Catastrophe in Pisa Cathedral.

Manawatu Herald, 19 August 1897, Page 2

Catastrophe in Pisa Cathedral.

On May 29 «h a special service in the Pisa Cathedral was announced when the very andient picture known 4 as the " Madonna di Sottogli Organ!" was to be uncovered and brought out from its altar with great pomp and the celebration of Pontifical Vespers. The whole of the immense building was illuminated by thousands of wax candles, with garlands of paper flowers between them. At the moment the authorities were signing the documents for the uncovering of the picture, a candle fell, setting light to some of the paper flowers. Although it was at once extinguished, a cry of " fire " was raised, on which an uncontrollable panic took place, and so many of the thousands of people assembled rushed to the principal doors ' that a most terrible scene ensued. Women and children fell on the outside steps, where eight or nine were crushed to death, while a large number were more or less seriously injured and others fainted, and some bad their clothing literally torn to shreds in the terrific struggle. Meanwhile with the shrieks of the victims and the cries of the agonised relatives searching for their dear ones outside ihe Duomo there mingled the tones of the exquisite music and singing of the choir from the Sistina at Borne, for the service wont on as if no such tremendous struggle between life and death was taking place outside. The Madonna was uncovered with all the solemnities and carried out in procession, the electric and other lamps began to be lighted for the intended " splendid illumination," upon this there arose an indignant protest from the crowd of people and students in the square. The Archbishop' was received with hisses, and some 2000 people marched through the town extinguishing the illuminations and tearing or smashing images of the Madonna. The Duomo was then closed by order of the Prefetto, and the proposed fetes, intended "to affirm, in the fiftieth crowning of our Madonna, the popular faith of Pisa, which has never been belied during the past centuries " were suspended for ten days. A message of sympathy was published from the King of Italy, and a public funeral given to the victims on May 81st.