Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-11-19
LOIncE IS cRcNU Al IkL NM.
Panic Ensuss lmtns he ThronE Which
Filled lhe Ld.hoe
FORTUNATELY NON o.-.lO tY EXPLOSION
High Altar stanas eDesth the Great
Dome Of lie Ihmoh,
CHAIR OF ST. Ps,.n ). NEAR THE sctNt
Priceless Works % architectural Art
and Objects of Reverence 20
Church Are on Every
Hrnd.

ROME, Nov. 1s.--A bomb was exploded in
81. Peters today. The edihce was crowded
and an indcscribabIe see ,of confusion
followed. There were NJ NIes.
As soon as the echoes y Jemendous
roar had ceased canon, n. by re-
assuring worus to quiet the = Nbut in
vain. They fled in all dlrec, -
number Of women tainted. W <b2d
children screamed and tried TO z =
their families In the crush. The oh, -
20 large however. that there was =
room for the crowd 70 scatter and no =
was injured. No trace Of the perpetrato
Of the deed has been found
Since st. Anacletus, who was ordained by
Peter himself. erected an oratory in 90
A D., on the site of the present basilica
to mark the spot where the remains OF St.
Peter are buried, no such dastardly occur
renee Is noted In the annals of the church
Today was the anniversary of the dedi-
cation Of the basilca to St. Peter and It
was beautifully decorated for the occasion.
Holy relics were exposed and large num-
ber OF the faithful attended the services.
Cardinal Rampolla, formerly papal secre-
tary of state, was among those present.
He took part in the service in the choir
chapel. The last mass had just been con-
cluded when the explosion occurred and
only one canon, who had not quite I'M
ished, remained at the altar OF St. Petro-
mella. II was near here where the bomb
was placed. AS the canon turned to bless
the communicates there was a tremendous
roar which echoed through the lofty
arches OF the immense dome like thunder
clap. At the same time dense smoke
spread throughout this portion Of the ba-
silica 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.
Effort to Quiet People.
= He shouted out: do not be afraid; It is
nothing merely the MONDAY gum.
His words had little effect. They we're
refuted by the smoke and the pungent
smell OF powder, and the people continued
their headlong flight Chairs were over
turned making the confusion more serious.
Men andA woman fed. stumbling in all di-
rections; the screams OF children and cries
OF anguish were heard on all sides, and for
a few minutes it seemed as though nothing
could obviate a grave disaster. The vast
size Of the church, however gave room for
the crowd to scatter and at the end of a
few moments the people were surging
toward the doors, excited and nervous, but
orderly.
As soon as the smoke cleared away a
hasty examination showed that nobody had
been hurt IN the crush and furthermore
that no one had been wounded by the ex-
p!osion. Calm was gradually restored and
people returned to view the ex. ut of the
damage.
1t was discovered that the bomb had
been placed under a seafolding erected to
facilitate repairs to the roof exactly over
the celebrated tomb Of Clement XIII, by
Canova, which consists of a figure of the
pope and two lions, and which Is the most
remarkable piece OF sculpture In the bs-
silica. This tomb ranks among the finest
efforts Of modern sculpture and by it's
execution Canova established his reputa-
tion.
when the frst gendarmes reached the
spot the seanolding was found to be smol-
tering hutthis fire was easily extingushed.
The tomb was found TO be uninjured and
luven the pavement shows scarcely any
(signs u tho explosion. An examination
of tHc remains OF the bomb leads to the
suppostioo, unless it was orudely pre-
pared on purpose TO mslead, that Il was
- manufactured in the country 1t is be-
ueved tha5 the bomb had a very long fuse
In ordeg % enable the criminal TO gain
the plazza before the explosion Il has
DCNA lAlloaalDAs 10 NNANE uliiit anu Np huF
has any recollection OF seeing a man, who
~ his movements, might have aroused
suspicion.
Pope at His DevOtions.
The popo was engaged in his regular
noon hour devotions when the bomb went
on. He heard 3 muhied sound which sur
prlsed. but did not alarm him. Mgr. Mis-
ciatelh, sub-prefect Of the apostolic paI
aces, and Mgr. Bisleti, major domo Of th'
Vatican. at once hurriedly entered th'
pontin's chamber. They were so pale tina
tho pope Immediately asked:
What has happened
DO not be alarmed. holy father" wal
tho answer, "A bomb has exploded iu th'
baalics but fortunately theirs are no death
10 deplore and no one has been wounded.
/. , The lDontih asked anSiously II the churcl
had been injured. Upon being treasured
ne fell on hls knees, saying he must i'm
pore mercy for the misguided perpetrato
OF the deed.
Soon after this announcement was mad
70 him lthe pope went TO the throne room
where he admitted 10 private audience MgI
Kennedy, rector OF the American college
who presented to his holiness M. an
Mrs. Louis j. McCloskey OF PHILADELPHIA
ana Mr. Paul s. King OF New York VIII
noticed that the pope was pale and lahore
under some emotion After this reception
the pope pTocseded 10 the hall OF the con
sistory, where he received about 200 per
sons, incmding twenty-five students OF
south American college. 20 whom he dc
livered a short address None OF these PEI
sons kpew ANYTHING about the explosion.
slgnor Masslmi, Italian minister q
finance. was lunching az the Cafe Aragn
when hp heard the news. He tmmediatel
took a cab and drove 70 st. Peter s. wheI
he metla number Of the papal authoritie
including Count Camilo Pecci. a nephe'
OF Leo XII, aud commaRdant OF the Pail
tine guard.
Thoasands View Scene.
The explosion produced no alarm ou
side the basilica, the sound being take
by everybody for the MONDAY gun, bt
III, afternoon The news was known A