The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-12-31
Blowing up Lonka Bridge.

NV YORK, December ,,I4th-A cable
special from London Of December the 13tb
says; At $40 o'clock this afternoon Lon
don was startled by a terrific explosion.
causing conclusion like that produced
by dynamite 1t was heard ten miles ont
side the city and the gates Of Woolwicb
Arsenal We're shaken by its force. An in
yesugauon proved that the explosion was
the result Of an attempt toblow M Lon
don Bridge. The only damage done rs
far as can be ascertained. was the des-
tucuon Of perhaps $500 worth Of window
glass IN warehouses on both banks of tho
river. A number Of lamp-posts were
twisted into fantastic shapes and some
travellers were knocked over. The mas
sIye granite work Of the piers was even
cmpped. This fact would seem to Justify
the police theory. that the dynamite
which had been used was inelosed in a
TN case and had been thrown from the
western or upper side Of the bridge The
explosion took place on or very Near the
surface Of the water under the center arch
The tide was at almost the lowest point
and there were very few boats near. two
circumstances which materially lessened
the danger TO life and property. The de
tonausn caused by the explosion was so
distinct and startling that Tor time the
excitement IN the crowded vicinity Of
lnrognorton. New Church and King
William streets was intense. and for
time almost amounted to panic. PEG
pie rushed from public houses and other
places Of resort to the vicinity of King
Williams statue, which faces the entrance
70 the bridge, in droves, and were only
prevented from crowding on to the struct
ure itself by Gordon Of policemen. which
had been formed as soon as the threatened
locality was properly located On the
railway bridge short distance above. all
beca1lS confusion; trains ceased running
Tor the Illne, and general decentralization.
lasting Tor ten or fifteen minutes. reigned
supreme. Experts from Scotland Yard
estimate that at least fifty pounds Of dy-
Mantle must have been used to cause an
explosion so great as to smash the win
dows on both sides Of the river and put
out gaslights for a space Of at least a
quarter Of mile. They are astounded at
the small damage done.
LONDON. December 14th.-A careful in
spection Of London Bridge was made to
day. No structural injury whatever was
done. The police have discovered no
thing likely to assist them. The heads of
the detective departments have been con
ferring with the Home Office the entire
day. The absence Of any clew Is para
lying the action Of the police. who are
unable even to tell the nature Of the e1-
plOsiye used Thousands Of people visit
ed the scene today. From the fact that
not single stone has been misplaced.
some experts are Of the opinion that the
explosive used was thrown over the
bridge and exploded in the air on striking
the water a wharfer has Just informed
the police that few minutes before the
explosion he saw a boat containing three
men under the arch on the Surrey side.
He took no particular notice OF them,
thinking that they were river police He
did not see the boat afterw8rd Odd sup
poses that they proceeded down the river.
The police this afternoon learneSnat
piece Of charTed sacking, about foot aud
a half square, had been found on one Of
the bustresses, and are inclining to the
opinion that the explosive was placed
there. They attribute the smaAness Of
the damage 10 the extraordinary air cur
rents beneath the span 1t Is a nOtewor-
thy fact that Saturday was the seven
teenth anniversary Of the Clerkenwel ex-
ulOsion