Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-11-24
TERRIBLE1ExPLOSION In ST.
PETERS, ROME. ITALY
Belief in Some Quarters That Anar-
chists Planned to Assassinate Pope
Big Panic in CathedraI-As II by
Miracle, All Escape Injury and Great
Structure Is Not Damaged.

izing Italy reached a climax Sunday
morning in bomb explosion in st.
Peters cathedral, at the Vatican, Just
at the conclusion of the morning mass.
1t Is q miracle that hundreds were
not trampled to death IN lie wild STAN
pede to leave the great church imme-
diately after the explosion. The ex-
plosion made thunderous report,
which echoed and reverbrated In the
Immense auditorium with deafening
volume of sound. The church imme-
diately filed with smoke. The nave
was crowded with worshipers, among
whom were many women, and an in
describable panic developed. Men
shouted wildly that the roof was fall
ing and without heed for others rush.
ed 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 he
was at mass.
AS soon as the echoes Of the ire
mendous roar had ceased, a canon
sought by reassuring words to quiet
the people, but in vain. They fed 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
present basilicia 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 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
idSl mass udu luoJ Uocn COuCluucu
when the explosion occurred, and only
one canon, who had not quite finished,
remained at the altar of st. Peter.
This altar is at the end Of the right
aisle, and it was near here the bomb
had been placed. AS the canon turned
to bless the communicates there was
"a tremendous roar, which echoed
through the lofty arches of the i'm
mense dome like a thunder clap. At
the same time dense smoke spread
throughout this portion Of the basilica
and strong odor of gunpowder filed
the air. Confusion and panic at once
seized the people.
AS soon as the smoke cleared away
hasty examination showed that no
body had been hurt in the crush, and
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
the damage.
Placed Bomb Under ScaffoIdinq.
1t was discovered that the bomb had
been placed under a scaffolding that
had been erected to facilitate repairs
to the roof, exactly over the celebrated
tomb of Clement XII, by Canovac,
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 Canovac established
his reputation.
The tomb was found to be uninjured
and even the pavement shows scarcely
any signs of the explosion. 1t Is be-
1ieved the bomb had a very long fuse
in order to give the criminal time to
gain the exit. 1t 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.
The pope was engaged in his regular
noon hour devotions when the bomt
went of. He heard a muffied sound
which surprised but did not alarm him
Monsiegnor Misciatelli, subperfect O
the apostolic palace, and Monsignol
Bislet1 major domo Of the vatican, a
once hurriedly entered the ponuff,
chamber. They were so pale that tn,
pope Immediately asked, what ha
happened"
do not be alarmed, holy father,
was the answer "a bomb has ez
ploded in the basilica, but fortunatel
there are no deaths to deplore, and n
one has been wounded