Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-25

Ard at once attracted an immense crown
10 the scene.
Later reports show that the first sto-
rics about the damage to the White
Tower were somewhat exaggerated.
While the Tower building was not de-
stroyed, it is now said that the struc-
ture was not even seriously injured.
These later reports have tended some
what to allay public excitement. II
the explosion had really demolished the
White Tower the result must have been
immensely more serious; for part
of tho building is the armory,
used at present for the storage Of
rifles. and often Of large quantities
Of ammunition. This fact makes the
popular Indignation against the perpe-
traitor of the outrage indescribable. A
large number of children were among
the visitors, and many OF these little
ones had their faces and hands very
badly torn by broken glass and flying
splinters. A most piteous sight in the
large crowd of innocent prisoners tenn
porarily detained within the Tower walls
was afforded by these little ones with
their pale faces and bleeding heads.
LITERALLY BLOWN TO PIECES.
4:3O p. M.-The prevalent belief is
that the destructive agent was conveyed
into the House of Commons by some
Saturday visitor. A fuller investiga-
ton shows that the extent Of the dam
age is much greater than at first sup
posed. The western extremity OF the
house is a total wreck. There is no
doubt but that the explosive was placed
under the peers gallery, on the Gov
eminent side Of the house. All the
woodwork in that part of the building
was shattered, and wide hole was
made through the floor. The gallery
was displaced, and even the solid
stonework doorways were either
pulverized or shifted from It's position.
Every pane of glass in the house was
smashed to atoms, benches were over
turned and broken, and the gallery
generally dismantled. One lady who
was visiting the House of Commons at
the time of the outrage was seriously
injured. Immense damage was done in
the lobby. The masonry, decorations,
and sculpture were utterly destroyed.
The place is described as literally blown
to pieces. The shock was felt in PAIL
Mall, and persons in the vicinity say
that the very earth shook. Sir William
Vernon Harcourt, Home Secretary, and
Marquis Harrington, Secretary of State
for War, are visiting the scene.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Another account says the explosion
at Westminster Hall was as follows
The explosion at Westminster Hall was
more disastrous than at first anticipated.
Four persons were badly injured, in
Guiding the policemen, who are proba-
bly, fatally injured. A person who was
in the hall spied the internal machine,
and called the attention of Policeman
Cole (who was on duty at the time) to
it. Officer Cole rushed to the spot.
seized the machine, and attempted to
extinguish the fuse, but was not quick
enough. The fuse burned so rapidly
and closed so quickly upon the ma
chine that the officer became alarmed
and dropped it. The explosion follow
ed almost Immediately after. One half
of the hall was wrecked. The eXplo-
sion in the lobby of the House of Com
mons occurred three minutes later than
the one in Westminster Hall. 1t came
from directly under the strangers gal
lery, and very close to the seat usually
occupied by Bradlaugh when visiting
the Commons lobby. 1t was complete
" wrecked. The gallery was torn
down. the Speakers chair destroyed,
and the massive stonc-work displaced.
The glass roof of the House Of Com
mons is completely shattered. Tho
clock in the House stopped precisely at
2:l3 p. NJ. \ heavy beam which
formed one Of the supports to the gal
lcry under which Charles Bradlaugh
was accustomed to sit when he visited
the House was projected into the Speak
er's chair. seriously injuring it. Glad
stones seat was torn to pieces.
Another account Of the explosion at
the Tower gives the following details
| The scenes in and around the Tower oil
London are indescribabic. Several chill
drcn of tender age are among the IN
| iured in the Tower. and their pale faces,
bloody heads, and broken limbs reused
the great crowd who congregatcd IN
the vicinity to frenzy. IellS are heard
on every side to Lynch the villains.
Roast the iiends."
All visitors are still detained in tn,
Tower, and will be kept there until then
antecedcntS have been thoroughly IN
| CURED into.
Colonel Majcndre, chief Inspector o
explosives. in an interview this after
noon said that the explosions were due
TO nitro-glycerine compounds precisely
similar to those used in the preyiou
outragcs in this city. He believed tina
a woman had charge of the explosive
apparatus at Westminster Hall and a
the lobby of the House of Commons.
5 I. M-Thc city is in frenzler
state of excitement. The whole of tn
police force is on duty, and troops II
and around the city are under arms
Photographers are stationed everywher
in close proximity TO each other, and
Gordon of police has been drawn aroun
every public building.
Chief-Superintendent Williamson. o
Scotland Yard, has personally inspecte
the scenes of the explosions, a. hav
also Inspectors Livingston and Kelly
One of the wounded policemen is dying
Several men have been arrested, bu
they are believed to be innocent of an
connection with the horrible outrages
The man taken into custody in the yicinit
of Westminster Hall is a Canadian, an
apparently a seafarer. He was thc
roughly searched, but nothing of an il
eliminating nature was found on hi
person.
The Queen has telegraphed for pal
| g 20 .