EXPLOSION OF DYNAMITE.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 57, 5 July 1884, Page 3

EXPLOSION OF DYNAMITE.

A tremendous explosion of dynamite occurred outside the detective office in Scotland Yard, London, at 9.30, on the evening of May 30th. The corner of the building, which was composed of thick brickwork, was blown off to the height of thirty feet, taking with it a portion of the side walls, and revealing an aperture fifteen feet wide. A brougham standing opposite the point of explosion was wrecked, and the coachman injured. A policeman was blown across the yard against the wall, and severely injured. So far as known thirteen persons were injured, including five women, and several will die from their wounds. The explosive appears to have been placed in a pipe let into a wall at the rear of a largo building occupied by the detectives. A canister of unexploded dynamite was afterwards found in the yard. The individual who lighted the fuse in St. James's Square was pursued by an indignant and excited crowd, but managed to make his escape by jumping into a cab, which had been in readiness, and which was lost sight of in the darkness of the jjight and grpat confusion. Sixteen packages of dynamite, with fuse attached, were also found at 10.30 same night, under the Nelson monument, in Trafalgar Square. An hour before the explosion there was an outbreak of fire at the War Office, supposed to be incendiarism. It was speedily extinguished. Tho explosion created great havoc in tho Junior Oarlton Club Home, and numerous cases of wine were destroyed. The Club House remained closed for several days. A crowd of excited people visited the scene of the explosion, and policemen were drawn up in a lino to prevent accesa of the multitude. At tho St. James's Theatre, one hundred yards distant, the explosions sounded like two claps of thunder. The audience became alarmed, ladies fainted, and a panic ensued. The second bomb in St. James's Square exploded against the residence of Sir Walker Wynn, and produced a huge wide fracture four feet in height. Three breadths of windows were smashed, and the furniture damaged. The appointment of Vigilance Committees on the Western American plan has been seriously discussed in hitherto Conservative quarters, and extra guards were placed around Gladstone's residence. The "St. James's Gazette" of June 1 ascribes the outrages to Gladstone's " recognition of the explosion as a political force." The "Pall Mall Gazette" advocates the immediate formation of a Dynamite Assurance Company, to insure people against the steadily-grow-ing class of casualties introduced by Irish malcontents, at a premium of (say) 3d for £100. A. M. Sullivan, the Irish publicist, isloud in his denunciation of the dynamiters, and says, ' ' Ireland has no enemies so bad as those Irishmen \\ ho commit these outrages. " When the news of the explosion and damage was received in !New York, O'Donovan Ko&sa said, " We've got England at last. It will not be long before she will be on her knees. Last night's explo&ion is only the beginning other trouble." I'atiick Joyce, Sectetaryof tho Iri-h Revolutionary Jhotnerhood, said : " Last night's work ought to convince England that wo aic in earnest. You need not be surprised to hear of greater explosions before many da\t. Gladstone had better mind himself." A London despatch (May 31) states that four of the dynamiters had been captured. One effect of the later outrages Mill be doubtless to secure the conviction and long terms of imprisonment for Daly, Eagan, and O'Donnell, now on trial at Birmingham for treason and felony in connection with dynamite conspiracies. The London pressdemands O'Donovan Kossa's arrest, although many people believe that the explosions were not the doings of Irish Americans, but of Anglo-Irishmen, which makes the situation all the more serious for Irishmen in London.