Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-11-24
BOMB IN ST. PETERS
Tremendous Explosion Shakes
Rome's Great Cathedral.
ATTEMPT TO DESTROY BlSILICA.
Outrage Caused Panic to Congrega-
tfon Celebrating Special Service at
High Altar of Largest Church
Edifce In the World.

Edifce In the World.
ROME, Nov. ia bomb was ex-
ploded In st. Peters during the serv
ices yesterday The editice was crowd
ed, and an indescribable scene of con-
fusion followed.
AS soon as the echoes of the ire
mendous roar had ceased a canon |
sought by reassuring words to quiet
the people but in vain. They fled in
all directions, and a number of women
tainted. Women and children scream
ed. and men tried to protect their
families in the crush. The church is
so large, however, that there was am
pie room for the crowd to scatter, and
no one was injured No trace of the
perpetrator of the deed has been found.
Since st. Anacletus, who was ordain-
ed by Peter himself, erected an oratory
in 80 A. D., on the site of the present
basilica to mark the spot where the
remains of ST. Peter are buried, no
such dastardly occurrence is noted in
the annals of the church.
The priests were celebrating the an
niversary of the dedication of the
basilica to st. Peter, and it was bounti-
fully decorated for the occasion. Holy
relics were exposed, and a large num-s
Der of the faithful attended the serv-
ices. Cardinal Rampolla, formerly
papal secretary of state, was among
those present He 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, re
manned at the altar OF St Petronila.
This altar is at the end of the right
aisle, and it was near here that 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 immense dome like
thunderclap. AT the same time dense
smoke spread throughout this portion
of the baslica, and a strong odor of
gunpowder filed 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, however,
had little effect. They were refuted
by the smoke and the pungent smell
of powder. and the people continued
their headlong flight.
Chairs were oyerthrown, the panic
making the confusion more serious
Men and women fled, stumbling in all
directions, and the screams of children
and cries of anguish were heard ON
all sides, and for few moments it
seemed as if nothing could obviate a
grave disaster The vast size of the
Z 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 fur
thermore 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 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 first gend-
armes reached the spot the scaffolding
was found to be smouldering, but this
fire was easily extinguished. The tomb
was found to be absolutely uninjured,
and even the pavement shows scarce
ly any signs of the explosion. An ex-
animation of the remains of the bomb
leads ~ the supposition, unless it was
crudely prepared on purpose to mis-
lead, that it was manufactured In the
country and brought into Rome. 1t is
believed that the bomb had a very
long fuse in order to enable the Grim
inal to gain the piazza before the ex-
plosion 1t has been impossible to
trace him.
The pope was engaged in his regu-
lar noon hour devotions when the
bomb went off He heard a muffied
souHu WHICH suTpIlSeu pul ulu not
alarm him. Mgr. Misciatelli, subpre
feet of the apostolic palaces, and Mgr.
Bisleti, majordomo of the Vatican, at
once hurriedly entered the pontiff's
chamber. They were so pale that the
pope Immediately asked, "What ha,
happenedT'
do not be alarmed, holy fathe.,"
was the answer "a bomb has eX-
ploded in the basilica, but fortunate
ly there are no deaths to deplore, and
no one has been wounded"
The pontiff asked anxiously if the
church had been injured Upon being
treasured, he fell on his knees, saying
he must implore mercy for the mis-
guided perpetrator of the deed.
Soon after this annaun cnran1at n 6