The Portland daily press., 1880-03-01
EUROPE.

How the Winter Palace was Blown Up.
ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 2S.-It may be unin-
telligible to many persons abroad how the Min
lists succeeded in doing their work in the very
residence of the Imperial family. Proba bly,
no other building in St. Petersburg is less safe
than the Winter palace. 1t has always been
the refuge for numberlesS vagabonds, working
men, friends of servants and others, many
without passports, who would not live with
impunity anywhere else. An imperial ukase
of last April gave full power to Gen. Gourko
to search the buildings of the palace, but even
that severe Governor General could hardly
venture, such is Russian administration, to in
terfere with the special authorities of the
Imperial residence. There is an old Russian
law which gives the sanctuary to criminals
taking refuge within the building of the Impe-
rial palace as far as concerns the ordinary po-
lice who have no jurisdiction in such cases.
No fewer than 5000 persons have been living
in the Winter palace, and nobody has ever
known the precise duties of one-half of them.
The Tay Bridge Disaster.
LONDON, Feb. 29.-The inquiry into the dis
aster to the railway bridge over the Firth of
Dundee before the board of trade. Several
painters who painted the bridge last summer
testified that they saw numerous bolt holes
empty, that they found bolts in holes where
there should have been rivets and found rivets
without heads and bars loosened and I'M
of the high Orders which was cracked from
top to bottom was held together with four
hoop bands; that some time the oscillations of
the bridge were so great that they feared it
would fall. The evidence created a considera-
BILE sensation.
Speech of Gladstone
Mr.. Gladstone, last night, addressed meet
ing at Marylebone, London, in behalf of the
Liberal candidates at the next general cleo
ton. Regarding rumors of the dissolution of
Parliament he said the debate now progressing
in the Commons deprived the government OF
that opportunity. He declared that all parties
were agreed that obstruction is bad thing.
He attributed the recent Conservative success
in Southwark to Liberal discussions over local
arrangements. The concluding part Of his
speech was devoted to the Irish affairs. He
disclaimed any friendship for Home Rule and
said the unity of the empire and authority of
Parliament must be maintained independently
of every other consideration, but deprecated
all angry judgment of his Irish fellow-citizens
and said he could not forget the abominable
conduct of this country towards Ireland for
many generations
|. One Of the Cars Would-be Assassins.
The Standards Vienna correspondent SAYS:
letter from st. Petersburg reports that fu-
gitive Nihilist, who was present at the intro
PRODUCTION of dynamite into the Winter pal
ace, is now in Vienna. The letter was handed
to the police before publication.
The Extradition Of Hartmann
The Standards Paris correspondent saws
Victor Hugo has published an appeal to the
government not to surrender Hartmann to the
Russian authorities.
The News Paris correspondent reports that
several Russians have waited on Gambetta, to
solicit his influence with the government to
prevent the extradition of Hartmann.
Bismarck too Sick to Defend the Army
Bill.
The correspondent of the Times at Berlin
reports that it is very doubtful whether Bis
marck will be we'll enough to be present in the
Reichstag during the debate ON the army bill.
1t is expected Won Moltke will defend the bill.
Russian Ambassadors Fired at in Con-
stantinople.
CoNsTANTINorLE, Feb. ON. Onon, chief
dragoman of the Russian embassy, and Col.
Conaroff were fred at today by two persons
who subsequently succeeded in escaping.
Conaroff was wounded. Onon was not hurt.
Matters at st. Petersburg.
ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 29.-It is stated that
Gen. Melikoff has appointed Count Pahlen
late minister of justice, privy counsellor Der
alem, late minister of finance, Prince Curious
off and Gen. Ignatieff, members of the new
commission of supreme control. The emperor
has received Populations from Poland and the
Baltic provinces.
The Golos declares that in the event of Per-
sian occupation of Herat Russian political
agent must be received at Meshed Persia, on
the same terms as an English agent