The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1906-11-23
BOMB IN CATHEDRAL.
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION IN ST.
PETERS, ROME, ITALY.
eslief in Some Quarters That Anar-
obists Planned to Assassinate Pope
Big Panic in cathedral-As IT Dy
Miracle. All Escape Injury and Great
Structure is Not Damaged.

Rome Nov. 19.-The outrages OF the
d~esperate anarchist band now terror
izing Italy reached a climax SUNDAY
morning in a bomb explosion In ST.
Peters cathedral, at the Vatican Just
at the conclusion of the morning mass
# is a miracle that hundreds were
not trampled to death in lie wlld s'ah-
nede 10 leave the great church lmme-
diately after the explosion. Inc eA
n1oeion made a thunderous report
which echoed and reverbrated IN the
immense auditorium with a deafenlng
vohlme of sound. The church lihme
diately filled with smoke. The nave
wae crowded with worshipers, among
vbom were many women, and an IN
describable panic developed. Men
shouted wildly that the roof was 1aIF
ing and without heed for others rush
cd madly toward the exits. The Ut
most confusion prevailed for many
minutes.
There is reason to believe that a
most carefully planned attempt was
made to assassinate the pope while ne
was at mass.
As soon as the echoes of the ire
mendous roar had ceased, a canen
sought bv reassuring words to quiet
the people, but in vain. They hed IN
all directions, and a number OF wom-
en- tainted. Women and children
screamed and tried to protect their
families in the crush. The church IS
so large, however, that mere was
ample room for the crowd to scatter,
and no one was injured. No trace OF
the perpetrator of the deed has been
found.
Since Saint Anacletus. who was Or
dained by Peter himself, erected an
oratory in 80 A. D., on the site OF the
p~resent basilicia t. 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 the Dedication.
Today was the anniversary of the
: dedication of the basilica to st. Peter
and it was beautifully decorated for
the occasion. Cardinal Rampolla,
formerly papal secretary of state, was
? among those present. He took part
in the services in the choir chapel. The
f last mass had just been concluded
when the explosion occurred, and only
1ne canon, who had not quite finished,
e remained at the altar of st. Peter
+ This altar is at the end of the right
aisle, and it was lea here the bomb
had been placed. AS the anon turned
: to bless the communicates there was
t a tremendous roar, which echoed
: through the lofty arches of the i'm
e mense dome like a thunder clap. Al
the same time a dense smoke spread
. throughout this portion of the basilica
and a strong odor of %gunpowder filled
the air. Confusion and panic at once
e seized the people.
AS soon as the smoke cleared away
a hasty examination showed that no
o body had been hurt in the crush, and
d further more that no one had been
wounded by the explosion. Calm was
gradually restored, and some of the
people returned to view the extent OF
d the damage.
Placed Bomb Under scaffolding.
) 1t was discovered that the bomb had
been placed under a %scaffolding thai
had been erected to facilitate repairs
e to the roof, exactly over the celebrated
tomb of Clement XII, by Canovac
which consists of a figure of the pope
and W lions and which is the mos
k remarkable piece of sculpture in the
n 1asilica. This tomb ranks among the
dnest efforts of modern sculpture, and
by its execution Canovac established
n mis- reputation.
If The tomb was found to be uniniured
md even the pavement shows scarcely
any signs of the explosion. It is be
leved the bomb had a very long fuse
e n order to give the criminal time tc
gain the exit. 1t has been impossible
n 20 trace him inc no one has any recol
Lection of seeing a man who bv his
movements, might have aroused sus
picion.
The pope was engaged in his regular
u noon hour devotions when the bomb
went on. He heard a mufhed sound
which surprised but did not alarm him
Nonsiegnor Miseiatelli, subperfect OF
he apostolic palace. and Monsignor
8isleti, major domo of the vatican. al
once h%urriedly entered the pontif's
'hamber. They were so pale that the
pope Immediately asked, What has
{. ~lappened?"
do n be alarmed. holy father
was the answer "a bomb has ex.
lIoued In the basilica, but fortunately
mere are no deaths to deplore, and no
one has been wounded"
Third Outrage in Four DAYS.
>, THIS bomb explosion makes the third
3 anarchist outrage in Italy in four DAVIS
ne other two being the murder of PRO.
lessor Rossi in Naples Saturday and
! he explosion of a bomb in front ~