Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-03-31
ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE LADY
DIXIE.

w 80
Lady Florence Dixie was attacked at Wind
sor yesterday by two men disguised in WON
EMS clothes. Her dress was cut with daggers
in several places, but she received no injury.
Lady Florence was walking in a secluded
spot near the woods when the men asked her
what time it was. She replied she had no
watch, and afterwards noticed that, though
they were in women's clothes, their faces had
been shaved.
Much alarmed she started to walk away and
was followed by the men, one of whom seized
her. She struggled to escape, but, seeing their
daggcrs, fel, in q swoon. This occurred at 4:45
o'clock in the afternoon. She did not recover
her senses until 5:15.
Lady Florence has been Frustrated to-day.
The story of the affair was elected from her
only ut intervals. The saving of her life is
attributed to her St. Bernard dog, which is
supposed to have protected her while she lay
in a swoon.
Lady Florence gave the New York Herald
correspondent the follow account of the af.
fair:
st returned from Ireland six weeks ago, and
came here for the purpose of retirement and
quiet, as ] have a great deal of work to do,
though at this period of the year 1 invariably
stay at our seat in Leicestershire. On Satur
uoy AlSlLOh u 4udICCI I ANC SttullCICO
into the plantation which adjoins THE Fish
cries with my st. Bernard dog, and had
reached the gate opening into Windsor road,
when my attention was first attracted to q
soldier and a woman passing by. While look
ing after them and mentally remarking the
fine physique of the man, I was addressed by
what appeared to be two tall women, dressed
in long cloaks of dark stuff and wearing wells,
who asked me to tell them the time. replied
that l had no watch upon me, and turned back
again into the plantation. Twas about cross
ing the stile when noticed that the women
had followed me. This reused my sus-
picion, as the ground. was private, so I
faced ound to meet them. 1 had
scarcely done SO when one seized me
by the throat and struck me violently on the
head, and threw me on the ground. 1 called
loudly for help, when they pushed clay into
my mouth. I then saw by their clean-shaved
chins that they were men in the disguise of
women's apparel. While PROSTATE l saw the
other man raise a knife and aim a savage blow
at my right breast. Thu knife struck the steel
ribs of my corset and glanced off. Without
uttcring a word, he again made a stab, which
I caught in my left hand I remember seeing
raise his hand to strike another blow,
which I received in my right hand. 1 also re.
SAAAS AASoA 4l46 WV AoACS VI q SolC LII U1IO
road and seeing my dog fly at the men. Then
l swooned. Icame to my senses half an hour
afterward, and found myself lying in the same
spot where 1 fell. 1 got up and walked back
to the house, and told my husband and brother
of the terrible outrage. They Immediately de-
parted for Windsor to lay the account before
the authorities
To the noble animal of the St. Bernard breed
Lady Florence Dixie attributes her marvellous
escape from the assassin's knife. 1t is pre-
sumed that the dog followed the would-be muir
derers for some distance, as it returned to the
house after the arrival of Lady Florence
Dixie.
Your correspondent questioned Lady Flor
ence as to the motive of the crime. She said:
"The whole affair is most mysterious. lean
ascribe a motive to no one, as my sympathies
for the Irish people lave been openly avowed
and are well known
1t was assumed that the attack would be
laid at the door of the Irish, an assumption
which she warmly repudiated. adding: "In
these days every crime must be of Irish
origin"
Later.
LONDON, March 10.
Lady Florence Dixie, who was attacked Sat
urday by two men disguised in women's
clothes, says the men spoke no brogue. She
remembers seeing her St. Bernard dog drag
one of them backward. The affair is puzzling
every one. There is no clew to the assailants.
The gardener potting geraniums thirty yards
from the scene neither saw nor heard any,
thing of the occurrence. Lady Florence says
she called to her husband orhelp. She states
she should be sorry to attribute the outrage to
the Land League.
NEW YORK, March 10.
O'Donovan-Rossa said to-day he was very
certain that no Irish organization had any
thing to do with the assault upon Lady Flor
ence Dixie. "Irishmen," he said, "do not
make war upon women" In Dublin Mr..
Forster's life was spared on many occasions
because he shielded himself behind women.
He very much doubted whether the assault
had ever taken place. Lady Dixie was a
I" crank" and perhaps her love of notoriety
had led her to promulgate the story. But he
thought it more probable that the base hire
lings" of the British Government had
F" planned the whole affair for the purpose of
exciting the British populace against the
Irish"
Mr.. Sheridan, who was seen in the Office of
the Irish World, said: 81 look upon the affair
Us an attempt to disparage the Land League,
and to prepare the public mind for the con.
templated slaughter of the men who are now
on trial in Dublin. I believe the assault was
planned by some of the emissaries of Dublin
Castle. lido not believe that Lady Florence
Dixie was a consenting party. I nave too
high an opinion of her to imagine for a mo.
ment that she would lend herself to a purpose
so vile. Her mother, the Marchioness of
Queensbury, is one of the most popular
W omen in Ireland. Lady Dixie has proved
thai she at least sympathizes with the Irish
people. L know or no reason whatever WHY
the Irish people should entertain the smallest
dislike towards her, unless. indeed, the
letters which she has recently written
on L~and-League matters might be supposed
to furnish some grounds for hostile feelings
toward her" These letters, in my opinion.
were a severe and perhaps unjustifable crit
lclsm OF a public movement and it's officers.
but at the same time the criticism was par
donable. If the Government should succeed
In establishing anything like Il desperate feel
lng against the Irish people in England, it
only result in increased destruction of
and deeds of violence in which the
upper classes will themselves suffer equally
with the Irish. The rabble of the English
cities furnishes all the ingredients necessary
for the formation of the most dangerous and
uncomfortable mobs."
SEVERAL nights ago Edward Farrell and
\ friend were returning home from Maid
Cross, Canada, near Windsor, when
hey were annoyed by a drunken consta.
lie. n1mai John Lennon who u,,. -,