Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-03-29
ATTEMPT TO ASSASSTNATE LADY,
/. Dixie.


Lady Florence Dixie Assaulted by Masked
Men in WOmen's Apparel at Windsor
she SWoOns Away, but, Protected by q
Faithful Dog. Escapes without Serious
1njury-DeniaI that ANY Irish OrganIza--
ton Had Anything to Do With the As
sault.
LONDON, March 10.
Lady Florence Dixie was attacked ut Wind
sor yesterday by two men disguised in wora--
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 il 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
daggers, fell in a swoon. This occurred at 4:45-
O'Clock in the afternoon. She did not recover
her senses until 5:I5.
Lady Florence has been Frustrated to-day.
The story of the affair was elected from her
only at 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:
II returned from Ireland six weeks ago, and
came here for the purpose Of retirement and
quiet, as have great deal of work to do
though at this period of the year I invariably
stay at our seat in Leicestershire. On Satur>--
day Afternoon at quarter to I'VE sauntered
into the plantation which adioinS THE Fish
cries with my St. Bernard dog, and had
reached the gate opening into Windsor road,
when my attention WAS first attracted TO a.
soldier and woman passing by. While look
ing after them and mentally remarlirfge the
~vAk,w- go.
what appeared to be two tall women, dressed.
in long cloalks of dark stun and wearing veils,
who asked me to tell them the TING. I replied
that had no watch upon me, and turned back.
again into the plantation. was 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 round to meet them. L 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
chlns that they were men in the Disguise of
wOmens apparel. While PROSTATE saw ther
other 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 stab, which
caught in my left hand. 1 remember seeing
him raise his hand to strike another blow,
Whlch received in my right hand. l also re-
member hearing the noise of a cart in the
road and seeing my dog fly at the men. Then
swOoned. I came to my senses half an hour
afterward, and found myself lying in the same
spot where 1 fell. I 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 Tor 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. can
ascribe motive to no one as my sympathies.
for the Irish people have been openly avowed
and are well known
TWAS assumed that the attack would be-
laid at the door Of the Irish, an assumption
which she warmly repudiated adding: g In
these days every crime must be of Irish
origin" #ls f--