The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-11-19
BOMB In
ST. PETERS
Explosion Shakes Rome's
Great Cathedral.
TRIED T0WRECK BASILlCA
Outrage Caused Panic TO Consresa.
ton Celebrating Special
Service.
TRIED T0WRECK BASILlCA

ROME. Nov. ia bomb was ex-
ploded In 81. Peters during the sery.
lees yesterday. The edlfce was crowd.
ed. aud an understandable scene OF con,
fusion followed.
As soon as the echoes OF the tire
mcndous roar had ceased a canon
sought by reassuring words TO quiet
the people but In vain. They fed In
MI directions. and a number OF women
falptcd. Women and children scream
ed. and men tried 10 protect their
families In the crush. The church IN
so large. however. that there was am.
pie room for the crowd TO scatter. end
10 one was Injured. No trace OF the
pcrpetrator OF the deed has been found.
Since ST Anacletus. who was ordaln.
ed 10y Peter himself. erected an oratory
IN 80 4. d., ON I've site OF the present
basllica 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
basllca 10 81. Peter, and Il was bountl.
fully decorated for the occasion. Holy
relics were exposed. and large mum.
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
malned AT the altar OF 81. 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 basilica. and 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, IL is nothing; merely the
MONDAY gun" His words. however,
had little effect They were refuted
10y the smoke and the pungent smell
of powder, and the people continued
their headlong flight.
Chairs were overthrow, the panic
making the confusion more serious.
Men and women fed. stumbling in all
and the screams Of children
and cries of anguish were heard on
all sides. and for a few moments II
seemed as II 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
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 scaffoldng 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
piece of sculpture in the
baslica. This tomb ranks among the
finest efforts Of modern sculpture, and
by Its execution Canoya 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 it was
crudely prepared on purpose to mis-
lead. that it was manufactured In the
and brought into Rome. 1t is
believed that the bomb had very
long fuse In order to enable the Grim
lnal to gain the piazza before the ex-
ploslon. 1t has been impossible to
trace him.
The pope was engaged in his regu-
lar noon hhur devotions whom tho
bomb went off. He heard a muffled
sound which surprised but did 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 has
"Do not be alarmed, holy father"
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
he 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
audience Mgr. Kennedy, rector
Of the American college, who present