The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-01-29
Dynamite in London.
ATTEMPT TO BLOW UP THE HOUSE OF
PARLIAMENT.

A terrific explosion occurred in London
on Saturday last, about two O'Clock. The
House of Parliament and Government Of
fees were severely shaken and considera-
Die damage done. The first explosion &C.
CURED close to the House of Lords. The
explosive is said to have been in crypt
under the building. The force of the
shock was tremendous and was felt at q
great distance. Three minutes after the
first alarm another explosion in the House
of Commons took place.
A dispatch from London under date of
the Goth says:
This outrage was the most successful
which has yet been made upon any of the
public buildings since the Inaugural
tion of the present era of dynamite war
fare. The famous old building was
crowded with visitors at the time of the
explosion.
The widest rumOrS are in circulation as
to the number of persons who have been in
jured by the crime. These rumors are being
carried through,Jhe city and constantly ex-
aggerated by visitors who were present at
the time, and who have hurried away in
all directions. Up to O'Clock but sixteen
persons had been officially returned as
having been injured by the explosion, and
none of these are reported as mortally
hart.
The attack was made on that portion of
the building known as White Tower. P"
1t was fairly filled with visitors at the
time and most, if not all, of those who are
known to have been hurt were moving
about in the tower at the time OF the ex-
plosion. White Tower was almost COM
pletely wrecked by the force OF the eXplo-
sion and the roof was blown clear off the
structure. Allpersons known to have been
injured were visitors.
The police, at the moment they realized
the nature of the explosion, etfectually
barred all egress from the Tower and
grounds. They are now subjecting every
person whom they have succeeded in de-
search, upon the theory that the attack
was perpetrated by some person or persons
inside the premises.
| Saturday being an unusual visiting day
| to the houses of Parliament, the buildings
| contained great number of sightseers at
| the time of the explosions. The first eX-
| plosion occurred in crypt of Westminster
Hail. The second took place in the
strangers gallery i'll the House OF Com
mons. Immediately before the first ex-
plosion lady visitor who was alone and
was about to enter the buildings beckoned
to policeman, and when he went to her
she called his attention to apackage.
Lying upon the steps outside the crypt
the policeman picked up a package care
lessly not suspecting anything, and went
with it out into Westminster Hall. He
had no sooner reached the hall than the
package exploded.
The explosion knocked q policeman down
and injured him so severely that his case
at present is considered critical. Its force
also knocked down two other policemen
| who were standing in the vicinity. and
badly stunned them. A lady and gentle
| man who were standing near the officer
who had the package were also Frustrated.
| The great window over the main entrance
to Westminster Hall was smashed to
atoms, and all the side windows were
blown out.
The surgeons We're promptly summoned
to the assistance of the wounded, who are
now receiving all the attention practicable.
The excitement is growing as the news OF
the explosion spreads, and the crowds in
the vicinity of the damaged building are
increasing momentarily.
The force of the explosion was such that
one man was blown to the earth who was
as many as three hundred yards from the
point where it occurred. The lobby OF the
House of Commons was completely demol-
! ished.
AS yet no clue to the perpetrators of the
deed has been made public if discovered.
| Crawford, the missing clerk of Bland
| County Court. is ON his way to Richmond.