The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-15
Tall Structure that Was the Mecca OF
All Who Visited Venice Now
Heap of Ruins.
THEORIES AS TO THE CAUSE
DUE PROBABLY TO DREDGING IN
THE GRAND CANAL,
Or, rs Prof. BeIar Believes, to Siesmi'
Disturbances-The Tower to BE
RECONSTRUCTED.

VENICE. Italy. July 14.-The Campanile
detached bell tower OF St. Marks Church.
ninety-e!ght metres high. collapsed at 1O:4O
this morning and fell with a great crash
into the piazza. The ruins are piled up
TO a height Of 100 feet and the Piazza Di
San Marco and the adjoining squares are
covered with debris and dust. The San
sovinO Loggetta and the library of the
royal palace were carried away. Pre-
monitory signs of the collapse allowed
partial clearance OF the piazza and there
were no fatalities, but a few persons were
injured.
The first intimation of danger was the
sudden appearance yesterday Of a longi-
tudinal crack in the corner of the wall
facing the clock tower and the breaking of
two windows. A concert which had been
arranged TO be held on the piazza yester-
day evening was stopped by order OF the
project with the object of preventing
cOncOurse of people. 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 all fled for their lives cry
ing: The Campanile is falling! When the
disaster was cOmprehended, VenetianS were
seen I'm the streets bemOaning the destruc-
ttOn OF one OF the oldest art treasures in
the kingdom. Four OF SansOvinOs statues
of Venetian mobiles were demolished in the
SansOvinO loggetta, while a beautiful ex-
ample OF a Paul VerOnese painting was
destroyed in the palace. The wing of an
angel from the top of the bell tower was
thrown down to the front door Of the
cathedral. smashing the "BandO" column,
which was hurled thirty-five feet, just
escaping the column supporting the south
angle OF the cathedral and thus aVerting
q more serious disaster.
The fall Of the tower produced thick
red dust which spread like hanging
cloud over the city. This. with the rum
bling, volcanic noise. startled the inhab-
itants of the most remote suburbs. Thou
col 4 .ots IlI
ing Panics. 1t IS expected subscription
will be raised at a melting of the Council
10 duplicate TIE original tower.
IL IS suggested that the constant dredg-
Ing at the entrance TO the Grand canal and
at the Island Of Giudecca. in order to per-
NIT the entrance OF larger ships, caused the
earth 10 slip and that the fall of the Cam
panile may be followed by other collapses.
The deputies OF Venice have telegraphed
TO the government at Rome for authorize
ton 10 establish lottery for the purpose
of raising funds 10 rebuild the bell tower
The Municipal Council has decided 20 open
a preliminary fund of 500 600 lire (about
100000 for the rebuilding of the Campanile
and the SansOvinO LOggetta. a public sub
scription will also be opened for the same
queen Margherita and Count Won Bue-
low the German imperial chancellor have
wired expressions OF regret at the ruin of
the tower to the Municipal Council.
The CampaniIe stood opposite the church
or cathedral of St. Marks. Ii was founded
III $50 AtrApANA III Ao-jr pAUNlutu WIFE a
marble top in l4l7 and in 1917 was crowned
with the figure OF an angel nearly sixteen
feet high. The loggetta. OF vestibule on
the east side Of the Campanile, was once
a rendezvous OF the Nobilia and afterward
a waiting room for the guards during the
sessions OF the great council. There were
bronze statues OF peace Apollo, Mercury
and Pallas on the coping of the Campanile
and its hne bronze doors were much ad-
mired. AT the top OF the tower fire watch
man with a telescope was continually
stationed.