New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-12-14
DYNAMITE UNDER LONDON BRIDGE.
AN ATTEMPT TO BLOW Up TIE STRUCTURE.
THE CITY STARTLED By A LOUD rXrLosIoN-IirILE
DAMAGE DONE.

THE CITY STARTLED BY LOUD fNPLosiON-lillLt
DAMAGE DONE.
LONDON, Dec. 13-A terrific conclusion which
startled the city at $40 this afternoon proved TO
have been the result of an attempt to blow up Lon
don Bridge. The effort, however, resulted IN fal-
urc. The only damage done as far as can be ascer-
tanned is the destruction of window glass III the
warehouses on both banks of the river. number
OF lamp-posts were twisted into fantastic shapes,
and few travellers were knocked over One pc
destnan, who was probably nearest to the eXplo-
sion, is SAID to have been slightly bruised
by being violently thrown against the stone para
pet of the bridge.
Within fifteen minutes after the explosion, and as
the locality OF the attempt conid be ascer-
tanned, reporter hurried to ;he river, hired boat
and r0wed to the second arch OF the bridge on the
Southwark eide, which appeared to be the place OF
the explosion. He found there three boat-lOads OF
policemen examining the piers aud buttIesses, and
gazing anXlously at the superstructnre. His
lrst question, however, resulted IN
his arrest, and despite cards, papers Of
identification and protests he was hurried ashore
aud TO the nearest police station. special mes
scnger sent 10 a well-known news bureau finally
brought sucoor, aud the suspect was released
While under the bridge such an examination rs the
waning hight permitted showed that no damage
Whatever had been done. The massive granite
wo Of thc piers had not been chippcd. THIS fact
would seem 10 Justify The police theory that the
dynamite which bad been uhcd was incl0scG
In u Tin ease, aud had been thrown
from The western or upper side Of the bridge.
Opinions dincr as 10 whether short fuse had been
nscd. or whether the explosion had been caused 10y
conclusion. but all appeared 10 ngroc that II had
occurred on or near the surface of the water under
the centre arch. The tide was almost at It's lowest
point. and there were few boats near
At midnight the police had secured the river for
five milo, above aud as far below the bridge with
ont finding any ccw 10 the pcrpctrator of the
attempt and all hope has practically been aban-
doncd of any immediate discovery of the dyna-
init'ra.
he dctonntion caused by the explosion was 80
distinct and startling that fora time he excitement
m the crowded vicinity of Ihrogmorton lcnchurch
and King Ninm sta. was intense, and for time
almost amounted tU n panic. People rushed from
the public houses ard other places of resort To the
vicinity of King Williams statue which faces the
entrance to the bridge, III droves. ana were Qnly
prevented from CtOwding ON 10 the structure
railway bridge. sho,, distance above, all became
confusion trains ceased running for the time and
there was a general decentralization, lasting ten or
fifteen minutes. be newspaper offices became the
centre, OF attraction. Hood of curious inqullcIs
pushed their way into counting and editorial rooms
anXious to know what had happened .,., tn.
Experts from SEQ ,iaud Yard estimate that, while
the damage done was slight at least iity pounds Of
dynamite must have been used. lhey are asoundcd
~ the small damage uOnc, ana assert lnal pelulpS
no other series OF circumstances than those Which
pOtidputiaily existed nj thp moment could
have led mp 10 50 lfiiiinr a catastrophe.
rhc hrlliug oi i,nion Bridge was begun IN isei ard
vas nmbei 80 iesT from designs 81 john
itnnie aichiitot o son'heatk nrt Natetloo
h,irps lhe eBs' estimated ~ tctvtcn
ti sNlbUt tNi 3. 5a1Hb sNNilt 80 p,ah''e ~ Nte
arsp.. ,t tprHt attN rtNr ias te' tNe '88Ht1' iO
~, aNn taGt ing,f 'tn ifl'i' tt,h m iYaa itt
ua6 ae NAde nUM Nt.NQN "hNN M Wp
i rprD iuN rWf ,'u.Dri ut ,NtipulrA ~ lNG
uAd,r 10 ur g0ahnu lp p',pnl uupha u D. 'le A4Nd
euA4t-t ulldrc ultl lhI lNaura.