The Forrest City times., 1906-11-23
BOMB FIRED IN CHURCH
PANIC FOLLOWS EXPLOSION IN ST. PETERS ROME.
DEED WITHOUT PARALLEL
Peruetrator Escapes While Men, Wom en and Children Struggle
 10 Reach Exits.

Rome-Jus; after the last mass had been said in the crowded St. Peters cathedral Sunday in celebration Of the anniversary of the dedication Of the basilica a man lighted the fuse of a bomo which had been placed at the altar of St Petronilla. The ex- plosion occurred as a canon, with up- lifted arm, turned to bless the com municants. Dense clouds of smoke rolled through the cathedral, the crowd rushed panic-stricken for the doors and in the excitement the bomb thrower escaped.
 The outrage is without a parallel in Rome since St Anacietus. who was ordained by Peter himself, erected an oratory in go A. b. on the site Of the present bosciliea, to mark the spot where the remains of St. Peter are buried
 That no one was injured by the ex- plosion or in the panic that followed seems miraculous. As soon as the echoes of the roar had ceased, canon sought, by reassurlng words. to quiet the people. but in vain They fled in all directions. and children screamed, and the men tried to protect their families in the crush.
 The canon at the altar tried to stem the tide of fear He shouted out:
 Do not be afraid; it is nothing; merely the monday gun,
 Mad Rush For Doors
 His words had little effect. They were refuted by the smoke and the pungent smell of powder. and the peo- pie continued their headlong flight. Chairs were overthrown, making the confusion more serious Men and wom- en fled. stumbling in all directions, the screams of children and cries of anguish were heard on all sides. and for few minutes it seemed as if noth- ing could avert grave disaster.
 The vast size of the church how eyer, gave room for the crowd to scat ter, and at the end of few moments the people Were surging towards the doors, excited and nervous, but or derly.
 As soon as the smoke cleared away | hasty examination showed that mo- body had been hurt in the crush and. furthermore, that no one had been wounded by the explosion Calm was gradually restored, and people re- turned to view the extent of the dam age.
 The bomb had been placed under a scaffolding that had been erected 10 facilitate repairs 10 the roof exactly under the celebrated tomb of Clement XIII, by Canoya, which consists of a figure of the pope, 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 Canoya estab- lished his reputation.
 When the first gendarmes reached the spot the scaffoldins was found to be smoldering. but this fire was easily extinguished. The tomb was found to be uninjured, and even the pavement shows scarcely any signs of the ex- plosion.
 An examination of the fragm ents of the bomb leads to the supposition that unless it was manufactured in fhe country and brought to Rome. It is believed that the bomb had a very long fuse in order to enable the crim- inal to gain the plaza before the ex. plosion. It has been impossible to trace him. and no one has any recol. lection of seeing a man who by his movements might have aroused sus. picion.