The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-01

4
In our telegraphic columns yesterday
morning we gave brief account OF the
latest London sensation-yiz.. the eXplo-
sion IN the tunnels OF the Underground
railway. From the HeratdS specials we
take the following particulars:
Two explosions took place almost stimuli
taDeously. Two tunnels OF the Under
ground railway fell. In one many people
were injured. In the other great damage
was caused. The widest rumors are afloat.
The English papers do not hesitate to at
tribute the explosions 10 Fenlans.
The Daily Telegraph says this morning /:
"Fresh agents OF destruction are appa-
rently at work In the metropolis. Nothing
could be more inhuman or detestable.
Two such incidents occurring almost at the
same moment several miles asunder point
distinctly to a plot having for its object
wholesale assassination"
THE FIRST SHOCK.
A few minutes after a number OF pas
sengcrs were waiting ut Charing Cross
station. Among them was the Herald
correspondent. The platform was crowded
with persons going to the Fisheries Ex-
lhibition, which closes to-day. There was
much good-natured iostllng aud confusion.
Suddenly violent shock was felt. The
Great Western train had Just left The West
minister platform. The conductor, who
was on the point OF entering the van, was
lalmost thrown to the ground. He de-
scribes the reports as OF discharge Of
artillery.
| DAMAGE AT WESTMINSTER.
At Westminster the windows OF the sig
oil Of oil
lCharIng Cross a low, booming noise was
heard, and the glass IN the roof suddenly
fell. On entering the tunnel it was found
that the rails had been untouched, but the
ballast had been disarranged. The signal
telegraph wires had been torn down. Part
Of the masonry in the tunnel was thrown
in ruins on the permanent way. Volumes
OF black smoke poured out Of the tunnel.
THE SECOND EXPLOSION.
4 few minutes after the Westminster
Explosion the crowds waiting on the plat
form at the Pracd-street station, adjoining
the Paddington terminus OF the Great
Western railway. were thrown into panic
by tremendous report apparently few
yards distant. The windows of the re-
freshment-room were shiyered to atoms.
The young women behind the bar shrieked
and tainted. There was q general stam-
pede to the street above, where in an in
slant thousand people collected.
AT PRAED STREET.
A train had arrived at Praed street from
the Mansion House few minutes before S
O'Clock. Many passengers and people
from the country had been spending the
day at the Fisheries Exhibition. The train
had scarcely entered the tunne-way OF the
Edgeware road when the explosion came.
There was a loud noise like the firing Of q
cannon, then sudden darkness.
A PANIC.
All the gas was eXtinguished. There
was breaking Of glass and splinters flying
in all directions. Then came the shrieks
OF the wounded and screams Of panic. The
stricken train rushed through the darkness
to the station. Guards and passengers
brought help. Many were carried up stairs
to the main road and taken TO st. Mary's
Hospital. Others walked to the dispenSa-
ries and chemists shops. The rest were
badly frightened, but finished their journey
in cabs.
SEEKING TIE CAUSE.
The first surmise was that an explosion
Of Gas had occurred. The chief engineer
examined the wreck. Two third-claSs car
riages were shattered. The heavy wood
work OF the roof, beams, and floor were
pulyerized. From every window and
doorway every particle Of light wood had
disappeared. There were no signs OF
gas-eXplosion. Moreover. the cylinders
had been already burning seventeen hours,
and were now nearly empty. Ii was theH
suggested that foul air had collected in
the tunnel and exploded by contact with
an inflammable substance.
INTERNAL MACHINES.
But the officials decided that the disaster
was caused by an Internal machine. The
sleeperS on the line were reduced 10 match
wood. The indentation in the side OF the
tunnel showed the concentrated force OF
the explosive. \ line right across the arch !
indicated the direction which the cXplo- !
sive travelled. -Four rockets. or dynamite |
cartridges, are said TO have been found |
near the spot. There is no doubt Of the !
dastardly outrage.
OPINION on TIE DISASTER.
The Daily NttcS says: :" it is quite i'm |
possible to avoid the conclusion that the |
mysterious explosions were caused by foul |
play, and it is quite needless to say that the |
outrage is attributed to the Irish Fortu- |
nately for Michael Davitt, who was lectur- |
ing in st. JameS's Hall, the news OF the ex-
plosionS was slow in getting abroad. The |
great hall was packed with demonstraiive |
crowd. largely Irish, and deaiening cheers
greeted the orator rs he denounced Lord |
Salisbury and declared that private right
in landwas public robbery OF the nation.
Had London known what had happened in
the Underground railway the consequences
might have been serious"
Another Account.
A WILD SCENE OF CONFUSION-HELPING THE
WOUNDED.
Another account says: About s O'Clock
last evening a terrible explosion occurred
near the Praed- Street underground station
on the Metropolitan railway. On the first
alarm strong Gordon Of police was sum-
mOned TO preserve order, to keep the way
clear, and to convey wounded people to
the hospitals. Passengers who were OF
the train at the scene OF the explosion say
that there was suddenly loud report, like
that OF n cannon, and then sudden dark
ness the gas-lights from the front TO the
rear OF the train being put out. The glass
was broken, and splnters OF wood flew
about the ears, cutting and wounding
many passengers.
PANIC-STRICKEN PEOPLE.
Above the din were heard the shrieks Of .
he injured and panic-stricken people. All ,
his occurred in momen', and for awhile
reigned supreme. The train. /
which was crowded, contained principally s
COUNTRY visitors returning from the Fish i
ries Exhibition. d
After leaving the station the train tray- 1
He'd steadily ahead. although the concus- =
ion smashed nearly all the lamps in the
'raed-Street station and caused much
amage to the permanent way. When the
20 IL, .IltiaI, l.