Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-13
A Portion or the New Parliament
Building at Quebee Blown
Up Saturday.
No Glue to the GUILTY Parties-A Re-
ward of $1,000 offered by the Gov
eminent for Information rs to
the 0utrages and Authors.
OuEREC. Oct. Ii

QUEBEC, Oct IL.
At I o'clock this afternoon an explosion
occurred at the new parliament buildings,
destroying considerable portion of masonry
and win -ows of the new structure, which was
just being rooted in. The general impression
is that the explosion was caused by dy Mantle.
| But as none of that material is used in the
walls the mystery is how it came there. The
workmen all being away at dinner none but
one man was injured.
| The shock was very severe and was felt
all over the city At thr, e z. NJ. second
explosion occurred. but the buildings Gus
tanned no damage of any consequence.
Carpenters working on the building say
that they noticed box lying all the morning
close to the wall where the first explosion
took place, but they supposed il was placed
there by plumbers. After the explosion no
trace of the box could be found. II is now
believed that the box contained dynamite and
an in.erna, machine. The second explosion
was about thirty feet from the place where
the first explosion occurred.
The new building is said TO be so badly
cracked from the first shock that il is feared
half of it will have to be taken down and re-
built.
| After the first explosion men were sent all
through the buildings TO look for other sus-
picious boxes but found nothing. The cause
of the second explosion is as great a mystery
as that of the first
| Later.-The explosions did considerable
| damage to windows in the vicinity of the
! Parliament House and almost all OF the win
dows in the house itself in the section under
the construction where the explosion occurred
are shattered. The only persons injured are
Martial, workm an, who was struck by a
small rock, portion of the shattered wall,
and Mr. Charlebes, contractor, who suffered
slight bruise on the hand.
The damage by the first explosion is con-
siderable. A hole about IL feet high by 5
| feet wide was blown out of the wall in the
third story from the basement and directly
over the right hand entrance TO the assembly
chamber and near the place where the speak
er's chair is situated. The second explosion
occurred in the northeast corner of the same
building. The lower stories, being the sup
port of the building, are badly bulged and it
is doubtful ifit can be repaired without letting
down the whole wall.
There is no proof to doubt that dynamite
was used. Searching investigation is now in
progress. Everything is quiet in the neigh
borhood and portion of battery A are patrol
! ling the grounds around the parliament
building. The government were only await
| ing the completion of the building to call the
house together.
The building had been so far advanced that
| only a part of the roof remained unfinished.
Several rumors are current regarding the
cause of the explosion. French employees
state that the work was done by Irish dyna-
miters, while some Irish citizen say, and the
opinion is shared by a great many, that
French workmen committed the deed with a
view to injure the contract, but for what
reason is not apparent, as it said that the
| and M on tho has of
terms. Serious trouble is feared between
the two nationalities if these accusations be
carried much further
At a meeting of the Cabinet tonight it was
| decided to offer a reward of $1,000 for infor-
nation as to the outrages and authors. Guards
have been placed on all of the powder maga-
zines connected with the citadel, military
stores and cartridge factory. One hundred
men of battery A are now guarding the par
liamentary buildings. II is said that the
government was warned some time ago to
look out for dynamite.
The troops placed around the parliament
building last night were withdrawn at 7.30 2.
NJ. today and strong guard of police put
there in their place. No person was allowed
to approach the building or pass in close
proximity to it during the entire night and
today a most vigorous watch was kept. The
| excitement is still unabated and about 1000
persons visited the scene of the disaster to-
day. All sorts of rumOrs are in circulation,
one of the theories being that four strangers,
lately employed in the building as workmen,
have been acting in most suspicious man
ner and one always remained behind while
the other three went to dinner. Another
story is told by prominent employe. He
SAYS he overheard part of a conversation
carried on between or men, who stated
that they would soon have their grievances
set right. In fact there is no end to rumors.
| The chief of police says tonight, that the
police had discovered nothing yesterday, but
thought tonight that they had had a positive
clue to the perpetrators.
On a closer inspection today of the damage
| it was found that the hole made by the first
explosion was much larger than reported
Yesterday. 1t is now believed that the entire
wall of the northeast portion of the house will
have to be taken down. This will entail an
expense of S25, 600. 1t is certain that5l, "
building will not be completed
permit the government to hold its >,
| there this wear,