Morning journal and courier., 1885-04-24
DYNAMITE IN LONDON.

-
An Explosion in the Admiralty Build
tng-A Clue to the PerPetrators-
American Clock Work Found i'm the
Ruins.
LONDON, April 23-The Admiralty office
on Whitehall was the scene of an explosion
about II o'clock this morning which caused
great excitement throughout the city. The
Admiralty is plain building on Whitehall,
near the Horse Guards, and is within few
blocks of the houses of Parliament. 1t has
been the headquarters of the Naval depart
ment of Great Britain since 1926. The ex-
plosion occurred in the Secretary's depart
ment near the room occupied by Mr.. Edwin
N. Swanson the assistant secretary and
principal clerk, who was seriously injured.
Mr.. Swainson's room is on the ground floor
and Immediately back of the Admiralty Of
fee. 1t overlooks the yard in front of the
residence of Lord Northbrook, the first lord
of the Admiralty. There were two quick
and loud reports. The staircase leading to
the Board room, which is located in the
southwest corner of the building, was denol-
ished. The iron railing of the staircase was
wrenched from its fastenings, and windows
within fifty yards of the spot where the ex-
plosion took place were broken. The relief
troop of horse guards, which was parading
at tbs time of the explosion, was instantly
ordered to watch the building, while addi-
tional sentries of foot guards were posted
about All entrances to the building were
instantly closed and no was permitted to
pass III or out. The name and address of
every person in the structure at the time of
the explosion were then taken as they left
the building. What adds to the mystery is
that at the time of the explosion the sun was
shining brightly and the business of the day
was fairly under way. 1t is considered mir
aculous that SO few persons were injured, as
long lines of people were constantly passing
in and out.
Miss Mary Anderson was breakfasting
with Mr.. Gladstones family when the ex-
plosion occurred, and all present were much
alarmed by the defamation, fearing that some
terrible disaster had occurred. Mr.. Glad
stone, Earl Granville and Lord Edmund
Fitzmaurice, under foreign secretary, were
together at breakfast in the foreign Office at
the time of the explosion. They quickly left
the table and were soon upon the scene,
making inquiries into the cause of the ex-
plosion.
AT nrSL Cn0 IulnOT W0nI OUT IuaG IL was d
gas explosion, but further inquiry showed
that dynamite was the cause The face of a
small American clock blackened
by the explosion, together with
some pieces of clockwork attached,
was found among the debris, and it is sup
posed these fragments are parts of the infer
nal machine used by the conspirators. Va
formed them that two strangers were OBJ
| served accommodating the building yesterday.
| Two officials also testified that they saw two
men this morning approach the building
| from the Horse Guard parade grounds, car
| ryingA tin can, which they placed in re-
When asked why they did not take them in
| to custody these officers stated that they be-
| lieved them to be workmen, and attached
but little Importance to their movements
Workmen have been recently EN-.
| ployed around the building making
repairs and assisting some Surveyor
l who were taking measurements in and
around the grounds. The officers express
| themselves as being able to fully identify the
| men Many of the rooms in the building
| were totally wrecked.
The passage in which the explosion oc
Cured is the one usually used by the Duke
| of Edihburg. When not at sea it is the duty
| of his royal highness to report himself at the
admiralty every morning and he generally
1 walks over at rapid pace alone, when il
town, and enters BY the.han now the scene
of the wreck. The time selected fo
the explosion at the admiralty wa
the hour at which most Of thu
I lords of the admiralty were arriving o
| might be expected to arrive in preparation
for morning board meeting. The business
of the Lords is now very heavy and urgen
| in consequence of the extensive war prepare
tons The Lords board room is only a few
| wards distant from the spot where the explo
sion took place and adjoining the public of
| fees, communicating internally. But few
| steps from the entrance where the cans wer
DEPOSITED in the west wing is the official resi-
dence of the first lord of the Admiralty. TIL,
passage by which the suspected dynamiter
entered the building is in full view of tn
prime minister's private rooms a
E Ssaas . S.ds s s sesas Of Se the fit
plosion sentry Of the guard
was pacing in front of the guards
| barracks. The east wing of the Hors
Guards, occupied by the troops FURNISHING
| guard at the main gateway to st. james
park adjoins the west wing of the Admiral
| ty. and within a few yerds of the explosion
| divided only by stone wall and tier c
| Offices. were the horses, stables and quarter
: | of the troopers. There were police ON dut
in the park, in the rear of the Admiralty an
: | in the rear of Mr.. Gladstone's and in th
) court way ID front of the admiralty at th
J or Eve doorEeepers at the main entrance, a
office keeper at the end of the hall close I
Mr.. Swainson's Office, and also one at til
foot of the staircase leading to the Offices
the admiral on duty and the principal seer
| taries and clerks.
LONDON, April pa strong suspicio
prevails in police and official circles that IL
| explosion at the Admiralty Office was the r
suit of private malice, as Mr.. Swanson w,
. greatly disliked by many persons in the ofic
The internal machine was placed in boo
case just over the spot where Swanson
head would be when seated at his desk I'll
detectives are positive that some one famili
with the office committed the outrage as !