Morning journal and courier., 1884-10-13
DYNAMITE Ar QUEBEC.
The New House of Parliament Shat
tered bY an EXPLOSION.

The New House of Parliament Shat
tered by an Explosion.
QUEBEC, Oct. IA determined effort
was made yesterday afternoon to blow up the
House of Parliament in this city, and as
consequence the whole city is in tremen-
dous state of excitement. About 1910
terrific shock was felt all over the city, ac-
companied by tremendous report. People
everywhere rushed out of doors. The news
spread quickly that an explosion had oc-
Cured in the Parliament building, and thou
sands of people were soon on the scene. A
gap in the front facade of the building thirty
feet square was the principal result of the
explosion. ALI the masonry above the gap
is badly shattered and portion has fallen
since. The workmen were at dinner, conse-
quently there was no loss of life, the only
casualty reported being that of a man named
Forten, who was struck in the neck by a fly
ing stone and badly wounded. About 3
O'Clock the city was startled by another ex-
plosion. In this case the explosion occurred
in the extreme corner of the other end of the
structure, where the masonry is twice as
thick as elsewhere. A large number of cor
ner stones were displaced, and threaten to
fall out. The damage caused is much more
than by the first explosion, and will necessi-
tate the rebuilding of the whole corner.
Loss of life had been again very for
tunately prevented by the refusal of the
contractor to allow work to proceed after the
first explosion. The damage caused by these
explosions may be repaired at cost of s1O,-
600, but nothing but time will restore feel
I IL
pie of Quebec. In dread of third explosion
in the center of the building, Gordon of po-
lice was disposed around to keep the public
at safe distance. The Attorney General
refused to have the buildings further searched
for some time after the second explosion,
dreading the threatened danger to human
life
The explosion, it is quite sure, was made
by dynamite, but it is not known by whom
or for what purpose the deed was perpetrat-
ed. Two workmen relate story which con-
firms the dynamite theory in connection with
the plot and at the same time explains The
comparatively small amount of damage done.
In working on the second fiat of the Parlia-
ment House they found it necessary in the
morning to remove a mound of stones built
up in the corner of the edifce against the
division wall of the department buildings.
underneath they fOund hand Satcne1,
small, but SO heavy that they
thought it contained stonecutters,
tools. They say it must have weighed fifty
pounds. They did not open it, but simply
laid it over against window space. Gov
eminent engineers, military and police au
thorities all agree that the pormanteau must
have contained an internal machine. Its re-
moval into an open space, where it's explosion
met with no resistance, doubtless saved from
destruction the south wing of the depart
ment buildings and all employed there.
The buildings are in the shape of a hollow
square, each wing being 300 feet long. Three
sides of the square cost $725, 900, and were
completed some three years ago. They are
occupied as departmental offices. The fourth
side, which is to form the Parliament House
itself, was all completed but the roof. It is
four stories high, and built of cut stone with
iron girders throughout. The damage by
the first explosion is considerable. A hole
about twelve feet high by five feet wide was
blown out of the wall on the third story
from the basement and directly over the
right hand entrance to the Assembly
chamber and near the place where the
Speakers chair is situated. The second ex-
plosion occurred in the northeast corner of
the same building. The corner stones form
ing the support of the building are badly
bulged, and it is doubtful if it can be repair
ed without letting down the whole wall
Whatever the reason may be for wishing the
destruction of the building, there is no room
to doubt that dynamite was used. A search
ing investigation into the cause of the ex-
plosions is now in progress.
Comments of tT,a EnoTFsT, D-oss