Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-11-19
BOMB N ST. PETERS
Anarchists Attempt to Wreck
Notable Edifice While Crowd
ed With Worshipers
NONE INJURED, DAMAGE SLIGHT
Deed Believed to Be An Attempt to
Show Diseleasure With tho Public
and Reision-Third Anarchist Out
rage in Italy in Four Days-A Panic
Follows Explosion.

rage in Italy in Four Days-A Panic
Follows Explosion.
Rome, Nov. ia bomb was explod-
ed In st. Peters Sunday. The edif1ce
was crowded and an indescribable
scene Of confusion followed. There
were no fatalities. AS soon as the
echoes of the tremendous roar had
ceased, a priest sought by reassuring
word to quiet the people. but in vain.
They fed in all directions, and a num-
Der Of women tainted. The church is
no large, however, that there was ample
room for the crowd to scatter NO
trace Of the perpretrator of the deed
has been found.
Since st. Anacletus, who was ordain-
ed by st. Peter himself, erected an ora
tory in 10, 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. Sunday was
the anniversary of the dedication of
the basilica to st. Peter, and 1t Was
beautifully decorated. Holy relics We're
exposed and a large number attended
the services.
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.
Petronilla- 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 thru the lofty arches of
the immense dome like q thunder clap.
Confusion and panic seized the people.
The canon tried to stem the tide of
fear. He shouted:
do not be afraid; it's nothing.
Merely the MONDAY gun"
His words however, has little effect.
They were refuted by the smoke and
the, smell and powder. And for a few
moments it seemed as if nothing could
prevent grave disaster. The vast
size Of the church gave room for the
crowd to scatter, and soon the people
were surging toward the doors, ex-
cited and nervous, but orderly.
AS soon as the smoke cleared away,
hasty examination showed that no.
body had been hurt. It was discov-
cred that the bomb had been placed
under scaffolding which had been
erected to facilitate repairs to the roof
over the celebrs ted tomb OF Clement
XIII, lin the basilica. The scafeolding
was found to be slnouldering, but this
fire was easily extinguished. The tomb
was uninjured and even the pavement
shows scarcely any signs of the e0plo-
sion.
It is believed that the bomb had a
long fuse to enable the criminal to gain
the street before the explosion. It is
impossible to trace him.
The, pope was engaged In his regu-
lar noon hour devotions when the
bomb went off. He asked anxiously If
the church had been injured. Upon
being treasured, he fell upon his knees
crying that he must implore mercy for
the misguided.
The explosion produced no alarm
outside the basilica, the sound being
taken by everybody for the MONDAY
gun, but by afternoon the affair was
known, and stream of persons vis-
tied the church.
Every piece Of the bomb that could
be found was carefully examined. The
bomb evidently consisted Of large tin
box bound tightly with wire. It must
have contained two pounds Of gun
powder and three pounds Of nails. The
nails were of three sizes, some seven
inches long and SO heavy that the ex-
plosion threw them but short dis
lance. The nails were wrapped in
newspapers dater November 16 and II,
proving that the bomb was prepared
either Saturday or yesterday
The rumor having spread abroad
that the pope intended to visit st.
Peters to pray before the tomb where
the outrage was committed drew an
exceptionally large crowd to the bisil-
lea. This rumor was unfounded, for
only Cardinal Rampolla entered with
the procession. a. thfee days service
OF prayer will be celebrated in all the
churches in expiation Of this offense to
religion.
This bomb explosion makes the third
anarchist outrage in Italy in four days,
the other two being the murder of
Professor Rossi in Naples Saturday,
and the explosion of a bomb in front
of the Cafe Ragno in this city, Mo-
vember IA.
st. Peters is the greatest basilica In
christendom. It took $50 years in the
building and stands today a result of
efforts of forty-three popes, and the
genius Of Michael Angelo, Bramante
and Rafael. The commission OF such
an outrage in SUCH a place has called
forth unlimited condemnation.
The theory is held that the attempt
was not directed against the papacy,
but was rather a challenge to society
in general by attacking religion, the
most sacred institution Of the people.
MORE PLOTTING IN CUBA.
Evidence Of Scheme to Compel Per-
manent Occupation.