The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-19
BOMB EXPL0DES
NEAR Al TAR At
St. PETERS
Miscreant Chooses Solemn
Hour of Special Cere-
mony to Carry Out Crime
PANIC ENSUES, BUT
NO ONE rs INJURED
The Pope Hears Report of
Outrage and Bears Calmly
Under a Trying Strain.

ROME, Nov. 1S.-A bomb was ex-
ploded In ST. Peters today. The ed
ifice was crowded and an indescribabIe
scene of confusion followed. There
were no fatalities. As soon as the
echoes of the tremendous roar had
ceased canon sought by rcassuring
words to quiet the people, but in vain.
They fed in all directions andya num-
ber of women tainted. Women and
children screamed and tried to protect
their families In the crush. The church
Is so large, however, that there WINS
ample room for the crowd TO scatter
and no one was injured. No trace of
the perpetrator of the decd has been
found.
Since st. Anencletus. who was or
tardly occurrence is noted in the an
nails of the church.
EXPLOSION DURING MASS
Today was the anniversary of the
dedication of the Basilica to st. Peter.
and 1t was beautifully decorated for
the occasion. Holy relics were exposed
and large number of the faithful ats
tended We services. Cardinal RAM
nolla. formerly Papal Secretary ef
state. was among those present HA,
took part in the service in the choir.
chapel. The last mass had just been
concluded when the explosion occurred.
and only one canon. who had not quite
finished, remained at the altar of ST.
Peter. This altar is al the end of the
right aisle, and 1T was near here the
bomb had been placed AS the canon
turned to bless the communicates there
was a tremendous roar, which echoed
through the lofty arches of the i'm
mense dome like q thunder clap. At
the same time a dense smoke spread
throughout this portion of the Basilica,
and a strong odor of gunpowder filled
the air Confusion and panic at once
seized the people. The canon at the
altar tried to stem the tide of fear. He
shouted out: do not be afraid; it is
nothing. merely the MONDAY gun" His
words had little effect They were re-
futed by the smoke and the pungent
smell of powder, and the people. con
tinued their sheadlong fight.
Chairs were overturned, making the
confusion more serious. Men and
tions; the screams of children and
cries of anguish were heard on all
sides, and for few minutes 1t seemed
as though nothing could obviate a
grave disaster. The vast size of the
church. however, gave room for the
few moments the people were surging
toward the doors, excited and nervous,
but orderly.
EFFECTS OF THE BOMB
AS soon as the smoke cleared away a
hasty examination showed that nobody
had been hurt in the crush. and furth-
ermore, that no one had been wounded
by the explosion. Calm was gradually
restored, and some OF the people re-
turned to view the extent of the dam
age.
1t was discovered that the bomb had
been placed under scaffoIding that
had been erected to facilitate repairs to
the roof, exactly over the celebrated
tomb of Clement XIII by Canova,
which consists of figure of the Pope
and two lions, and which is the most
remarkable piece of sculpture in the
Basilica. This tomb ranks among the
finest efforts of modern sculpture, and
by its execution Canova established his
reputation.
When the gendarmes reached the
spot the scanolding was found to be
smoldering, but this fire was easily
extinguished. The tomb was found to
be uninjured, and even the pavement
showed scarcely any signs of the ex-
plosion. An examination of the remains
of the bomb leads to the supposition,
unless it was crudeiy prepared on pur-
pose to mislead, that it was lnanufac-
tured in the country and brought into
Rome. 1t is believed that the bomb
had a very long fuse in order to enable
the criminal to gain the exit 1t has
been impossible to trace him and no
one has any recollection of seeing a
man who by his movements might have
aroused suspicion.
The Pope was engaged in his regular
noon hour devotions when the bomb
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