The Madrid Tragedy

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8105, 4 June 1906, Page 5

The Madrid Tragedy

A Villainous Act Narrow Escape of Spain's King ami Queen. (By Electric Telegraph— Copyright.) (Per Press Association.) . MADRID. June 2. Ihe police are convinced the perpetrator of the crime was Duran, alias Mateo Meral. He hired a room three weeks ago on the fourth floor and bought a bouquet daily. The police declare the bouquet thrown contained two bombs. One struck the balcony or exploded in midair, killing and wounding the people in the neighbouring balconies, while the otlier exploded downwards, scattering bullets in a circle, o£ which the Royal carriage was the centre, and thus" it practically escaped. When Duran was walking downstairs lie asked a servant why guns were fired and she replied that it was a bomb and that many were killed. He replied calmly: " 1 will go and help the soldiers to secure the ruffian." Duran soon disappeared into the crowd. The Britisher arrested is .Robert Hamilton, not Roberts, a bank clerk and a tourist. The new British Ambassador, (Sir Maurice de Bunsen), with four officers of the Sixteenth Lancers, witnessed the explosion. They immediately rushed out and surrounded the carriage. The faces of old friends in Britisli uniforms reassured Queen Ena, who, recovering from the first shock, waved her hand, out of the coach to show that she was uninjured, and smiling through her tears she took her husband's arm. King Alfonso quickly covered her face to prevent her seeing the dead and wounded. He exclaimed: "This is infamous cowardice; if they wish, to kill me let them meet me face to face without shedding blood. Sir Maurice de Bunsen helped both into an empty coach. Queen Ena's shoes and dress were spotted with blood. King Alfonso, in tlie words of one of the British lancer officers, gave Queen Ena a thumping great kiss and spoke reassuringly. He showed splendid nerve and received a tremendous ovation at the palace. There King Alfonso yielded to emotion and gratitude and sobbed for nearly a minute. The Alexander Battery attended the funerals of the victims. Queen Ena sent wreaths to be placed on the coffins, while King Alfonso has granted pensions to the families of the bereaved.

Loyal Spaniards* King Alfonso Struck by Pari of the Bomb. MADRID, June 2. There have been great demonstrations of loyalty throughout Spain. All the Governments have expressed sympathy and abhorrence at the outrage. Thousands on Friday signed tlie visitors' book at the palace, while twenty thousand cards were left. Queen Ena's bloodstained dress will be deposited in the church of the Madonna, opposite the scene oE the explosion. The authorities wholly discredit the story that the plot was hatched in London. Six persons, including the Countess of Adernero Don Antonio Gonzales and the Marquis Tolosa and his daughter were killed on the balconies below the assassin's window. The Marquis Tolosa left eight children. One regiment lost three officers, a corporal and a private, who were killed. Twenty-seven were .wounded. The newspaper Epoca says thirteen soldiers and eleven civilians were killed and fifty seriously injured. A Palace official informed the Telegraph's correspondent that a fragment of the bomb broke the glass panel of the carriage and struck King Alfonso on the shoulder. The impact snapped a link of the chain of the Golden Fleece which he was wearing. It did not inflict any but tlie very slightest personal injury. King Alfonso and the foreign princes were specially represented at the funeral of the eight military victims. An extraordinary demonstration of popular sympathy occurred. It transpires that General Weyler was seriously injured. Duran was well dressed and bad plenty of money and valuable luggage. All marks were obliterated from his linen and nothing was left to establish his identity. The authorities consider it probable that the attempt was intended to change the dvnastic succession. A State banquet was held on Friday in Madrid. The Royal ball was abandoned. SYDNEY, June 2.

Tlie Spanish Consuls in the various State capitals held receptions in honour of the Royal marriage. MELBOURNE, June 2.

The Governor-General and State Governor despatched cables to Madrid expressing their horror at the attempt on their Majesties lives and their thankfulness at their escape.

_ j Spanish Chivalry. j A Plucky Kinsr. MADRID. June 2. Don Carlos' fod, Don Jamie, the claimant to the throne, telegraphed to the King : - " As a courteous adversary I congratulate you on escaping this odious outrage." King Alfonso and Queen Ena, looKing well, motored unescorted through Madrid. They were frantically acCl King d " Alfonso visited the wounded soldiers in ihe hospital. Received June 4, at 9 8 a.m. MADRID, June 3. Kins Alfonso and Queen Ena on Saturday afternoon, after attending a thanksgiving service at the phuwh of Buena Sueco, drove to the bull fight, receiving an immense ovation. ■ The Ministers dissuaded the lunt. from attending the funeral of the victims of the outrage. , , ~ The police are convinced that the ! criminal is sheltering in Madrid.

The Bomb Thrower Cornered. He Commits Suicide Received June 4, at 9.30 a.m. MADRID, June 3. Hamilton, the Englishman who was arrested in Madrid, has been released. He proved to be a harmless tourist. The British Minister protested against his treatment at the hands of the mob. The Spanish Government apologised for the error. Reuter reports that Buran, alias Mateo Moral, when cornered by the police in a village outside Madrid, committed suicide.