The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1867-12-20
FENIAN ATTEMPT TO BLOW UP A LON
DON PRISON.

y
sittysin!''
FENIAN ATTEMPT TO BLOW UP A LON
DON PRISON.
On the 18th of December at the hour of
four o'clock in the afternoon, three men,
accompanied by woman, were observ-
ed by persons passing at the moment to
roll barrel against the wall of the
Clerkenwell Green prison, where Col
onel Burke, who was arrested short
time since-charged with an active COM
plicity in the Fenian riots In Manches-
ter-and other Fenian prisoners are con-
fined; some under remand from magis-
terial examination in the Police Court,
and others awaiting Transmission to diff
ferent towns for trial.
The barrel was placed at the wall
bounding the side of the prison yard in
which persons confined in Clerkenwell
are permitted to take exercise at the
hour of four O'Clock p. NJ.
Soon after it was fixed in what may
be called its position an awful explosion,
followed by most disastrous consequent
ees, took place.
The prison wall was blown down to a
great extent, a gap, almost one hundred
feet wide having been made in it's ruin.
The dwelling houses situated on the
line of street opposite to the prison
were shattered, many of them being
almost completely levelled TO the earth.
Two men, with q woman, who, it is
supposed, are the parties who fixed the
barrel, were Immediately arrested, but
third man who was seen to light the
fuse which was applied to it, made his
escape.
None of the prisoners confined in the
Jail got out, as the term of their time of
outdoor exercise had terminated, and
they had been marched from the yard
and locked up in their cells just before
the explosion took place.
The streets opposite, which runs par
allel to the prison, at the spot is mar
row and built with houses three stories
high.
They Fare for the most part rented
out in apartments Of one or two rooms
each.
The Inhabitants of the extensive SUI
burban parish district of Clerkenwell
are very poor. W
Twenty houses were almost utterly
demolished and rendered untenentable
by the crash.
The city tiremen were Immediately
summoned to the spot, and are now en-
ployed in digging in and under the ru-
ms for dead bodies.
Forty persons, men, women and
children, have been found to be woun-
ded. E5 .t@H mos
Four of them have already died.
A house which stood in the street Just
directly opposite to where the breach
has been blown in the prison wall has
been suspected for some time as Fem
ian headquarters, or place of :edcvous
for Fenians.
The police authorities had ordered
that a strict search should be made on
the premises Tomorrow. .5.,,.r..
The remainder of the injured persons
have been removed to the nearest hos
pitals.l bita ,@oa4 57is'ir ntsul cob
The scene presented in the neighbor-
hood during the darkening evening and
since nightfall is exceedingly romantic
and picturesque, thou -an1s of people
being gathered in the vicinity, each one
discussing the event, its origin and con-
sequences, with his, or her neighbor.
The ruins of the dwellings, and the
prison wall are guarded by a strong
force Of police. ab
The street highway has been ripped
up to considerable distance by the ex-
piosion, and the walls of the Jail have
fallen. to some extent, into the breach,
revealing the interior of the prison
yard.
No damage has been done to the pris-
on buildings.
The whole city of London is terribly
excited by the fact of this sudden and
daring attempt. Everybody feels al
g. ft,.k,
can foretell where the next blow of this
description may fall.
The government is becoming exceed
ingly active.
All the Fenian funeral professions
projected in Ireland in memory of the
Manchester convicts have been strictly
prohibited, and measures ola still more
Stringent character are looked for on
the part Of the executive.
1t is feared, or at least deemed very
probable that some trouble will ensue
from the Fenian movement in Liver
pool.
The police force in Liverpool, per-
haps even in London, Is utterly made
quate to deal with such crisis.
Colonel Burke, who is confined In the
Clerkenwell prison mot the man lately
sentenced to death in Ireland and trans
ferred to England after Communication Of
his sentence), is more than suspected of
being very active Fenian officer or
agent. He is at present charged with
having taken prominent part both in
organizing and directing the Manches-
ter riot movement during which police
man Brett was shot. Indeed, it is al
legged that Burke had charge Of the arms
and served them out to Allen, Larkin,
Gould and the others just before the tu-
multi commenced.