Venice. which had shown the
effects of the recent disturbances of earth and
in Northern Italy.
Professor Belar says he noticed marked In
clination of the Campanile at Easter.
1t is suggested that the constant dredging at
the entrance to the Grand Canal and at the
island of Giudecca. in order to permit the en-
trance Of larger ships caused the earth to slip,
and that the fall of the Campanile may be fol-
lowed by other collapses
The Campanile OF st. Marks stood opposite the
Cathedral of st. Marks for many centuries. 1t
was founded as far back 9l1. and was completed
in 1891. about S22 feet high, and, like most
Italian Campani 1t was very simple in design.
1t positively bare in comparison with the IA
Campanile at Florence. Against its base
there was a building OF modest dimensions which,
from artistic point of view. could well have been
spared. but II for long time put to practical
by the Nobiii and by the Guards Of the Coun-
Gil. There statues, in bronze of Peace.
Apollo. Mercury and Palias the tower, and the
doors of bronze An inclined plane took the
place of staircase in the interior, until the top
platform by few steps Generations Of tourists
mounted to tie top of the tower to gaze upon one
Of the a fairest vie views In Europe. -,
traveller could get any person to go up with him.
man. with telescope, was on the lookout for fires.
The view embraced the city of Venice, the lagoon,
a part of the Adriatic and the Alps.
In her book THE Queen of the Adriatic" Clara
Erskne Clement says:
From the tower, in the great days of the Vene-
war vessels was seen and signaed In ISIS there
hung. half way up the tower. a wooden cage, in
which prisoners were kept until they starved TO
death In the oden days there four bells
sounded for different purposes: La marangola was
sounded dawn call the laboring classes; la
sestamezzana opened the official bureaus; la trot-
called the councils to duty and the bell del
maleizio tolled out the requiem for those who
to be put death. fifth bell later was brought
from Gambia. and was tolled only Ascension
Day"
Stony PIT. State Park Dedication July 18th. Go
via Hudson River Day Line Str. TO West Point;
there connect with West Shore r. r. for Stony
Pit Fine sail. Grand parade. Speech by Governor
of n. Y.-Advt