Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-03-19
THE WINDSOR ASSAULT.

A/duy E1uEcuCOs OlAl0'0 O"u x1CCOuhS Va ~.
Lady Florence Dixie, herself, gives the
following account of the assault upon
her:
81 returned from Ireland six weeks ago
and came here for the purpose of retire
ment and quiet, as tave great deal of
work to do, although at this period of the
year invariably stay at our seat in Leices-
tershire. On Saturday afternoon, at a
quarter to five, 1 sauntered into the plan
tation, which adjoins "the Fisheries -
with my St. Bernard dog, and had reached
the gate opening into Windsor road, when
my attention was first attracted to soldier
and woman passing by. While looking
after them and mentally remarking the
fine physique of the man was addressed
by what appeared to be two tall women,
dressed in long eloaks of dark stuff and
wearing wells, who asked me to tell them
the time. replied that had no watch
upon me, and turned back again into the
plantation. was about crossing the stile
when noticed that tho woman had fol-
lowed me This reused my suspicion, as
the ground was private, so faced round
to meet them.
81 had scarcely done so when one seized
mo by the throat and struck me violently
on the head and threw me on the ground.
l called loudly for help. when they pushed
clay into my mouth. l then saw by the I
clean shaved chins that they were men in
the disguise of women's apparel. While
PROSTATE saw the other man raise knife
and aim savage blow at my breast. The
knife struck the steel ribs Of my corset and
glanced off. Without uttering a word ho
again made stab which I caught in my
left hand. remember seeing him raise
his hand to strike another blow which 1
received in my right hand. also remem-
her hearing the noise of cart in the road
and seeing my dog fly at the men. Then
l swOoned. l came to my senses half an
hour afterward and found myself lying in
the Same spot where I fell: got up and
walked back to the house and told my
husband and brother of the terrible out
rage. They Immediately departed for
Windsor, to lay the account before the
authorities"
To the noble animal of St. Bernard
breed Lady Florence Dixie attributes her
marvellous escape from the assassiu's
knife. 1t is presumed that the dog fol-
lowed the would-bs murderers for some
distance, as it returned 10 the house after
the arrival of Lady Florence Dixie. The
queen has requested that a painting of the
dog be done for her. Detectives have
taken the corset WON by Lady Florence,
who has suffered no injury beyond slight
scratch from one of the stabs, which after
glancing on her corset just penetrated her
chemise, and made some cuts on the palms
of both hands.
She said: The whole affair is most
mysterious, can ascribe q motive to no
one, as my sympathies for the Irish peO-
pie have been openly avowed and are we'll
known. It 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" The plantation extends
about 200 yards from the house, in the
direction of Windsor, having for it's boun-
aries the river on one side and the Windsor
road on the other. 1t is very thinly wooded
the river being plainly seen from the road
way.
At the outbreak of the Zulu war Lady
Florence, who had been previously known
by her exploits in the hunting field, her
racy book of travels "Across Patagonta"
and the adventures of tame iaguar
which she kept at Windsor went to South
Africa as the special correspondent of the
London Post, and not only astonished the
Beers by her craftsmanship, but also
made the acquaintance of King Cetewayo,
whose cause she presented so feelingly to
the English people that his visit to Lon
don and subsequent restoration to his
throne were the consequences of her inter-
cession. Returning to England, she took
up the cause of Ireland, made appeals for
its starving inhabitant and published
pamphlets showing that the accounts of
the Land League were in most unsatis
factory condition.