Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-03-23
A New Excitement in London.
THE ASSAULT UPON LADY prxrE.

THE ASSAULT UPON LADY DIME.
LONDON, March 19.-Lsdy Florence
! Dixie, an eccentric woman, somewhat
travelled, famous as writer, and withal
quite a partisan, it is alleged has been
assaulted and nearly assassinatsd. The
fact that she has been quite outspoken
in Irish affairs, aud has latterly de-
nounced the land league as having
maladministered the funds contributed,
gives color to the rumers that she is
the victim of Irish revolut onists. Her
story is thus told:
81 returned from Ireland six weeks
ago and came here to Windsor for re-
tirement and quiet, as have = great
deal Of work to do, though at this pc
riod of the year invariably stay at our
seat in Leicestershire. Saturday, about
5 o'clock p. m, ssuntered into the
plantation adjoining the fisheries, with
my st. Bernard dog, and had reached
the gate into the Windsor road when
my attention was attracted to sol
der and woman passing. While
looking at them / was addressed by
what appeared to be two tall women
dressed in long cloaks of dark stuff,
wearing wells, who asked me to tell
them the time. l replied that l had
no watch upon me, and turned back
into the plantation. Twas about cross
ing the stile when l noticed that the
women had followed me. This reused
my suspicion, as the ground was pri-
vate, so faced around to meet them.
had scarcely done so when one seized
me by the throat and struck me vio-
lently on the head, and threw me on
the ground. 1 called loudly for help,
when they pushed clay into
my mouth. / then saw by
their clean shaved chins that they
were men disguised in women's sp-
parel. While PROSTATE, saw the 9TH
er man raise knife and aim a savage
blow at my right breast. The knife
struck the steel ribs of my corset and
glanced off. Without uttering word
he again made a stab, which l caught
in my left hand. remember seeing
him raise his hand to strike another
blow, which l received in my right
hand, 1 also remember hearing the
noise of cart in the road and seeing
my dog fly at the man. Then swoon-
ed. came to my senses half an hour
afterward and found myself lying in
the same spot where | fell. got up
and walked back to the house and told
my husband and brother of the terrible
outrage. They Immediately departed
for Windsor to lay the account before
the authorities"
To the noble animal of the st. Ber-
nard breed Lady Florence Dixie at
tributes her marvellous escape from
the assassin's knife. 1t is presumed
that the dog followed the would-be
murderers for some distance, rs it re-
turned to the house after the arrival Of
Lady Florence Dixie. The queeH has
requested that painting of the dog
be done for her. Detectives have
taken the corset worn by Lady Flor
ence, who has suffered no injury be-
yond slight scratch from one of the
stabs which, after glancing of her COR
set, just penetrating her chemise, and
some cuts on the palms of both hands.
She claims that she had received
threatening letters while in Ireland re-
Gently. One of the men wore a green
dress and large hat with veil. The
veiled man attempted the assassina-
tion. No arrests have been made. The
police have slight clue to the scoun-
drels, and it is believed the men were
bitten by the dog in the struggle.
Lady Dixie says that her head is con-
fused and painful. She supposed the
miscreats stunned her.
The affair is puzzling everyone. No
clue to the assailants has been discov-
cred. A gardner at work thirty yards
from the scene neither saw nor heard
anything of the occurrence. Lady
Florence says she called to her husband
for help. She states she should be sor-
ry to attribute the outrage to the land
league.