ATTACK ON VICEROY

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 32, 6 February 1913, Page 3

ATTACK ON VICEROY

HOW THE BOMB WAS THROWN. '

A GREAT PROCESSION

The Delhi outrage on the Viceroy is thus described by an American paper's correspondent-:—• Baron Hardinge, Viceroy of India, was wounded and an attendant was killed to-day by a bomb hurled at the Viceroy as he was entering the new capital in state. Another attendant was seriously wounded. The bombthrower's attempt to kill Lord Hardinge came near being successful.

Tho-Viceroy was making his entry into Delhi as the last of the ceremonies in connection with tho transfer of tho capital from Calcutta to Delhi. The transfer was made in October last, but Lord Hardinge was not to take formal possession of his new quarters until to-day.

A large gathering of troops, officials, and Punjab chiefs was present to welcome the vice-regal party. Its splendid elephant procession had just left the railway ■station, passing through Chandai Chowk, when the bomb was thrown. It was hurled by a man standing on a housetop, and it struck the howdah,' or pavilion, on the Viceroy's elephant in which he and Lady Hardinge were riding. The attendant, who was holding a large parasol over the vice-regal pair, was instantly killed as the bomb exploded.

Three splinters of tke bomb penetrated the back and shoulders of the Viceroy, and he was also wounded in the neck by the screws with which the- bomb was filled and which ] passed through his helmet. The j doctors who removed the metal splinters from the wounds declare that it was marvellous kw the Viceroy escaped more serious or even, fatal injuries. The worst of the wounds is a deep ono, four inches in length, exposing the shoulder blade. His other injuries are -said to be superficial. VICEROY NOT BADLY HURT. Lady Harding© immediately after the explosion asked her husband if he wss hurt. The Viceroy replied, "All right, go on." Lady Hardinge then said, "We cannot. There is a dead man behind." The elephant on which they were riding then halted. The Viceroy tried to stand up, but fainted, and the officials who gathered round had much difficulty in removing him from the elephant's back. The how-dab, in which he and Lady Hardinge had been seated was blown into matchwood. On arrival at the hospital, Lord Hardinge was at once examined by the surgeons. They found that the wounds, were slight, and he will soon be able to leave the hospital. . Lady Hardinge had suffered so severely from shock that v remedies were necessary. The umbrella bearer who was killed was the same man who had acted in that capacity for Lord Curzon. The ceremonies were interrupted for only a short .period while the Viceroy and Lady Hardinge wcto being conveyed to the hospital and viceregal residence respectively. Sir Guy Fleetwood Wilson, Financial . Member of the Council; of the Governor-General of India, took the Viceroy's place in the -procession, which then proceeded on its way through the new Imperial city to the Durbar camp, where great numbers of rajahs and other Indian chieftains were assembled. Sir Guy then took up his position in front "of the viceregal dais and read aloud a dispatch from Lord Hardinge saying that he was only slightly injured by tho missile thrown by a fanatic. The reading of the message was received with prolonged cheering. The attempt- on Lord Hardinge's life roused feelings of intense indignation, both ■ among the natives and the British officials present, as ho is one of the most popular Viceroys who have ever ruled in India.

HAD BEEN LULL IN NATIVE AGITATION.

For a long period there had been, a lull in tho native agitation, m India, which had at various times led to 'assassination of high officials. The attack on Baron Hoarding©, therefore, camo with; greater unexpectedness; Only a short time ago the Viceroy himself wrote to the India Office in London saying that the country was very quiet, and that the prospects for his official entry into Delhi were most favorable.

The bomb was thrown, as the great procession, in which a large number of gaily caparisoned elephants took •part, native princes and high British officials, was passing through the Chaiidai Chowk, which "is a long, narrow, typically Oriental street, containing many stores, retailing various kinds of merchandise. The houses are mostly one-store y buildings, but some of them rise to the height of two storeys. A" line of street cars runs the whole length of the Chaudai Chowk ; but, owing to the importance of to-day's procession, the service had been suspended. The Viceroy's elephant was an enor|mo us animal. The -driver sat between his ears, guiding him in the usual native way by tapping him on the forehead with «. steel spike. Behind tho driver was a great howdah, a boxlike construction fixed on tho eleplant's saddle.. The howdah was covered with Imperial purple drapings decorated with gold laco and tassels. In it were, s-eated the Viceroy and Lady Hardinge, and at their backs stood a. native attendant holding over their heads a. great parasol indicating the royal dignity. Owing to the lowness of the houses in the Chandai Chowk. tho would-be assassin who stood on one of tho roofs was only a few feet from the Viceroy. The bomb, which was evidently intended to explode by concussion, burst with terrific force. The native, -standing behind -the Viceroy and Vicereine holding the Imperial Umbrella was blown to the ground and instantly killed ,while the, driver sitting in front of the howdah was wounded in eio-iit places. to . A REMARKABLE ESCAPE. ©scape of Baron and Lady iiardiuge whs almost miraculous. The I missile roll only a. foot or two from its target. j The great procession immediately came to a standstill, and a crowd o!! oilicrals rushed up and found tho Viceroy bleeding and pale, while Lady tiardmgo was terribly shaken They were assisted to alight and placed in motor-cars, one of which conveyed the Viceroy to tho hospital and another took Lady Hardinge to the official residence. True to tradition that nothing ca.n be allowed to interfere with British policy-La India* the celebration of the inauguration of the new imperial capital was proceeded with almost immediately. The police in the meantime had surrounded the house from which the

bomb was thrown, and had made several arrests. All the outlets from the city were also placed under strict guard. The thrower of the bomb, however, has not been caught. A reward of 10.000 rupees has been offered for his arrest.

To-day's celebration marked the carrying out of the announcement that* the King hade made, during the great Coronation Durbar of the transfer of the Imperial capital of India to Delhi. Since the announcement was made the Viceroy, who had been created Baron Harding© on his appointment to office, . has been busy visiting various parts of the country, and has boon able to pay only a few flying vists to Delhi to inspect th<; preparations for tho advent of tho Government into tho new Imperial city. To-day he was making his state entry, and had been received at the railroad station by many members of the Government^ by officials, and by a large gathering o*f natve ruling chiefs, most of whom were from the province of Punjab. After tho official gi-eet-ings at tho station, ho had started with Lady Hardinge on. his way to tho old fort, whose history lives 131 India, owing to the prominent part it played in the great mutiny of 1857. It was nea-r this fort that the great Durbar was held.