THE DYNAMITE OUTRAGES IN LONDON.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1034, 14 May 1883, Page 2

THE DYNAMITE OUTRAGES IN LONDON.

Tlie Attempt to Blow up Government Offices. Terrific Effects of*tlie Explosion. Despatches from London dated 15th March, give details of an attempt to blow up the Local Government Board Offices, at 9 o’clock in the evening of that date. The concussion was so great that it shook the sides of the gallery of the House of Commons, the reporters’ gallery, and every part of Westminster Abbey, and the Houses of Parliament. The Public Offices and Clubs and numerous dwelling-houses were al-o affected. The cause was at first thought to be gas, but ' closer investigation revealed the fact that it was a deliberate attempt to destroy the buildings by dynamite, which was placed on a window sill inside the balustrade, where the fuse, while burning, would be concealed from the view of anyone passing. The force of the explosion was terrific. The part directly affected was that occupied by Sir Charles Dilke, and the Local Government Board in the immense building bounded by Parliament. Downing, and Charles-strect, and St. James’ Park. The apartments in question front on Charles-street. and almost level with tbe pavement. The are of great thickness and of solid and the windows are protected by a massive stone balustrade. The balustrade was obliterated, the massive masonry blown to fragments, and the pavement shattered and ground to powder. A wooden structure opposite was blown to splinters. Fifty ya,ds away is King-street Police Station, the doors of which were burst open by the force of the concussion, and the inmates prostrated. Everv pane of glass in the vicinity was broken. and Charles-street was cumbered with. debris. Broken timbers and masses of stone were sent flying into King street, and people crossing Parliament-street were knocked down. A hansom and horse were flung aero s the sidewalk against the front of the Whitehall Club, the great plate glass window of the Clubhouse being driven in fragments into the rooms. Everywhere the greatest consternation prevailed. The people poured out of their houses, and broken glass was everywhere cracking under tlreir feet. In the House of Commons the alarm was general. _ Many members left immediately ; the lobbies were emptied, and people poured out of Westminster Hall. As the alarm spread, excited crowds flocked from all parts towards Westminster, and most intense excitement prevailed. The act is, of course, ascribed to the Invincibles, and is described as part of a Fenian plot, and as a threat and warning to the Government. On the 14th March a cannister containing explosive materials was found behind the Times office with, it is reported, a lighted fuse attached. Tlie Pall Mall Gazette says in many maps of London the Local Government Board Office is marked as the Home Office, and it is thought that the attempt to blow up the former buildings was made with the idea that it was the latter, Sir William Harcourt, the Home Secretary, being very obnoxious to the Fenians. Sir Chas. Dilke, the President of the Local Government Board, thinks the attempt was not upon himself or tbe officers of his department. The loss from the explosion is placed by the Government Inspectors at £4ouo.