The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-14

"sH-An Immense Breach blade. Several
Dwelling Houses Blown Down. Four Per.
sens Killed and Over Forty Wounded-The
Fenian Colonel Burke and Other Feninns In
che Jail, but No Escape-Intense Excitement
In LeSdon-Fcar Of nm Outbreak In Liver.
pool.
QUEEN's HOTEL,
LONDON, Dec. l3-ll:30 p. NJ
To-day, at the hour Of four o'clock in the
afternoon, three men, accompanied by
Roman, were observed by persons passing at
the moment to roll barrel against the wall Of
khe Cerkenwell Green prison, where Colonel
Burke, who was arrested short time since
charged with an active completely in the
Eenian riots in Manchester-and other Fenian
prisoners, are confined some under remand
nom magisterial examination in the Police
Court and others awaiting transmission to
Different towns for trial.
The barrel was placed ct the wall bounding
She aide Of the prison yard in which persons
confined In Clerkenwell are permitted to take
Axsrcise at the hour of four O'Clock Pm.
Soon after it was fixed in what may be called
IL position an awful explosion, followed by
most disastrous consequences, took place.
The prison wall was blown down to great
extent. gap almost one hundred feet wide
having been made in its ruin
The dwelling houses situated on the line Of
Street opposite to the prison were shattered,
many OF them being almost completely levelled
10 the. earth.
b Two men, with woman. who, Il Is sup.
posed. are the parties who fixed the barrel,
wore Immediately arrested. but the third man,
who was seen 10 light the use which was ap-
blisd to II. made his escape.
, None Of the prisoners confined in the jail got
Out, O. the term Of their time Of outdoor ex-
trcise had terminated, and they had been
marched nom the yard and looked up in their
CELLS just before the explosion took place.
! The street opposite. which runs parallel to
Die prison, at the spot is narrow and built
Nth houses three stories high.
They are for the most part rented out in
apartments Of one or two rooms each.
l The inhabitants Of tho extensive suburban
parish district'of Clerkenwell are very poor.
I Twenty houses were almost utterly demol
1shed aud rendered untenantable by the
crash.
Y "a ;r,r, ta1v
anoned 10 the spot, and are now employed In
Rigging in ind under the ruins for dead
bodies.
\ Forty persons, men, women aud children,
6ave been found to be wounded.
-Four Of them have already died.
A house which stood In the street just
directly opposite 70 where the breach has
been blown In the prison wall has been sus-
peoted for some time as Fenian headqusr>
1ers, or place Of rendezvous for Fenians. :
The police authorities had ordered that .
ptrict search should be made on TIE premises
tomorrow.
u
been removed to the nearest hospitals
J. Tho scene presented in the neighborhood
Curing the darkening evening and since night
kAl 10 exceedingly romantic and picturesque,
thousands Of people being gathered 10 the
silently, each one discussing the event, IL
origin and consequences, with his or her
ncighbor.
A The ruins Of the dwellings and the prison
Gall are guarded by strong force ofpolce.
A The street highway has been ripped up to .
considerable distance by the explosion, and the
wallis OF the Jail have fallen, to some extent
into the beach, revealing the interior Of the
prison yard.
\ No damage has boon done 10 the prison
Buildings.
The whole city ofLondon lie terribly excited
BY the fact OF this sudden and daring attempt
Everybody feels alarmed FOR the serious reason
chat no one can fore.el where the next blow
or this description may fall.
The government is becoming exceedingly
ectve.
All the Fcnisn funeral professions projected
In Ireland in memory OF the Manchester con.
xica have been strictly prohibited, and
measures OF : eth more stringent character
fs looked for on the part Of the executive.
Its feared, or as least deemed very prob
bls, that soma trouble WIN ensue rom the
vsniAn movement in Liverpool