Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-04-24
DYNAMITE AGAIN.
The London Admiralty Office At
tackled.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY WOUNDED
And Other Officials lnjured---either
Gun Cotton or Dyna-
mite Used.
SUSPICIOUS STRANGERS SEEN ABOUT

LONDON, April 23.-Great excitement
was caused in the Admiralty Office in White
Hall at IL o'clock this forenoon BY an ex.
plosion in room in the. basement of that
building. The fremen and police were
promptly summoned and all the gates Of
the Admiralty building were closed. A
special guard was at once posted and no
person was allowed to enter or depart from
the premises until thorough examination
could be made. 1t was at first supposed
that the explosion was caused by the prema-
ture discharge of q projsctile which had
been sent to the Admiralty for examination.
The explosion occurred in the Secretarys
department Mr.. Edwin N. Swanson, AS
sistant Secretary and Principal Clerk, re-
ceived severe scalp wound. 1t is said that
other officials were also injured, but none
so seriously as Mr.. Swanson. tits now be-
heyed that the explosion was not accidental,
but that it was caused by dynamite. A
large force of detectives, under Inspector
o. Hagan, has been posted around the Ad-
mirslty building, and no one is allowed to
leave until after Identification.
2 D. m.-Sir William Vernon Hsrcourt
and Col Msendie, Chief Inspector of Ex:
plosives, are making a careful and personal
examination of the wreck. No official state
ment of the cause OF the explosion has yet
been made. The walls and other principal
parts OF the building are uniniured. In ad'
dition to the severe scalp wound Me. Swain
son also suffers from severe conclusion OF
the brain. 1t is expected, however, that he
will recover from his injuries.
Dynamite or Gun Cotton Used.
1t is now regarded as certain that either
gun cotton or dynamite was used to cause
the explosion. Mr.. Swainson's room, in
which the explosion took place. was made
complete wreck. The adjacent corridors
were very much damaged, while all the win
dows fronting on the horse guards parade
were blown out. Several of the inspectors
of explosives attached to the Home Office
were promptly on the ground and are max
ing q critical examination OF the wreckage.
No arrests have been made up to this hour,
nor has any one been detained even on
suspicion. No clue Of any kind whatsoever
has yet been obtained as to the origin ofthe
explosion.
Set the House On Fire.
2:2O .. m.-The explosion this morning
badly damaged the room in which it oc-
CURED, and set it on fire. The officials and
Gremen soon extinguished the flames The
Cabinet Ministers were Immediately In
formed by telegraph OF the explosion, and
were furnished with all the facts in connec-
ton Herewith that were ascertainsble at the
Time A special messenger was dispatched
to the Home Office, and Sir William Vernon
Harcourt, Home Secretary, was thus notified
of the affair. Mr. William Sproston Caine
VI. P. Civil Lord of the Admiralty was
summoned by telegraph, and he shortly af-
forwards arrived at the scene Of the ex9lo-
sion.
2:3G p. M.-The room occupied by Mr..
Swanson, and in which the explosion Oc-
Cured, is on the ground floor and immedi-
ately back of the Admiralty Office. 1t over
looks the yard in front of the residence Of
Lord Northbrook, the first Lord Of the
Admiralty, The plaster of the room hangs
in ribbons from both the walls aud ceiling
The fittings Of the room are smashed into
atoms. The marvel now is, that more
serious damage was not done to the occu-
pants OF the room.
Mr.. Samson, who has been restored to
consciousness, gives it bis opinion that the
explosive, whatever it may have been, was
thrown into the room through the widnow.
A rumor is now in circulation that two
men bearing a package were seen, just pre-
vious to the explosion, mounting wall
ar to the Secretsry's department.
Nihilists Suspected by n Detective.
At first it was reported that the explosion
was caused by dynamite and that it was the
outcome of plot hatched by either dyna,
miters or Nihiists for the purpose of ham
pering the war preparations OF the British
government A prominent Scotland yard
detective asserted today that the Nihilists IN
London have suddenly become very patriot
ic in their conversation since the contro-
versy between England and Russia regard
ing the Afghan boundary question had
reached critical stage. The employees OF
the Admiralty office have been working day
and night for some time past in order to
hurry forward the war preparations for the
Soudan and for other purposes and any dis
aster 10 the building at present would cause
serious delay.
An inspector, after cursory exsmina-
ton, expressed doubt as to whether the ex-
plosion was caused BY gas, gunpowder or
dynamite.
There Were Two Explosions.
2:30 p. m.-The explosion took place at
1850 this morning, The loud and quick
reports were heard. CONSERVATION took
possession Of all persons in the vicinity. 1t
is supposed that the explosive was thrown
over the wall iu,o The rear OF the Admiral
ity building aud faciug she horse guards
parade
Tie explosion occurred close to but not
in Mr. SwainsUu's room, sS stated in the
earlier reports. The stair case leading to
the board room, which is located lu the
southwest corner of the building, was de,
mo,ishsd Tie iron r,iliug Of the stair
case was wrenched from its fssteuiugs, aud
windows within fifty yards Of the spot where
the explosion took place we're broken.
Mr.. Swanson, who it is now sscertainei
vas The only person injured, was taken to a
hi spitsl.