Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-04-18
THE MANSION HOUSE PLOT.
The Story Of the Explosion Told
by a Man Who Took Part In

by a Man Who; Took Part in
ft.
The following letter addressed to
O'Donovan Rosa has been given to the
New York papers for publication.
iO'Donnell," who vows the act OF the
Mansion House plot, undertakes the
responsibility of its pu blicaton:
"There have beed 30 many specu-
latiye and conflicting reports, theories
and censures respecting the attempt
upon the Mansion House, London, that
feel called upon, as a participator IN
the plot, TO give eur skirmishing friends
a brief outline OF the affair. Business
having called Mr., Mooney and myself
from London, we resolved upon using
eighty pounds OF gunpower, which We
had in our possession, prior to our de-
parture, lest any accident should occur
during our absence. and consequently
selected Patrick's Eve, that being the
night upon which the arms bill was
being forged in the English Commons,
as an appropriate occasion to make the
despots feel we were in their midst.
The Mansion House, Royal Exchange
and Bank OF England, being in the
heart OF the metropolis and IN close
proximity TO each other, We decided
that this should be the scene OF opera
tons. IL has been stated that 1t was
directed against the life OF the LORD
Msyor. This is deliberate falsehood.
We were thoroughly cognlzant Oh ms
lordship's absence. We inspected the
building at noon on March l6, measured
this niche or blank window, made our
box 10 fit and proceeded no matter how
into the city about 10 O'Clock that
evening. A number OF police and de-
tectives, employed to keep the crowds
viewing the electric light close by in
order, made way for our precious load
and selves. Upon reaching our des-
tination we found the doomed structure
under the protection OF sturdy police
man, whose serenade OF the building
occupied six minutes, This forced us
to reduce our fuse to four minutes, and
walking slowly in the wake OF the OFF,
Ger, we ignited the fuse with cigar, al
lowing one minute to consume before
planting and propping the box in the
desired position, thereby giving our.
selves but three minutes to escape and
in imminent danger OF being swept into
eternity at any moment. Our work be-
ing done we retired coolly, arm in arm,
anticipating being injured for life every
second, fer be it understood We know
full well we could not escape self-injury.
How or why the policeman returned and
discovered the box is open to conjecture,
when the fnse had reached, according to
his own statement, to within hall an
inch of its fatal destination.
POSSIBLY he suddenly got thirsty and
thought Of returning to the public house,
close at hand, for drink before they
closed, it being close upon IL O'Clock.
Be this as it may, after walking about
five or elk minutes, and hearing no ex-
plosion, he decided upon returning to
reignite the fuse, fearing 1t might have
gone out, resolved to perish with 1t
rather than have the box captured,
knowing full we'll the censure and con-
domination that follow failure. The build
ing now found under strict police sur
vigilance and the box removed. l un.
hesitatingly approached the police and
endeayored to force thoroughfare, on
the pretense OF catching train at the
Cannon street depot. Ny appearance,
for was acting the 'snob, favored my
escape, and after a merry chat with the
sergeant, ian Irishman, by the way,l
who condescendingly accepted mild
cigar from me, and who, should this
meet his eye, can endorse me, joined
my companion, who was pluckily cover
ing me, for we swore never to allow q
rope TO go over our heads.
"0ur desperate endeavor being io'led.
we resolved upon satisfaction, and at 3
O'Clock st. Patrick s morning we attacked
eight extensive wood yards between
Hungerford and Blackfriars' bridges.
Four of those buildings went out, and
while the other fires were slowly taking
root we both entered twice in success
sion, finally accomplishing our design.
| perceive from a London paper that
the perpetrators were seen to run. This
is wrong. know London too we'll for
that. We walked slowly by the police.
man near Hungerford bridge and asked
him the time as he passed, and were told
in response it was twenty past three.
"Believe me, dear Rosa, yonrs and
Ireland's servant until death.
EDWARD 0'DoNNKLL.
aNay Yorl Anril 1881 "