The Irish standard., 1886-10-09
NUMBER q.

boat with the tide from Southwark, On
the east side Of the river from London
Bridge. Upon reaching the centre
basement OF the formidable structure
which lowered above them in confiden-
tial pride, the occupants of the boat
towed along by the masonry until they
had located themselves as near the cen.
tre as could be judged. One OF them
then busted himself in driving q large
hO}d-fast between the boulders, from
which to suspend their destructive bur-
den. a signal lantern which they car
ried in their boat signalled two persons
who awaited their safe return on the
opposite shore, that everything was
about being placed iu position-even
the faint echo OF the hammer in driving
home the iron holdfast could be heard
by the trembling shore accompllces.
Promptly following the sigual frorn the
boat the heavens we're Illuminated, fol-
lowed by Il darkness which shut out
from the onIookers eyes the dancing re-
Election Of the bridge gaslights on the
water, while the earth rocked and reeled
beneath their feet as though seized by
terrific earthquake. The sound Of the
explosion, intensified By the echo be-
meath the arch, surprised any effort OF
word painting. Suffice it to say that as
it died away amid the hills of Surrey
and Middlesex, every resident OF the
mighty city Of wealth. poverty and sin,
for many, many miles, were panic
stricken. e. fear, strengthened by the
knowledge of similar incidents, seized
everybody. SO great was the panic that
every building Of any dimenslons was
quickly placed under police surveil-
Lance; those Of royal significance, Of
course, receiving first attention.
r Those accomplices who kept viSiI-
ance Oh the shore, were chained to the
spot. Closely and aslxiously they
watched every ripple Of the water: and
strained their ears for the dip Of an oar.
But no, the mighty Thames rolled by
them with its Wonted Indifference. They
lotered around lar into the night.
Fears, surnisas and anticipation took
possession Of them. Wearied of their
dismal watch, they joined the surging
mass Of terrified humanity in and
around the vicinity of the bridge. who
we're battling with the officers to have
a look ct what they Thought remained
OF the structure, and, with a something
like rernorse eating away their breasts.
they returned to their homes. Captain
William Mackey and his daring adyen~
turers had bid % last farewell to this
world, leaving the social and national
problem for solution to other hands.
Not an atom of men or boat remained.
All were blown into The mifutest frag-
ments. Many are the specu!ations by
the friends OF the gallant little captain
as to the disastrous result of this at
tempt. LII is conjec!ured by some that
The acid had eaten too quickly through
the zinc, which was thought to have
been rather thin, in the iron phial in
which ii was contained, ignitiug The
white powder which usually explodes
the detonating cap. and finally the
dynamite. Others incline to believe
that the dynamite was exploded by the
conclusion caused by the blows of the
hammer. This latter supposition is
favorably received, as it is all estab-
}ishea fact that dynamite is known to
have been exploded by similar shocks.
1he reporter has been assured that
about 1u'] pounds Of this terrible exp|os-
i've wts borne to the bridge in lhe boat.
The damage done to :the bridge, while
being considerable, did not, however.
meet the anticipations OF it's would be
destroyers.
Captain Mackey leaves {. wife and
young family, who certainly no matter
how lrishmen may disagree, should net
be left uncared for. There car pe no
excuse advanced for al this secrecy that
aims to cover up an event that must
bring tears from thousands of people in
Ireland. -- Providence Star, Rhode
Island.