THE UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS IN LONDON.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1188, 20 December 1883, Page 3

THE UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS IN LONDON.

About eight o'clock on the evening of October ?oth a terrible explosion occurred neai Praed street, at an underground station of the Metropolitan Railway, London. A telegram to an American paper describing the occurrence says : On the first alarm a strong cordon of police were summoned to preserve order and to keep the way clear and convey the wounded people to the hospital. Passengers who were en the train at tho scene of the explosion say there was suddenly a loud report like a cannon, then sudden darkness, the gas lights from the rear of of the train being put out. Glass was broken, and splinters of wood flew about the cars, cutting and wounding many passengers. Above the din were heard the shrieks of the injured and panic stricken people. Ail this occurred in a moment, and for a while confusion reigned supreme. The train which was waiting was crowded, and contained principally country visitors returning from the Fisheries Exhibition. After leaving the station the train travelled steadily ahead although the concussion smashed nearly all the the lamps in the Praed street station and caused much damage to the permanent way. When the train reached the next station nt Edgeware Road, the first effort was made to rescue the wounded. Some were dreadfully burned, but more were prostrated by fright. All the doctors, surgeons and dispensers in the neighbor, hood were called into requisition. It is believed about 40 parsons were injured, some seriously. Almoßt simultaneously with the,Praed street affair, a violent explosion occurred on the underground railway between Charing Cross and Westminster stations. The windows of the signalling stations in the tunnel were shattered, and nt Charing Cross the glass, roof of the station partly collapsed. The report is described as being like that of artillery. The effects were similar to those of Praed street. The explosion shattered the carriage lamps and windows. All traffic was suspended for a while. Although both explosions are matters of great mystery, they are generally thought to be of Fenian origin. The shock of both explosions is described by several officials as similar to the explosion at the Local Government Board offices in March last, in which Gallagher was implicated. It is stated four maohines similar to rockets were found in the tunnel sear lh» Praod street

station. Although only almut forty persons were admitted to tlie hospifnls, many mora were injured, but were sent directly to their homes. A correspondent in one of the leading English journals, which unite in attributing these explosions to American dynamiter?, suggests that some Irish leaders should be taken as hostages, imd executed nft"r every explosion! The general public, however, receive the outrages with the strange calmness characteristic of London in su>li cases.