Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-02-05
Venerable Queen Of Adriatic in
Danger Of Collapse.
AGE AND NEGLECT MENACE
Fall Of Campanile. With Danger Of Col
lapse OF Church of San Marco, Has
Caused Alarm Among Authorities.
Active Measures.

One by one the ancient buildings Of
Venice, Queen OF the Adriatic. built
lpon All archipelago composed OF many
small islands. are falling into decay,
he latest to give indications OF posi-
sible collapse being the ancient struct-
ire OF the BEAUTIFUL bluc-domed church
3f San Marco. which was venerable
even when the republic on the Adriatic
was i'll the hcyday Of It's power
As will be remembered. not long ago
Tie majestic ana famous campanily of
st. Marks fell. crumblins to dust
The unexpected fall CT the latter
seems to have been blessing in dis
;yulsc. as it called 10 tho attention of
1utlioritiGs in Venice the crumbins
condition Of many Of its ancient build
'nSs. and thar in orl2r to preserve tho
1cautE Of Venice. immediate attention
must be given to strengthening the
foundations aud Other parts OF The ven
.rahlc structures. which have stood for
centuries, the admiration and study OF
he people of the world.
The Eo@rs Palace mas already
come in Tor its sharr of attention. and
avery reasonable hope is given out that
I Will survive to delight the eyes Of
many generations Of ..isiturS
So bad is the condition of the vaults
u ST. Marks. called the Paradise and
Apocalypse. that their complete and
icinitc restoration is absolutely neccs-
ary. 1t is considered miracle that
hoy maintain today their equilibrium
In addition to its unstable foun.la-
ions. its great age ana it's long years
IT neglect. Venice has also suffered
from repeated shocks Of earthquake
The old foundations We're made of Il
mortar OF sand and line anu the con
ln,al oozng Of water into them has
-tisintcgrated this plaster. Much Of
he evil which has fallen upon Venice
S traccablc to the shocks of earth
luale. but not a little may also be laid
1t the door of neglect.
The reign Of neglect, however, is
Tow over, as recently very careful eX-
limitations OF all the historic buildings
still standing have been made by Prof
Nanfredo Manfredi, an eminent archi-
>ect; Si=nor Luigi Marangoni, an en-
slneer and Commentator Boni, who is
'ooked upon. as the greatest living au-
thority on Venice
The report Of Prof Manfredi and
Sisnor Maransoni. recently submitted.
gave some alarming information about
the condition Of ST. Marks The great
est danger to this basilica is the foun-
1atlons, which have been constantly
giving way in divers directions. All
the walls show such cracking and
weakening that it leads to the conclu-
sion that under the magnificent dress
II marble and mosaic is concealed the
most alarming decrcpitude
For some time past the government
mas allowed $4,000 a year for keeping
st. Mark III repair: all Of this has not
oeen used, SO that there is a consider
eble sum OF money in hand toward the
p3o.ooo Immediately needed to restore
anu preserve the ancient structure.
Under the grand old bascilica of st.
Marks lie buried the remains OF the
llon-hearted saint in whose honor the
edlf1cc was raised. 1t is referred to as
the loadstOnc Of the Place or PiaZzi Of
St. Mark S. the only open space in the
;lty designated as a piaZzi The rest
are callel merely campi or fields.
The praises Of St. Marks have been
written by Husk!n. whose enthusiasm
IS shown IN his rush Of words which
tllmDlc over one another in their
aaS'c TO express his socthin. thought; i
oy TaInc. who 'iken@d RI. honestly but
without novelty TO "a diamond in a
brilliant setting. ana by countless
others
he treasures III St Marks itself
would require a Very considerable ca:
a1oSne merely to suggest their variety
ind value. Begun in the year $50 the
hfs' church was destroyed by fire in
vt. subsequently it was rebuilt an,
nc building was ccnsccratcd in los.
Durlns its building every vessel that
sailed 10 the East was Obliged TO brir.
contribution for St Marks. With;
1t are more than 800 pillars Of rare
oriental marbles and some Of the
1incst byzantine mOs:lics
Within the, baptistry he mass Of
granite which forms the altar is said
to be the stone on which Christ stool
when he preached to the people OF
Tyre. The altar screen dates back to
lIta. when il was brought from Con.
stantlnop!e. The high altar with its
bronze gates and marble columns. once
adorned the Church OF ST. Sophia i'll
Constantinoplc.
There Will also be found in ST.
Marks the famous picture Of the Nir.
gin believed to have been painted by
ST. Luke
Prof. Edward Sucss. the well known
Austrian scolosist, declares that il is
surprising that the ground upon which,
venice is built. has supported for SO
many centuries the enormous weigh,
or buildings upon it. The foundations
are built upon pics. which in the
course or time become soft Gases arc
generated from vegetable substances.
ai'u Wlen these escape the ground
SINKS and serious subsidences occur
Locking toward the restoration Com
mendator Bcni recommends the re,
I'oyal OF the moscajcs and marble from
,ns!uc the bascilica OF ST Marks Ca.
thedral lie says: Ancient buildings
must DC treated like nvaIls They