Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-05-01
DARING DYNAMITERS.
FIENDs AGAIN AT WORK IN LONDON
An Explosion in the Admiralty Buildings
-Great Damage to Property, but no
Loss of Life-Nihilists suspect
ed of the Crime.

LONDON, April 23.-Great excitement
was caused in the Admiralty office at 1880
a. m. to-day by an explosion in room Ill
the basement The firemen and police
were promptly summoned and all the
gates closed A special guard was posted
and no person allowed to enter or depart
until a thorough examination was made
1t is supposed the explosion was caused
by the premature discharge of a projectile
which had been sent to the admiralty for
examination. The explosion badly dam
aged the rooms in which it occurred and
set it on fire. The officials and firemen
soon extinguished the flames The cab
met ministers were Immediately informed
of the explosion.
The explosion occurred in the Secretarys
department. Mr.. Edwin N Swanson,
assistant secretary and principal clerk,
received a severe scalp wound. 1t is said
other officials were also injured, but none
as seriously rs Swanson. 1t is not be-
lieved that the explosion was caused by
dynamite.
Mr.. Swainson's room was completely
wrecked. The adjacent corridors were
much damaged, while all the windows
fronting on the horse guards parade were
blown out. No arrests have been made
nor has anyone been detained on suspicion.
William Vernon HarcOurt and Col. Ma
jendie, chief inspector of explosives, are
making personal examination of the
wreck. The walls and other principal
parts of the building are uninjured. Mr..
Swanson received severe conclusion of
the BRAIN 1t is expected. however, that
he will recover. The plaster hangs in
ribbons from the walls, and the ceiling
fittings of the room were smashed to
atoms The marvel is that more serious
damage was not done to the occupants.
Mr.. Swanson thinks the explosive was
thrown into the room through window.
There is a rumor that two men bearing Il
package were seen just previous to the eX
ploSion mounting the wall near the secre-
taries' department. Mr.. Gladstone, Earl
Granville and Lord f. Fitzmaurice were
at breakfast in the foreign office when the
explosion occurred. They were soon up
on the scene.
Two loud and quick reports were heard.
CONSERVATION took possession OF all per-
sons in the vicinity. It's supposed the eX-
plosive was thrown over the wall in rear
of the admiralty building. The explosion
occurred close to, but not in, Mr.. Swain
sons room. The staircase leading to the
board room was demolished, and windows,
fifty yards distant, were broken. The as
sistant inspector of explosives states that
a large charge of gun cotton was used. 1t
is believed some stranger, under the pre-
text of visiting an official, obtained access
to the visitors waiting room, and placed
He probably had time to leave the build
ing before the fuse reached the explosive.
A prominent Scotland yard detective,
says the Nihilists in London have become
very patriotic in their conversation since
the controversy between England and
Russia has reached ii critical stage. The
employees of the admiralty have been
working day and night to hurry forward
war preparations. Any disaster to the
building would cause serious delay.
A strong suspicion prevails that the eX-
plosion in the admiralty Office was the re-
suit of private malice, as Mr.. Swanson
was greatly disliked by ii number of per-
sons, including several employees of the
Office. 1t is now certain that the internal
machine was placed in the bookcase over
the spot where Mr. Swainson's head
would be when sitting at his desk. The
detectives are positive the outrage was
the work of an emplOye
An examination of the admiralty office
shows that the glass domed roof of the
building was shattered into fragments by
the explosion, but the grand staircase was
uniniured. No arrests have yet been
made