Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-11-20
Anarchists Attempt 10 Vain TO Mur.
der Pope Plus.
army At MASS TORN WITH TERROR
Receptacle Filled With Powder and
Nails Exploded on Tomb of clemcn MT
xIIl-crlme oauses Horror in Rome
NO Fatalities.
lBy Assncinlcd press. J

(By Associated Press.)
ROME, Nov. IA bomb WAS cx.
plCSlcd in st. Peters Sunday. The
cdifice was crowded and an indie.
scribable scene of confusion followed.
There were no fatalities.
As soon ms he echoes of the
Tremendous roar had ceased. q canon
sought by reassnring words to quiet
The people, but in vain. They fled
In all directions. and number OF
women tainted. Women and children
screamed, and men tried To protect
their families from the crush.
The church is SO large. however
that there was ample room for the
crowd to scatter. and no one was
injured No trace OF the perpctrator
OF the deed has been found.
Since Saint Anncctus, who was or.
dalneI by Peter himself, erected an
0raiory in 30 A. ID. on the site Of the
present basilica to mark the spot
buried, no such dastardly occurrence
is noted In the annals OF the church.
Holy Relics Exposed.
Sunday was the anniversary of the
dedication OF the bas:ica to ST. Peter,
ana il was beautifully decorated for
the occasion. Holy relics were ex-
posed and II large number Of the
faithful attended the services. Car.
dinal Rampolia, formerly Papal Sec
rotary of State. was among those
present. He took part In the service
in the choir chapel.
Tho last mass had Just been conClu.
dcd when the explosion occurred, and
.l,, l,nl 4 ~.
finished. remained at the altar OF
Saint pctronilla. This altar is at the
end of the right aisle. ana 1t was
near hero that the bamb had been
placed, AS the canon turned to bless
the communicates there was a tire.
mcndous roar, which echoed through
the lofty arches of the immense
dome like Il thundcrclap.
Dense Smoke Spreads.
Al the same time n dense smoke
sprend throughout this portion OF
the busilica and II strong odor OF
and panic ut once seized the people,
the tide of fear. He shouted out:
"Do not be AFRAID; it is nothing
>mcrcly the MONDAY gun" His words
however, had little effect. They were
rcfuted by the smoke and the pun.
gent smell of powder, and the people
continued their headlung flight.
Chairs were ovcrthrown, making
the confusion more serious. Men
and women fed, stumbling In all
directions, the screams OF children
and the cries 81 anguish were heard
on all sides. and for II few moments
1t seemed as ii nothing could obviatc
q grave disaster.
The vast size of the church, how.
ever, gave room for the crowd to
seated and at the end Of n few
moments the people were surging
towards the doors, excited and ner
vous, hut orderly.
Calm Gradually Restored.
As soon rs the smoke cleared away
a hasty examination showed that
nobody had ben hurt in the crush,
AMI furthermore, that no one had
been wounded by the explosion. Calm
was gradually restored and people
returned To view the extent OF the
damage.
1t was discovered that the bomb
had been placed under scaffolding
which had been erected to facilitate
repairs To the roof. exactly over the
celebrated tomb OF Clement KILL, by
Canova, which consists of n figure
OF the Pope and two lions, which
is the most remarkable piece of
sculpture in the basilica.
Splendid Work of Art Endangered.
The tomb ranks among the fines.
efforts of modern sculpture. and by
It's execution Canova established his
reputation. When the first gem
darmcs reached the spot the scanola-
Ing was found TO be smouldering, but
tins fire was easily extinguished.
rs The tomb was found to be abso.
lutely uninjured, and even the pave.
ment shows scarcely any signs of the
explosion An examination OF tho
remains OF the bomb leads to the
snpposition, unless it was crudely
prepared Oh purpose TO mislead, thar
and brought into Rome. 1t is be.
lievcd the bomb had very long fuse
iii order to enable the criminal to
gain the piazza before the explosion
II 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 reg
uar noon hour devotions when the
bomb went off. He heard a muffled
sound which surprised him, but did
not alarm him. Monsignor Miscia
tell, subDrefect Of the apostolic pal
aces, and Monsignor Bisleti, major
domo of the Vatican, at once hu!t
riedly entered the pohtiff's chamber
They were so pale that the Pope
Immediately asked, What has hap
pened?"
DO not be alarmed, Holy Father
was the answer. IA bomb has ex
pioded in the basilica, but fortunatol,
there are no deaths to deplore. ant