Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 April 1891 — MADE HOME HOWL. [ARTICLE]

MADE HOME HOWL.

Frightful Explosion of Gunpowder in the Eternal City. Hundreds of People Wounded, Several Killed and the Whole City Shaken— Many Houses Demolished. An explosion of 150 tons of gunpowder* on the 23d, shook Rome, Italy, to its foun-l datlons, spreading terror and dismay on' all sides. The people rushed from their homes into the streets, houses rocked, nlc-l tures fell from the walls, thousands of! panes of glass were broken everywhere,] crockery was shattered, furniture was] overturned, chimneys crashed down upon l the roofs, and in some instances toppled over into the streets below. Tho cupola* of the House of Parliament immediately' after the explosion shook violently and then collapsed with a crash which added still farther to tho feeling of horror which had spread through the city. “The scenes in tho streets and In the houses after this fearful explosion have! possibly never before been equalled in dramatic effect during the history of modern Rome. All the thoroughfares were strewn with bricks, stonesl splinters and othor debris, bnrleo there by the force of the powerfu, concussion which had causod Rome to totter on its foundations. People of all aged and conditions were rushing, pale with fear, about the streets, trying to seek consolation from others who were as thor-, oughly terrified as themselves. In the’ houses doors, windows and cupboards were burst open. Rents and cracks appeared in the walls, the plaster fell from the ceilings and general desolation prevailed. In many instances people were thrown from their beds by the shock which caused so much alarm, and cries of terror filled the air as thousands of families rushed out Into the streets, Parents with children in their arms, children leading aged parents, tho younger helping the elders, made for the streets as if the only chance for safety depended upon their being able to reach the open air.

All the houses within a radius of a kilo-, meter of the scene of tho explosion ara seriously damaged. /Two officers were dangerously wounded, and nearly 120 civiliznnsbavebeen taken to the hospital, 1 suffering from wounds or bruises caused by the explosion. King Humbert, who was heartily cheered whenever his presence became known to the populace and soldiery, 1 used his own carriage to convey wounded! people to the hospital. The shock which caused Rome to tremble did not spare the Vatican. That venerat*. ed (pile shook with the rest of the Roman buildings when tho force of the explosion was felt, and several of the historical stained glass windows of the old buildings were shattered. The windows in the an* cient Raphael chambers and the stained glass in the royal stair case presented t« Pope Pius IX by the King of Bavaria, were serioifkly injured. Seven persons areknown to have been killed.