Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-11-19
BOMB IN ST. PETERS.
Tremendous Explosion Shakes
 Rome's Great Cathedral.
ATTEMPT TO DESTROY BlSILICA.
Outrage Caused Panic to Congrega. tion Celebrating Special Service Ut High Altar of Largest Church
 EdiAce In the World.

High Altar of Largest Church
 Edince In the World. ROME, Nov. 10.-A bomb was ex- ploded in St. Peters during the serv- ices yesterday. The ediflce was crowd ed, and an indescribable scene of con- fusion followed.
 As soon as the echoes of the tre- mendous roar had ceased canon sought by reassuring words to quiet the people, but in vain. They ned in all directions. and 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 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 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 1t was bounti- fully decorated for the occasion. Holy relics were exposed, and large num- 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- mained at the altar of St. Petronila. This altar Is at the end of the right aisle, and 1t was near here that the bomb had been placed.
 As the canon turned to bless the communicants there was tremendous roar which echoed through the lofty arches of the immense dome like a thunderclap. At the same time dense smoke spread throughout this portion 0 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, 1t 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 overthrown, the panic making the confusion more serious. Men and women lied, stumbling In all directions, and the screams of children and cries of anguish were heard on all sides, and for few moments 1t seemed as If nothing could obviate grave disaster. The vast size of the church, however, gave room for the crowd to scatter, and at the end of 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.
 It was discovered that the bomb had been placed under a 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 Hons and which is the most remarkable piece of sculpture in the basillca. This tomb ranks among the finest efforts of modern sculpture, and by it's 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 to the supposition, unless 1t was crudely prepared on purpose to mis- lead, that. 1t was manufactured in the country and brought into Rome. It Is believed that the bomb had . very long fuse in order to enable the crim- inal to gain the piazza before the ex- plosion. It has been impossible to trace him.
 The pope was engaged In his regu- lar noon hour devotions when the bomb went off. He heard c mufied sound which surprised but did not alarm him. Mgr. Misciatelli. subpre- feet of the apostolic palaces. and Mgr. BisIeti. majordomo of the Vatican. at once hurriedly entered the pontifrs chamber. They were 90 pale that the pope immediately asked. What has happenedy
 Do not be alarmed, holy father" was the answer. "A bomb has ex- ploded in the basIlica, but fortunate Iy there gre no deaths to deplore. and no one has been wounded.-
 The pontiff asked anxiously if the church had been injured Upon being treasured. be fell on his knees. saying he must implore mercy for the mis- guided perpetrator of the deed. Soon after this announcement was made to him the pope went to the throne room. where he admitted to private audience Mgr. Kennedy. rector of the American college. who present ed to his holiness Mir. and Mfrs. Louis !. NcCloskey of Philadelphia and Paul s. King of New York. who noticed that