Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-11-23
BOMB OUTRAGE IN
ST. PETERS, FAILS.
None Injured in Panic During Religious
Feast in Rome's Great
Church


Feast in Rome's Great
Church
NAPLES. Nov 19.-WhiIe the Duke
of Aosta was distributing prizes to sol
diers who distinguished themselves in the
relief work during the eruption Of Mount
Vesuvius in April, Nicola Fiore, known
us an anarchist, threw a package Of
antimilitary newspapers at the regi-
mental standard He then shouted in
suits against the army In general, and
was Immediately arrested.
Bomb Outrage Fails.
ROME, Nov ia bomb, apparently
meant for the Pope, exploded near the
high altar over the tomb Of St Peter,
during high mass in st. Peters church
at noon Sunday. The altar is above the
site OF the oratory erected by st. Ana
rletus to mark the place where the NOR
tai remains Of the Apostle Peter We're
buried
Plus, though expected, wa not present.
No trace of the perpetratOr of the crime
has been found. Enormous crowds,
gathered by the rumor that the Pope
was to pray at the shrine of st. Peter,
10 whose honor special festival was held,
thronged the basilica. None was seri-
busly injured, despite the terror which
reigned.
Pope Prays for Assailant.
When the Pope was notified, he knelt
and began to pray for the misguided
man" who had pla ced the bomb. Every
church iii Rome has been ordered to
hold three days service of prayer, in
expiation Of the insult to religion.
This explosion makes the third Anarch-
list outrage i'll Italy during the past four
days
Every piece of the bomb that could be
found was gathered up by the police and
carefully examined. The bomb evidently
consisted of n large tin box bound tight
iy together with wire of two sizes. 1t
must have contained over two pounds
Of gunpOwder and three pounds of nails
The nails were of three sizes, some seven
inches long and so heavy that the force
of the explosion threw them but a short
distance. The nails were enveloped in
newspaper dated November IS and II,
proving that the bomb was prepared re-
Gently.
Since Saint Anacletus, who was or
dained by st. Peter himself, erected an
ora tory in 80 A. ID. 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.
Anniversary of Dedication.
Yesterday was the anniversary of the
dedication of the baSilica to st. Peter,
and it was beautifully decorated for the
occasion. Holy relics were exposed, and
large number of the faithful attended
the services. Cardinal Rampola, 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 finished,
it,nl ott hf ltar Of
How a disaster was averted is uneX-
planned. Many say it was a miracle.
As soon as the smoke cleared away Il
hasty examination showed that nobody
had been hurt in the crush and, further
more, that no one had been wounded by
the explosion. Calm was gradually re
stored, and people returned to view the
extent of the damage.
Tomb Found Uninjured.
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 Kill, 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 its execution Canova established his
reputation.
When the first gendarmes reached the
spot the scaffolding was found to be
Hmoldering, but this fire was easily ex-
dnguished. The tomb was found to be
absolutely uninjured and even the pave
ment shows scarcely any signs of the ex-
plosion.
The Pope was engaged in his regular
noon hour devotions when the bomb
went off. He heard muff1ed sound.
which surprised but did not alarm him,
Monsignore Misciatell, subprefect of
the apostolic palaces, and Monsignore
Bisleti, majordomo of the Vatican. at
once hurriedly entered the pontiff's
chamber. They were so pale that the
Pope immediately asked What has
happened?"
No Lasting Excitement.
"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. Upon being
reassured 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. He admitted to private audience
Mgr. Kennedy, rector of the American
college, who presented to his holiness
Mr.. and Mrs. Louis j. McCloskey of
Philadelphia and Paul S. King of New
York. All of them noticed that the
Pope was pale and labored under much
emotion.
After this reception the Pope pro
ceeded to the hall of the cOnsistory.
where he received about 200 persons, in
GLIDING twenty-five students of South
American college. to whom he delivered a
short address None of these persons
knew anything of the explosion.