TEE DISASTROUS EXPLOSION IN ROME.

Timaru Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5167, 13 June 1891, Page 3

TEE DISASTROUS EXPLOSION IN ROME.

Tho Bomo corroapsndnnt of tha Daily News, telegraphing on 23rd April, onys : —" A dreadful disaßtor, the oitont of which is bardly yet known, occurred hero (his morning. At 7,15 an alarming explosion was heard all over tho town, followed by a strong shook an of on earthquake. Tha nowa spread Jiko lightning that tho greit powder magazino outside the Porta Porteso, attached to tho fortress of that narao, had blown up. Almost fii-efc on the epot was the king, oncompaniod by an nide-do-carop, and even m thia moment of univoraal terror and confusion tho people hailed their king with cries of " Viva il Ro!" The shook was so tromendous that it was felt for miles around Rome, and the atreels evoa at tho furthest extremity from the scene of the accident were strewn with broken glass. But one only realised tho extent and horror of tbo disaster on approaolnng tho acono. Oarringo after oarriago was filled with the wounded, tho first to rocoivo them being thai; of the iii-g. Ab one approached the long atrcet of San Francisco Aripa, which m ohiofly composed of fnctorics, the horrors inoroased. Somo of the houaos wero completely demolished and otliera split from roof to basomont. Iron bars and Bolid iron doors wero lying about, broken and twisted Hie straw. Tboso who wero present at the timo of tho disaster 6ay it was the guard on duty who first gave word fchatsmoko was issuing from tho powdor raagnzine. Immediately, by one of thoeo presentments which bolong to tho instinct of aelfproeorvalion, overyono took to flight. Then what is doscribod na lilto a blazo of lightning, accompanied by a formidable rumbling, soomod to envelop tho fortress. Tha flames shot up, and wore seen at great distances, like a gigantic oolumn of fire. Tho powdor magazine had blown up. Tho houses m tho streets adjoining had completely disappoiu'od, und a couple of feet of earth covered tho surrounding ground. Uig trees lay scattered about uprooted. Amid the* general oonfuMon coul.l bo heard the cries of the wounded, Kveryono of authority m Home was on the spot m an incredibly short timo. Vehicles of evory d'soriptbns sorved to carry tho wounded to tho hospitals, whioh aro alroady full. At the Vatican many of tho windows were broken, and an indeooribablo panio was oaueod. Twj of tbo guards wero woundod by a boom and tiloß fulling on their heads. Thoro is not a street m Bomo m which housoe havo not boon damngnd. A later mossagn says tho numbor of deaths is now found to be much otnallcr than was at flrnt faared. Tho injured number 103 to 120. Tho powder magnzino was co completely destroyed that no traces of it avo loft. Whoro it stood, thoro ia an enormous black holo, and around aro n fow broken bticks and small pieces of wood. Somo of the piacos of the building wore ovon oarriod so far as tho furthest end of (ho town.