The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-11-19
Explosion at the Altar Du- ring Celebration of Aa- niysrsary of Dedica-
 tion of BasiIica.
PEOPLE FLEE IN TERROR
NUMBER OF WOMEN FAINT BUT
 NO ONE IS KILLED,

No Trace of the Perpetrator of the
 Deed Found-Since St. AnncIetus,
 Who Was Ordained by Peter Himeslf,
 Erected an Oratory in 90 A. ID. to
 Mark the Spot Where the Remains
 of the Disciple Are Buried, No Such
 DastardIy Occurrence is Noted in the
 Annals of the Church-ROme in n
 Ferment Over Anarchist Outrages.
 Rome, Nov. 1S-A bomb was explod- ed in St. Peters to-day. The edifice 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 canon sought by reassuring words to quiet the. people, but in vain. They fled in all directions and number of women fainted. Women and children scream ed and men tried to protect their fam flies 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 per petrator of the deed has been found.
 Since Saint Anacletus, who was or dained by Peter himself, erected an or atory in 90 A. D. on the site of the pres ent basilica, to mark the spot where e iad t,n such dastardly occurrence is noted in the annals of the church,
 To-day was the anniversary of the dedication of the basilica to St. Peter, and 1t was beautifully decorated for the occasion. Holy relics were exposed and large number of the faithful attended the services. Cardinal Rampolla, for merly 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 finiashed, remained at the altar of St Petronilla. 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 a tremendous roar, which echoed through the lofty arches of the immense dome like thunderclap. At the same time a dense smoke spread throughout this portion of the basilica and strong odor of gunpowder filled the air. Con- fusion 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, how ever, had little effect. They were re- fitted by the smoke and the pungent smell of powder, and the people contin- ued their headlong fright. Chairs were overthrown, making the confusion more serious. Men and women fled, stum- bling in all directions, and the screams of children and cries of anguish were heard on all sides, and for a few mo- ments it seemed as if 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 a hasty examination showed that nobody had been hurt in the crush, and, fur +hernoore. that no one had been wound ed by the explosion. Calm was gradu- ally restored, and people returned to view the extent of the damage.
 Ii was discovered that the bomb had been nlaced 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 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 it's execution Canova established his reputation.
 When the first gendarmes reached the spot the scaffolding was found to De smouldering, but this fire was easily extinguished. The tomb was found to be absolutely uninjured, and even the pavement shows scarcely any signs of the explosion.
 An examination of the remains of the bomb leads to the supposition, unless II was erudely prepared on purpose to mislead, that it was manufactured in the country and brought to Rome. It is believed that the bomb had very long fuse in order to enable the crimi- nal to gain the piazza before the ex- plosion. It has been impossible to trace him, and no one has any recollec- tion of seeing a man who, by his movements, might have aroused Fus- picion.
 The pope was engaged in his regular noon hour devotions when the bomb went off He heard a muffled sound which surprised but did not alarm him Monsignor Misciatelli, sub-prefect of the apostolic palaces, and MonsignoI