Morris tribune., 1883-11-03
O'DONOVAN'S WAR.
Frightful Explosion Under a Train
In London Tunnel.
Nearly Forty Passengers More or
Less Injured, Ksut None Fatally
---Belived to be the Work
of the Dynamiters.

| LONDON, Nov. AT s o'clock o. m. ater
rible explosion occurred near the Praed street
underground station of the Metropolitan rail
way. On the first alarm a strong Gordon OF
police was summoned to preserve order, to
keep the way clear, and to convey the
wounded people to hospitals.
Passengers on the train at the scene of the
explosion say there was suddenly a loud re-
port like cannon, and then sudden dark
ness, the gas lights from the front to the rear
of the train being put out. Glass was broken
and Splinters of wood flew about the cars, cut
ting and wounding many passengers. Above
the din were heard the shrieks of the injured
and panic-stricken people All this occurred
in a moment, and for a while confusion
reigned supreme. The train, which was
crowded, contained principally country Wis
itorS returning from the fisheries exhibition.
After leaving the station the train travelled
steadily ahead, although the conclusion
smashed nearly all the lamps in the Praed
! street station and caused much damage to the
permanent way.
| When the train reached the next station,
on the Edgeware road, the first effort was
made to rescue the wounded Some were
! dreadfully burned, but more were proStrated
| by fright. All the DOCTORS surgeons and dis
| pensaries in the neighborhood were called
| into requisitiou. The first impression was
that an explosion of gas caused the disaster,
| but later inquiries tend to show malice.
Two rear carriages were damaged most.
They are mere skeletons. Another theory is
that the explosion was caused by foul gas &C
curnulating in the tunnel. This. however, is
untenab!e, because no prenOLitOry symptoms
were observable. The general opinion of
railway officials and experts is that
the disaster was caused by some ex-
plosive material which hal been placed prob
ably in the rearmoSt carriage. Meanwhile
a searching inquiry is proceeding. It is be-
lieved about forty persons were injured, some
! dangerously.
Almost simultaneously with the Praed
street affair, violent explosion occurred in
the underground railway between Charing
Cross and Westminster stations. Windows
and signaling stations in the tunnel were
shattered. At Charing Gross the glass roof
of the station partially collapsed. The report
is described a- being like that Of artillery.
The effects were similar to those Of thc Praed
street explosion. Carriage lamps, windows,
ETC., were smashed. All traffic was suspended
for a while. Although both explosions are
matters Of the greatest mystery, they are
generally thought to have been Of Fenian
origin.
The shocks of both explosions are
described by officials as very similar to the
shock at the local government board office in
March last, in which DR.. Gallagher was i'm.
plicated 1t is stated that four machines
similar to rockets were found in the tunnel,
near the Praed street station. Altomether
six carriages were shattered by the explosion
near Praed street. Although about forty
persons were admitted to the hospitals, many
more were injured, but were sent direc ily to
their own homes.
The Times says that since the disastrous
events at the local government board, in
March last, nothing has occurred 50 caIcu-
lat,d to excite public alarm as the explosions
1t is evident the occurrences were not acci-
dental. The explosives were of a most pow
erful nature. Suspicion points in one direc-
ton only. 1t is hoped the authors will speed |
lily be brought to justice.
All the detectives of the metropolitan police |
are searching for the perpetrators of the out |
RACES, and the railway officers are assisting
them. The police deny that any rocket cart
ridges have been found near the scene of the |
explosions. No traces have been discovered !
of the nature of the explosives. 1t was ascer-
tanned that the explosion could not have been
caused bv coal gas. No clew to the persons
causing the explosions has been obtained.
Maj. Majendie, Of the board of trade is now
making an examination of the scene of the
explosion at Charing Cross station. Trains
are running as usual this morning.
LATER.-Although the worknen have
been busily engaged all night removing the
debris they have not yet finished their task,
nor has the damage been repaired. The tun-
mel was not destroyed, but deep hole was
excavated in the road-bed. The brick work
was blown out and the gas pipes and tele-
graph lines broken. The refreshment
saloon was wrecked and the windows
of the other rooms of the station were
smashed. The explosion occurred imme-
diately under the passing train, forty yards
west of the station All the persons injured
were in the last two carriages. Two of them
were seriously hurt, but they passed a favor
able night and were expected to recover.
The others will be able to 90 to their homes.
both explosions occurred about $40 in the
evening.
THE LATEsT-No explosive matter has yet
been found at the Proed street station. The
Inspector from the home office viewed the
scene of the explosion there, and afterward
the damaged train. He expresses
Jhe opinion that cartridges made of the first
order of explosives, such as gun-cotton, were
1sed.
The conductor of the train says that while !
ooking out of the car window just after the
rain left Proed street station he saw some
sparks nearly underneath the carriage, and
afterward heard the explosion.
The explosive used at Charing Cross station
s not believed to be dynamite.