Woodruff County news. [volume] (McCrory, Ark.) 1901-1910, 1906-11-22
A CRUDE BOMB
EXPLODED IN ST. PETERS At
ROME NOVEMBER 1s.
Edifice Was Crowded and There Was
Much Fright, But No One
Was Injured.

st. Peters November IS. The edifice
was crowded and an indescribable
scene of confusion ensued. There
were no fatalities. AS soon as the
echoes Of the tremendous roar had
ceased, a canon sought by reassuring
words to quiet the people, but in
vain. They fed in all directions and
a number of women tainted. Women
and children screamed and men tried
to protect their families in 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 perpetrator of the
deed has been found.
Since Saint Anacletus, who was or
dained 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 act has ever
been perpetrated.
Holy relics were exposed and
large number of the faithful attend
ed the service 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 con-
cluded when the explosion occurred,
and only one canon, who had not
quite finished, remained at the altar
of st. Petroni.
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 commune
cants there was a tremendous roar,
which echoed through the lofty arch
es of the immense dome like thun-
der clap. Smoke spread through this
portion of the basilica and the 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. 1t is nothing
merely the MONDAY gun"
His words, however, had little eff
feet. They were refuted by the smoke
and the smell of powder, and the PEG
pie continued their headlong flight.
Chairs were overthrown, making the
confusion more serious. Men and wo-
men fed, stumbling in all directions.
The screams of children and cries OF
anguish were heard on all sides, and
for a few minutes it seemed as If
nothing could obviate a grave disas-
ter.
AS soon as the smoke cleared away
a hasty examination showed that no.
body had been hurt in the crush and
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 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 a figure OF
the pope and two lions, and which
was the most remarkable piece OF
sculpture in the basilica.
When the first gendarmes reached
be smouldering, but this fire was cas-
lily extinguished.
The tomb was found to be abso-
lutely uninjured, and even the pave
ments show scarcely any sign of the
explosion
An examination of the remains of
the bomb leads to the supposition
~, 1o1y ON,
purpose to mislead them, it was man
ufactured in the country and brought
into Rome. 1t is said that the bomb
had very long fuse in order to en-
able the criminal to gain the piazza
before the explosion. 1t has been
impossible to trace him, and no one
has any recollection of man who.
by his movements, might have aroused
suspicion.
The pope was engaged in his reg
ular noon-hour devotions when the
bomb went off, He heard a muffled
sound which surprised him but did
not alarm him. Morsignor Misciatel-
Ii, sub-prefect of the apostolic
| palaces, and Monsignor Bisleti, major
dOmO OF the vatican, at once HulTlSu-
| ly entered the pontif's chamber. They
were SO pale that the pope immediate
| ~ asked: What has happened?"
DO not be alarmed, Holy Father
was the answer, "a bomb has exploded
in the basilica. but fortunately there
are no deaths to deplore, and no one
| has been wounded"
The pontiff asked anxiously if the
church had been injured. On being
| treasured he fell on his knees, say
ing he must implore mercy for the
| misguided perpetrator OF the deed.