The Savannah morning news., 1903-11-02
VATICAN ON FIRE
FIREMEN OF ROME CALLED ON TO
EXTINGUISH FLAMES.
WERE FINALLY CHECKED.
ALARM CAUSED GREAT CONFUSION
IN THE VATICAN.

The Pope Was One of the Spectators
mt the Ftre-He Remained UntH
the Arrangements to Fight IL
Had Been COmpIeted-Fire Was In
That Portion of the Vatican In
which the Pope Gives His Au-
dtences-A Sensation in Rome.
Rome, Nov. 1.-Fire broke out at $3.50
o'clock this evening in that portion Of
the Vatican containing the Hall of In
scriptions, where the Pope gives his au-
diences and which is adjacent to the
famous Pnacoteca, or Gallery of Pict-
ures
The alarm caused much confuse and
excitement in the Vatican. Strenuous
efforts were made to control the flames,
and the firemen of Rome were called to
lend their help.
At 11:15 o'clock the fire was under
control No lives were lost. No idea
of the damage can yet be obtained.
The Pope came to the scene in person
and remained until the ARRANGEMENTS
to fight the fire were completed.
The fire caused a greater sensation In
Rome than any other event since the
death of Pope Leo. Fires in Rome are
exceptional, because of the heavy stone
and brick construction of the buildings.
The Start of the Fire.
The first intimation of the fire was
had when the smoke was seen issu-
ing from the apartment of M. Marie,
which is located above that of Father
Ehrle. the librarian, who lives over
the library itself. M. Marie is a cele-
brated French restorer of ancient
manuscripts and Illuminated books; he
ls at present engaged in copying
work. and his first reproductions have
been selected for part of the Vatican's
exhibit at the st. Louis exhibition.
1t is supposed M. Marie forgot to
take proper precautions with his kitch-
en- fire, which probably blazed up and
ignited some near by hangings. Thus
the fire started, and it rapidly as
sumed such proportions that the
| gendarmes, who were the first on the
| scene. gave an immediate general
alarm. The entire palace awoke and
there was much alarm. The Swiss
Guards, the Papal gendarmes, firemen.
priests and domestics, all rushed hither
and thither in entire, confusion, asking
what was the matter, no one knowing
where or what the danger was or
what to do.
Information Of the fire was imme-
diately conveyed to the Pope, who was
found kneeling in his chapel for his
usual evening prayer. He insisted up
on going at once to the scene. Not
withstanding the fact that he was
begged to think first of his own safety.
he proceeded to the library. He grasp
ed the gravity of the situation at
once and ordered that the firemen Of
Rome be called. They arrived in about
ten minutes.
Temporal Officers Entered.
Information had been sent to the
Italian authorities, who hurried to st.
Peters. They were courteously invit-
ed to enter, and did so. Therefore, for
the first time since the fall of the tenn
poral power of the Vatican, the Mayor
of Rome, the project, police officials
and even Signor Ronchetti, the newly
appointed Minister of Justice, entered
the Vatican in their official capacities.
They gave orders directing the work
Of combating the flames and particle
pated personally in the fight.
The entire Museum of Inscriptions.
the rooms of Father Ehrle, part of the
library and the printing houses were
entirely flooded with water. 1t is inn
possible to reach any idea of the dam
age. Many articles were saved, in
Guiding some ancient and very valuable
arms, which were recently removed 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, especial
ly the precious private library of Pope
Leo, which Father Ehrle had been re-
arranging in accordance with the last
wish of the late Pontiff.