The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-12-20
pYNAMlTARos AGAIN.
Desperate Attempt TO Blow Up London
Bridge With Dynsmite-The Solid Old
Structure Too stout for the Charge-Con-
sternatfon Throughout the City.


Structure Too Stout for the Charge-Con-
sternation Throughout the City.
LONDON, December IA.
The terrific conclusion which startled
the city yesterday afternoon was the result
of bona fide attempt to blow up London
Bridge. Fortunately, however, the effort
resulted in an absurd fasco, and the his
torical though comparatively new struct-
ure stands entirely uninjured. The only
damage done, so far as can be ascertained,
is the destruction of perhaps ESQ worth of
window glass in the warehouses on both
banks of the river, number of lamp
posts twisted into fantastic shapes
and few travellers knocked over.
Had the outrage been carefully planned,
and had the perpetrators intended serious
mischief, which is doubted by the police
officials, the result must have been APP
palling. London Bridge is known to be
the most thronged thoroughfare in the
world. 1t is estimated that $4,000 people
from the London, Chatham & Dover Rail-
way Station alone pass to and fro on the
bridge daily. Four lines of vehicle
traffic are with difficulty kept moving
by policeman stationed within few
yards of each other, and the side
walks are proportionally crowded for
eighteen hours out of twenty-four. On
Saturdays business houses in the city
close at an earlier hour than other week
days, and toward evening there is per-
ceptible diminutlon in the usual crowd.
To this circumstance alone many persons
ffnf ftat
jury. A year ago the nominally strong
patrol stationed between the city and the
Southwark side were doubled in conse-
quence of the threats of dynamiters, but
at the end of three months the scare died
away and the extra force was withdrawn.
Within fifteen minutes after the ex-
plosion, and as soon as the locality of the
attempt could be ascertained, your rep
resentative hurried to the river at Black
friars, hired boat and rowed to the Sec
ond arch of the bridge on the Southwark
side, which appeared to be the very focus
OF the explosion. He found there three
boat-loads of policemen examining the
piers and buttresses, and gazing anxious-
ly at the superstructure. His first ques-
ton, however, resulted in his arrest, and
despite CARDS, papers of identification
and protests, he was immedi-
ately hurried ashore and TO the nearest
police station. A special messenger sent
to well-known news bureau finally
brought succor and the suspect was re-
leased. While under the bridge and par
leying with the officials, such an exam
ination as the waning light permitted
showed that no damage whatever
had been done. The massive granite
work of the piers had not even
oh
seem to justify the police theory,
which was freely discussed at the station
and en- route, that the dynamite which had
been used was inclosed in a tin case,
and had been thrown from the western
or upper side of the bridge. Opinions
differed as to whether short fuse had
been used, or whether the explosion
had been caused by Conclusion, but all
appeared to agree that it had occurred
very near the surface of the water
under the center arch.
The tide was almost at its lowest point
and there were very few boats near, two
circumstances which materially lessened
the danger to life and property. At
midnight the police had secured
the river for five miles above and
as far below the bridge with
out finding any clew to the perpe-
traitor OF the attempt, and all hopes have
practically been abandoned of any imme-
date discovery of the dynamiters. No
mention was made in any evening paperof
the attempt, as all go to press on Satur-
day afternoon for their last editions at
four O'Clock, but the detonaton caused by
the explosion was so distinct and start
ling that for a time the excitement in
the crowded vicinity of Throckmorton,
Eapchurph and Kiun VILLA cfr.eafa
was intense, and for a time almost
amounted to- a panic. People rushed
from the public houses and other places
of resort TO the vicinity of King Williams
statue, which faces the entrance to the
bridge, In droves, and were only pre-.
vented from crowding on to the structure
itself by cordonof policemen, which had
been formed as soon as the threatened
locality was properly located.
On the railway bridge, short distance
above, all became confusion. Trains
ceased running for the time, and
general decentralization lasting for ten
or fifteen minutes, reigned supreme.
The newspaper offices in Fleet street
and vicinity next became the Gen.
tiers of attraction. Amateur re-
porters pushed their way into
counting and editorial rooms, anx-
tous TO know what had happened. 9th
ers related narrowing tales OF the horri-
BILE sights they had seen, the number of
buildings which had been blown up, or
an exact account of the condition of the,
arches of London Bridge which remained
standing. Experts from Scotland
Yard estimate that, while the dam
age was slight, at least fifty pounds of
dynamite must have been used TO cause
an explosion so great as to smash
windows on both sides OF the river, and
put out gaslights for space of at least
quarter OF mile. They are astounded at
the small damage done, and assert that