The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-14
By Atlantic cu6le.

BY Atlantic CubIe.
LONDON, Dec. 13.-To. day, at the hour OF four
o'clock in the afternoon, three men, accom-
panied by q woman, were observed by persons
passing at the moment to roll barrel against
the wall of the Clerkenwell Green prison, where
Colonel Burke. who was arrested q short time
since-charged with an active completely in the
Fenian riots in Manchester-and other Fenian
prisoners are confined; some under remand
from q magisterial 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 per-
mitted to takeexercise at the hour of o'clock p.
NJ. Soon after 1t was fixed In what may be called
its position, an awful explosion, followed by
most disastrous consequences, took place. The
prison wall was blown down to a great extent,
a gap almost one hundred feet wide having
been made in its ruins. 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 woman, who, it is supposed, are
the parties who fixed the barrel, were imme.
dlately arrested, but the third man. who was
seen to light the fuse which was applied
to 1t, made his escape. None Of the
prisoners confined In the Jail got out,
as the term OF their time of outdoor ex-
ercise had terminated, and they had been
marched from the yard and locked up in their
cells just before the explosion took place. The
street opposite, which runs parallel to the
prison, at the spot is narrow and built with
houses three stories high. They are for the
most part rented out in apartments OF one or
two rooms EACH The Inhabitants of the ex
tensive suburban parish district of Clerk enwell
are very poor. Twenty houses were almost
utterly demolished and rendered untenantable
nv ha Iv 6ra ain1n1 dfof
summoned to the spot and are now employed in
digging in and under the ruins for dead bodies
Forty persons-men, women, and children
have been found to be wounded. 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 a Fenian head
quarters or place of rendezvous for Fenians.
The police authorities had ordered that strict
search should be made the premises to-
morrow. The remainder OF the Injured persons
have been removed to the nearest hospitals
The scene presented in the neghborhood
during the darkening evening and since night
fall is exceedingly romantic and picturesque,
thousands of people being gathered in the
vicinity, each one discussing the event. its
origin and consequences, with his or her neigh
Dor. The ruins OF The dwellings and tine prison
wall are guarded by strong force of police.
The street highway has been ripped UP to a
considerable distance by the explosion, and
the walls of the jail have fallen, to some extent,
prison yard. No damage has been done to the
prison buildings.
The whole city OF London is terribly excited
by the fact of this sudden and daring attempt,
Everybody 1eels alarmed, for the serious reason
that no one can foretell where the next blow of
this description may fall. The Government is
becoming exceedingly active. All the Fenian
funeral PROFESSIONS projected in Ireland In
memory of the Manchester eonvicts have been
strictly prohibited, and measures OF still more
stringent character are looked for on the part
OF the executive. .t. ..#.l.. ..-.
1t is feared or at least deemed very probable.
that some trouble will ensue from the Fenian
movement in Liverpool. The police force In
Liverpool, perhaps even in London, is utterly
Inadequate TO deal with such o crisis
Colonel Burke, who is confined In the Clerk
enwell prison (noJ the man lately sentenced TO
death in Ireland, and transferred to England
after communication of his sentence), Is more
than suspected of being very active Fenian
officer or agent. Hets at present charged with
having taken prominent part both In orga-
nizing and directing the Manchester riot moVe-
ment, during which Policemen Brett was shot
Indeed, IL is alleged that Burke had charge Of
the arms and served them out to Allen, Larkin,
Gould, and the others just before the tumult
commenced.