The Bomb Outrage

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 187, 27 December 1912, Page 5

The Bomb Outrage

J LORD HARDINGE DOING WELL. A SECOND ATTENDANT WOUNDED. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, December 23. A second attendant was wounded in eight places. The Viceroy has been removed to the Vice-regal lodge, and is doing well. The driver was uninjured. Many arrests were made and the procession was resumed. Sir Guy Fleetwood Wilson, member of the Council of the Governor-General, conducted the.Durbar. DETAILS OF THE CRIME.

NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH,

London, December 23.

The great State procession to inaugurate the site of the new Delhi was witnessed by enormous crowds. There were many decorations. The Viceroy and Lady Hardinge occupied the same howdah. The weather was perfect. While the procession was passing through the famous thoroughfare of Chandni Chowk, a bomb was thrown as described.

The Viceroy, who was pale, was removed on an improvised stretcher to a motor car. Lady Hardinge returned to the Viceregal lodge. The procession then reformed and the ceremony proceeded. The police surrounded the house and made several arrests. All the city outlets are guarded. There is intense public indignation. Lord Hardinge subsequently sent a message to Sir Guy Wilson that he was only slightly injured. Sir Guy read this at the Durbar, and loud cheering ensued, particularly among the chiefs. Ten thousands rupees reward has been offered for the arrest of the culprits. The Viceroy was hit in three places in the back, and once in the neck, by fragments of metal. A boy spectator was also killed. The King has sent Lord Hardinge a message of sympathy. Delhi, December 23. The Viceroy received a deep wound four inches long, exposing his shoulderblade, and superficial wounds, on the right hip and neck.

The bomb was thrown from the oflice of the Punjab National Bank. It is believed that the thrower has escaped.

FURTHER DETAILS.

Delhi, December 24. Spectators assert that, a group of men on the corner of the roof disappeared after the explosion. They heard a cry • in Hindustani expressing satisfaction at the aim being sure. Some time elapsed ■before the police surrounded the hou.se. The panic in the street facilitated the escape of the criminals. The Viceroy momentarily did not realise what had happened. Lady Hardingo had a wonderful escape. She was on the side of the howdah facing the house whence the •bomb came. She showed the utmost courage and asked her husband, "Are you hurt?" The Viceroy replied, "All right, go on." Her Ladyship said, "We cannot. There are dead men behind." The elephant was halted and the Viceroy reeled and fainted from loss of blood. There was much difficulty in getting him off the elephant. The staff'lifted him down and removed him to an ambulance. At the Viceroy's instance, the procession was continued, Sir G. F. Wilson fulfilling the programme and formally assuming' possession of Delhi. The Viceroy is progressing satisfactorily. He is suffering from shock, and the explosion caused temporary deafness. Two operations have been performed to extract nails and fragments of metal. It is expected that Sir Sydenham Clarke will be appointed Acting-Viceroy.

Government House at Calcutta is strongly guarded. Lord and Lady ITardingc had an enthusiastic welcome in the streets. A Lattery of artillery and a regiment/of Inniskillins acted as the Viceroy's bodyguard. The staff were preceded by an enormous- elephant, gorgeously caparisioned with ' saddlecloths brilliant with gold and silver. General Croagh and the members of the Council followed, and then came scores of Punjab nobles on horseback with the Punjab chiefs clad in their richest dresses and adorned with jewels, upon elephants, numbering fifty. and forming a splendid spectacle. The route was lined by three English regi\ ments and Ghourkas and other native troops. No special precautions were taken. In fact, the Viceroy's elephant was some distance ahead of the escort. The bomb passed close to Lord Hardinge's body, and horribly mangled the umbrella bearer, who had officiated at Lord Curzon's Delhi Durbar. He begged the same honor yesterday. Besides the boy, a man among the spectators was killed and several were wounded. The bomb .shattered the back of the howdah and the nails dented the helmets of some of the Sixteenth Rifles, who were lining the streets. A large handkerchief full of,nails and screws was collected afterwards. Similar bombs have been used in the train outrages. The boldness of the attempt points to a powerful organisation. The house from which the bomb was thrown is a large three-storied one, used as offices on the ground floor and as native residential quarters above. It was densely packed by about 150 l spectators.

BOMB OUTRAGE. LORD CARMICITAEL TAKES RISKS. London, December 24. The Daily Telegraph's mailed advices show that the situation in Bengal is unsatisfactory. Lord Carmichael is taking risks to investigate the situation, visiting the bazaars to watch the police treatment of the natives. He found the police in many respects seriously neglectful. He also went unattended and disguised on a long train journey in a native carriage to test the treatment of the natives on the railways. Lord (,'annichael's staff are apprehensive.

LORD HARDINGE'S CONDITION. A DELIBERATE CONSPIRACY. Delhi, December 25. Lord Hnrdinge's progress is satisfactory, and lie has no fever. Calcutta, December 25. The European vernacular press denounce the outrage on the honor and dignity of the Indian people. Bengal, December 25. The police believe that the outrage was a deliberate conspiracy. . INDIC NATION IN INDIA. London, December 25. Several meetings in, mosques in Tndia protested against the outrage at Delhi. Gatherings of Hindu students in London also passed resolutions of protest. THE POPE'S SYMPATHY. Rome, December 25. The Pope, at a reception at the Sacred College, expressed horror at ithe Delhi outrage, and said that it was doubly painful in view of the splendid work of the English in India, and the justice and strength of their government.

THE COMMONWEALTH'S TRIBUTE.

1 Melbourne, December 25. Lord Denman cabled to Lord Hardinge that he learnt with deep regret of the dastardly attempt on his life. The Commonwealth Government desires to express its sincere sympathy and trust that he will speedily recover. A RESTLESS NIGHT. THIRTEEN PEOPLE INJURED. Delhi, December 26. Lord Hardinge spent a restless night, and was given morphia injections. His shoulder blade muscles are torn. He is improving to-day. The bomb contained gramaphone needles and screws. j

Native gentlemen have increased the reward and have also provided for the umbrella holder's family. Thirteen people were slightly injured. PRACTICAL SYMPATHY. Received Dec. 27, 1.10 a.m. Delhi, December 20. A midnight bulletin states that Lord Hardinge is progressing satisfactorily. £OOOO has been subscribed as a reward for the capture of the bomb-throwers, including the Maharaja of Patiala's £2(100, the Maharajah of Kashmir's £oo<i, and the Gwalior's £533.

Business wa s suspended yesterday while a deputation of citizens waited on the Chief Commissioner and expressed grief and abhorrence. The temples and mosques are crowded with worshippers returning thanks for Lord Hardinge's safety. The bomb had a time fuse which exploded level with the umbrella-bearer's knees. If it had burst a second earlier it must have killed the Viceroy. As it was the metal pierced the heavilypadded cushions.

The Punjab chiefs in the procession wanted to deal with the house from which the bomb was thrown summarily, but the officer in charge would not allow them to break the line of the procession.

SYMPATHY FROM NEW ZEALAND.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, December 26,

At the request of the Prime Minister, the. Governor is cabling to the Secretary of State expressing the profound regret of the Government and the people of New Zealand at the attempt made on the life of the Viceroy of India, and a sincere hope that the dastardly occurrence would not be attended by any serious result to his Excellency or Lady Hardinge.

LORD HARDINGE'S CAREER. Lord Hardinge oE Penshurst is the second son of the second Viscount Hardinge. His grandfather, the' famous commander in the Peninsular War, became Governor-General of India in 1844, and his term of office was made memorable by the campaign of the Sutlej. He also held Ministerial office, including that of Secretary of War and Chief Secretary for Ireland, and was created a viscount in 1846. Lord Hardinge was borne on June 20, 1880. In the same year he entered the Diplomatic Service. He was stationed successively at Constantinople, Berlin, Washington, Sofia, Bukarest, Paris. Teheran, and St. Petersburg. In 1903 lie became Assistant Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and as Minister Plenipotentiary accompanied the late King on his visits to Lisbon, Rome and Paris. In the following year he was appointed Ambassador at St. Petersburg. In 1906 he returned to London to take up the duties of Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, which position ho held until his appointment as Viceroy in June, 1910. As Minister in Attendance he accompanied King Edward on his visits to Athens and Friedrichshof (1900). to Carthagena and Gaeta, Wilhelmshohe and Ischl (1907), to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Christiana, Reval, Friedrichshof, and Ischl (1908), and to Berlin (1909). Lord Hardinge married in 1800 the Hon. Winifred Sturt, daughter of the first Lord Alington and Woman of the Bedchamber to Queen Alexandra. He has two sons and one daughter.