Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-11-17
LONDON AGAIN SHAKEN.

Two Terrific Explosions In the Under
ground Railway in London Cause Great
COnsternation-Fifty or Sixty Persons
Wounded and a Large Amount of Prop
erty Destroyed-The Crime Attributed
to Fenians-Alleged Discovery of Rocket
like Contrivances.
LONDON, Oct. S1.-At eight o'clock last
evening a terrible explosion occurred near
the Praed-street underground station of the
Metropolitan Railway. On the first alarm .
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
report like a cannon, and then
suddenly darkness, the gas-lights from
the front to the rear of the train
being put out. Glass vas broken and
splinters Of wood flew about the cars, cut
ting and wounding many passengers. Above
the din were heard the shrieks of the in
jured and panic-stricken people. All this
occurred in a moment, and for a while con-
fusion reigned supreme. The train, which
was crowded, contained principally country
visitors returning from the fisheries exhibi-
ton. After leaving the station the train
travelled steadily ahead, although the con-
cussion smashed nearly all the lamps in the
Praed-Street Station and caused much dam
age 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, butmore were Frustrated
by fright. All the doctors, surgeons and
dispensaries in the neighborhood were called
into requisition. 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 ac-
cumulating in the tunnel. This, however,
is %untenable, because no premonitory symp-
toms were observable. The general opinion
of railway officials and experts is that the
disaster was caused by some explosive mate
rial which had been placed probably in the
rearmost carriage. Meanwhile a searching
inquiry is proceeding. 1t is believed that
about forty persons were injured, some dan.
gerously.
Almost simultaneously with the Praed
street affair, a violent explosion occurred in
the underground railway between Charing
Cross and Westminster stations. Windows
anu signaling SIatlOYS IN Tile tunnel were
shattered. At Charing Cross the glass roof Of
the station partially collapsed. The report is
described as being like that of artillery. The
effects were similar to those of the Praed
street explosing. Carriage lamps, windows,
etc., were smashed. All traffic was sus.
pended for a while. Although both explo-
sions are matters of the greatest mystery,
they are generally thought to have been OF
Fenian origin.
The shocks of both explosions are de-
scribed by officials as very similar to the
shock at the local government board office
i'll March last, in which DR.. Gallagher was
implicated. 1t is stated that -four machines
similar to rockets were found in the tunnel,
near the Praed Street Station. Altogether
six carriages were shattered by the explo-
sion near Praed street. Although about for
ty persons were admitted to the hospitals,
many more were injured, but were sent di-
rectly to their own homes.
The Times says that since the disastrous
events at the local government board, in
March last, nothing has occurred so calcu-
lated to excite public alarm as the explosion
tonight. 1t is evident the occurrences were
not accidental. The explosives were of a
most powerful nature. Suspicion points in
one direction only. 1t is hoped the authors
will speedily be brought to justice.