, 1885-01-25
AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE.
Scenes of Terror. Desolation and
Woe.


Woe.
LONDON. Jan. 24-Saturday being the
usual visiting day at the house of parlia-
ment, the lobby contained a great number
of sightseen at the time of the explosions.
The first explosion occurred in the
crypt of Westminster hall. The second
took place in the strangers gallery ia the
house of m Immediately before
the first explosion a lady visitor, who was
alone, and about to enter the building,
beckoned to a policeman and called his
attention to a package lying upon the
steps outside the crypt. The policeman
picked up the package carelessly, not sus-
pecting anything, and went with it out
into Westminster hall. He no sooner
reached the hall than the package ex-
ploded.
The prevalent belief is that the destruc-
tive agent was conveyed into the house Of
commons by some Of the Saturday visi-
tors. A fuller investigation shows that
the extent Of damage is greater than first
supposed. The western extremity Of the
house is a total wreck. There is now no
doubt that the explosive was placed I'M
der the peers gallery on the government
side Of the house. All woodwork in that
part Of the building is shattered and u
wide hole is made through the floor. The
gallery was displaced and even the solid
stone work OF the door ways either pull
verified or shifted from position. Every
pane OF glass in the house is smashed to
atoms, the gallery benches overturned
and broken, and the gallery generally dis
m antled.
Immense damage was done in the lob
by. The masonry decorations and sculp-
ture are utterly destroyed. The place is
described as literally blown to pieces. The
shock was felt in Pail Mall. and persons
in the vicinity say the very earth shook.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt, home sec
Rotary. and the Marquis of Harrington.
secretary Of state for war, are visiting the
scene.
Another account of the explosion at
Westminster hall says it was more disas-
trous than at first anticipated. Four per-
sons were badly injured. including two
policemen fatally wounded. A lady who
was in the hall spied the internal machine
and called the attention of Policeman
Cole, on duty at the time, to it. Officer
Cole rushed to the spot, seized the ma.
chine and attempted to extinguish the
fuse, but was not quick enough. The
fuse burned SO rapidly and closed SC
quickly upon the machine that the officer
dropped it The explosion knocked the
policeman down and injured him seriously,
His case is considered critical. Its force
also knocked down two other policemen
standing in the vicinity and stunned them,
A lady and gentlemen near the officer
who had a package, were also Frustrated
The great window over the main entranc,
to Westminster hall was smashed t
atoms and all sides Of the windows blown
Jul. III tHt iHitfiul VI llt nOuht OF COM
mons and upon the floor, the only sea
damaged by the explosion was that which
Gladstone occupies. A small chip WA
also torn off the top Of the speakers
chair. The explosion caused a pani
among the visitors. Those who were il
the house of commons fed precipitately
many ladies being bruised and crushed.
The second explosion in the parliamen
buildings occurred three minutes late
than the first and was far more destruct
i've. The dynamite which caused III,
second explosion, must have beer place;
under the peers gallery, on the left side
The force of the explosion was such tina
one man was blown to the earth tire
hundred yards from the point Of the ex
plosion. The lobby Of the house Of com
mons was completely demolished. Il ciu
to the perpetrators Of the outrage |
thought to have been discovered. Jus
before the explosion occurred a man an
woman, the latter carrying a hand bag