The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-04-30
DYNAMITE AGAIN.
Another Mysterious Explosiou-Attempt TO Blow
LIN the Admiralty fl1iees at London.


Up the Admiralty 0fiees at London.
few minutes before IL o'clock on the morn
ing of the 23d inst. two loud and distinct ex-
piosions in a room in the Admiralty Office in
Whitehall caused the greatest CONSERVATION in
the building and its immediate neighborhood.
Mr. Swanson Assistant Secretary and Chief
Clerk, in whose room the explosion occurred,
was seriously injured by piece Of the flying
debris striking him on the head. Others in the
Office were more or less hurt by flying frag-
ments from the shattered walls of the apart
ment. Instantly a special guard was posted
about the premises. and no one was permitted
to leave the building. or enter it until an ill.,
vestigation had been made.
The room in which the explosion occurred
caught fire and an alarm was sounded. The
flames did little damage, however. Mr.. Swain
sons room, in which the explosion occurred, is
Immediately back of the Admiralty Office and
overlooks the grounds in front of the residence
Of Lord Northbrook, the First Lord of the Ad-
miralty. The walls aud ceiling were stripped
of their plaster and the fittings of the room
were smashed.
When Reconsideration had somewhat atated
an examination was made. 1t WAS at first be-
lieved that "A proiectilc which had been sent to
the Admiralty for inspection had exploded pre-
maturely. This opinion, however, quickly
gave way TO belief that the explosion was not
accidental, but had been caused by dynamite
or gun-cotton, maiiclously fired. Mr.. Swain
sons room was made Il complete wreck, and
the adjacent corridors were very much dam
aged, while all the windows fronting on the
Horse Guards parade were blown out Several
OF the Inspectors of Explosives attached TO the
home Office were promptly Oh the ground, to
make critical examination of the wreckage
Sir VIM. Vernon Harc0urt and Col. Maiendie
Chief of Explosives, also examined the place,
but no clue of any sort was found 10 determine
the cause or the perpctrator Of the explosion.
MIR. Swanson thought the explosive might
have been thrown iii through a window. and it
was rumored that two mon bearing package
were seen just before the explosion mounting a
wall near the Secretary's department.
The face of small American clock, black
cned by the explosion, together with some
pieces Of clock work attached, was found among
the debris during the examination which fol-
lowed soon after the explosion The Admiralty
officials suppose that these fragments are parts
of the internal machine which caused the eX-
p!osiOn, and strong suspicion now prevails in
police and official circles that the explosion was
the result of private malice, as Mr.. Swanson
was greatly disliked by number Of persons
including several employees of the Office. 1t is
certain that the internal machine was placed
in a bookcase just over the SPOT where Mr..
Swainson's head would be when sitting at his
desk.
An examination of the Admiralty Office
shows that the glass-domed roof OF the build
ing was shattered into fragments by the ex-
plosion. hut the grand staircase was uniujured.
Up 10 the present time there is 10 clue what
ever to the perpetrator of this outrage