The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-02
Ancient Books and Manuscripts Are Destroyed in the Hall
 of Inscriptions
ROMAN OFFICIALS ENTER
 THE HOLY PALACE INVITED 
Plus Displays Great Presence of Mind and Orders the Roman Bremen Summoned-Leo's Library
 Damaged by Water.

Rome, November 1-That portion of the vatican containing the hall of the inscrip- tions, where the Pope gives his audien- ces, and which is adjacent to the famous and precious pinacoteca, or gallery of pie lures, is on fire. The smoke and flames can be seen from a mile distant.
 All the fremen of the city are in att tendance.
 The first lntimation of fire was had when smoke was seen issuing from the apartment of M. Mario, which is located above that of Father Earl, the librarian. who lives over the library. MT. Mario is a celebrated French restorer of ancient manuscripts and illuminated books Up to today he has been engaged in copying work, and his first reproductions have been selected for part of the vaticans exhibit at the St. Louis exhibition. It is supposed that NJ Mario forgot to take proper precautions with his kitchen fire. which probably blazed up and gnited some nearby hangings. General Alarm Given. Thus the fire started and it rapidly as- stunned such proportions that the gem darmes, who were first on the scene gave an immediate general alarm. The entire | palace awoke and there was much excite | ment.
 | The Swiss guards. the papal iremen. gendarmes, priests and domestics all 1 rushed hither and thither in confusion. asking what was the matter, no one knowing where or what the danger was, or what to do. News of the fire was im- mediately conveyed to the pope, who was
 |. evening prayer. He insisted upon going at once to the scene.
 Notwithstanding the fact that he was begged to think first of his own safety. he proceeded to the library He grasped the gravity of the situation at once and ordered that the fremen of Rome be called. These arrived in about ten min utes. The pope withdrew soon as he saw that everything possible was being done to fight the fire.
 Mayor Enters Vatican.
 Information had been sent to the Ital- ian authorities who hurried to St. Peters. They were courteously invited to enter and did so.
 Therefore, for the first time since the fall of the temporal power of the vatican the mayor of Rome, the prefect of the l police and even Signor Ronchetti, the | newly appointed minister of justice, en- | tered the vatican in their capacities. They l gave orders directing the work of com | batting the flames and participated per | sonally in the fight.
 | The entire museum of inscriptions, the | rooms of Father Earl, part of the lb- | rary and the printing houses were en- | tirely flooded with water It is impossible to reach even an ap- proxmate idea of the extent of damage. Many articles were saved, including some ancient and very valuable arms which were recently moved to the library from the Borgia apartment in order to make room for the new residence of the papal secretary of state.
 Many things that escaped the flames were injured by water, especially the precious private library of Pope Leo. which Father Earl has been re- arranging in accordance with the last wish of the late pontiff