PLOT TO ASSASSINATE LORD LANSDOWNE. A Diabolical Conspiracy. (FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.)

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 30, 29 December 1883, Page 3

PLOT TO ASSASSINATE LORD LANSDOWNE. A Diabolical Conspiracy. (FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.)

The evening papers of October 22 contained startling telegrams from Quebec, announcing the discovery of a most diabolical plot to murder the new Governor-General of Canada and his wife on their arrival in that colony. It seems that about ten days ago two Irish-Americans named Bracken and Holmes were arrested at Halifax withdyna: mite and infernal machines in their posses sion. Long ere this, however, the Canadian police had carefully watched certain suspected persons, and it did not escape notice that the arrests at Halifax caused much commotion in Irish revolutionary circles "Pursuing their inquiries, and aided by special information from New York, they have," wires the "Daily Telegraph's" correspondent on Tuesday, "unearthed a most diabolica 1 plot, directed against the life of Lord Landsdowne. It seems that on the first news of his lord ship's appointment to the Governor-Gen eraiship, tho Irish dynamite faction in New York formally condemned him to death, and a few speciaHy determined desperadoes were told off to carry out the sentence Some of these men have, it is certain, been in Quebec and this city for some time past, quietly making their arrangements with their confederates in this country. Kimouski, the Queenstown of Canada, was fixed u pon as the most suitable spot for the first attempt to be made. It is a small town situate near the mouth of the St. Lawrence, about 270 miles frsm Quebec, and the incoming steamers remain there for some time in order to land the mails and such passengers as wish to complete their journey by the more speedy railway route. Incredible as it may appear, there seems to be little doubt that a desperate and fiendish plan was formed to blow up the great Allen liner, the Circassian, as sho lay oft Kimouski. The desperadoes Avere to row out to the steamer in an ordinary boat, in whickwereto be concealed two or threo powerrm dynamite machines. These machines, manufactured in the " dynamite school " in New York, and some of which there is too good reason to believe are at present actually hidden in Quebec, were to be discharged against the Circassian below the water-line, the miscreants hoping to make their escape in the consequent panic and confusion. In the event of Lord Lansdowne landing at Kimouski, arrangements were to have been made to attempt his life on the railway journey by blowing up one of the bridges. These particulars came to the ears of the police in fragmentary form from day to day, and it was not until yesterday ! that their full magnitude and significance ; became apparent. Without further delay the. j chief of police communicated the information 1 to Sir John Macdonald, the Prime Minister, who at once convoked a special meeting of the Cabinet to consider the matter and to deliberate upon the steps to be taken. More than one member of the Cabinet scouted the news as altogether incredible, but dared not take upon themselves the grave responsibility of ignoring the representations of the police. It was thereforo decided to take the minutest precautions for His Excellenoy's safety, and also to increase the number and vigilance of the detective force, which has long been ostentatiously looking after the safety of the Marquis of Lome and the Princess Louise. Furthermore, it was arranged that his Excellency should travel by a circuitous route, the arrangements for his reception being modified accordingly. Unfortunately, news of these precautions got wind prematurely, and to a certain extent spoiled the plans of the police, as many suspected persons whom they had been carefully watching took the alarm and disappeared. At first sight this story sounded wholly incredible, but by degrees it transpired that there are plenty of reasons why Lord Lansdowne should be objectionable to the Fenians. "He is," one paper points out, " an Irish landloi-d, and as such, belongs to a class proscribed by agitators and assassins. Beyond this he, following the example of his father, has endeavoured to elevate the lives and homes of his tenantry, and in the effort has come into collision with the prejudices of the people to whom the overcrowding of blood relations in the same small cabin has become a traditional habit. Then he resigned his post in the present Ministry rather than assent to the Land Bill of"lS81. Finally, as America is the great field for Fenian collections, a blow struck at the representative of Her Majesty on that continent would awaken that excitement and attention among the Transatlantic Irish in which their leaders find both glory and advantage. An attack on an able and amiable official of high rank is, therefore, by no means beyond the range of probable atrocities by the dynamite section of tho Parnellites."