The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-20
A BOMB Exploded
In Streets Of Paris Shortly After President
Faure Passes on His way to Station to
Start to St. Petersburg.

President Faure on his visit TO the
car at ST. Petersburg today was
marked by scene of greatest excite
ment. accompanied by the circulation
Of the widest kind of rumors.
After his departure a bomb exploded
along the route the president had fol-
lowed and although no damage was
done, and in spite Of the fact that no
body was hurt, the most intense excite
ment prevailed for a long time after
ward, and the sensational reports had
it that those who exploded the bomb
had intended an outrage OF a more
serious nature.
The president received an ovation
from the public when he started on his
journey TO Russia, large crowds of peo-
pie lining the route from the Elysee
palace to the railroad station, and
greeted the president with enthusiastic
cries of Viva Ia Republique.' Nive
la Russia "Vive Faure.' etc.
Ten minutes after the presidents de-
parture, While the crowds were return
ing along the route traversed by NJ.
Faure, a bomb exploded at the corner
of the Boulevard Magenta, and the Rue
Lafayette, in front of the Restaurant
Duval.
The report caused a panic in the
neighborhood and all sorts of wild
stories were circulated, based on the
statements attributed to anarchists
that their next effort would be an at
tempt upon the life of President Faure.
Upon investigation by the police, how
ever, it developed that the explosion
caused but little damage, and that
nobody was hurt. The bomb was of
cylindrical form, was covered with yell
low paper and appears to have con-
tanned a black substance, possibly
coarse gun powder, mixed with large
headed nails, similar to those usually
found in the roughly constructed infer
nal machines used by the less lntelll-
gent class of anarchists. Fragments OF
the bomb were taken to the prefecture
of police, where they were submitted to
a thorough examination upon the part
of experts, who pronounced the bomb
to have been a comparatively harm
less affair. 1t had consisted Of an iron
tube, thirty centimeters long and five
centimeters in diameter. 1t was placed
in an empty store close to the corner
of the Boulevard Magenta and the Rue
Lafayette. Some of the nails contain
ed in it were thrown a few feet on to
the sidewalk. Scraps of paper were
found about the scene of the explosion,
inscribed Viva la Liberte!' and 'Vive
la Boulogne!" apparently indicating
that the author of the explosion today
was the same individual who caused
the recent explosions in the Bois de
Boulogne and on the Place de la Con-
cOrde.
President Faure was accompanied on
his way to Russia by M. HanOtaux, the
minister of foreign affairs and by Ad-
mira3 Bosnard, the minister Of marine
The presidential party, according to
the official programme, left Dunkirk
this afternoon on board the French
warsl;p Pothuau. The latter will be
escorted to Russia by the French war
ships BruiX and Surcouf, and will ar
rive at Cranstadt on Monday morning
next, August 23d. The French presi-
dent will be received by the czar in
the CronstaGt roads.
The first day Of NJ. Faure's visit to
Russia will be devoted to his reception
at Cronstadt and at Peterhof, to the
exchange of official visits, a banquet
at the Peterhof palace and a gala per-
formance at the Imperial theatre.
On Tuesday August oath the car and
his guest will start to St. Petersburg.
There the French president will be
welcomed by the municipalities Of the
principal cities of the Russian empire.
The president will also on Tuesday lay
the corner stone of the new French
hospital and in the evening M. Faure
will preside at a banquet, which he
will give at the French embassy in
! honor of the czar. On Wednesday
August 25th he will be present at a
| grand review on the parade ground Of
! the KrasnOe-SelO camp. The review
will be followed by a grand military
| breakfast and the days entertainments
| will wind up with a brilliant fete in the
| gardens of the Peterhof palace.
On Thursday there will be grand
| review in Cronstadt roads Of the COM
| bined French and Russian sQuadrOns
at the termination of which President
| Faure will bid farewell to the cZar and
| czarina and will return on board the
Pothuau, which will Immediately after.
| ward sail for France.
| Among the magnificent decorations
| prepared for the occasion of the visit
| of NJ. Faure to st. Petersburg is a very
handsome fountain, to be known as the
| Faure fountain, constructed in the mid
| die Of the historic kaZan square. 1t is
destined to remain as permanent
| memorial of the visit of the president
of the French republic to the czar OF
all the Russias.
President Faure takes with him three
| hundred medals in gold and platinum
| eighty medals of silver gilt and twent!
| OF Qull gOld, all or Wnlcn nave
| been especially struck for pre-
sentation to the Russian guard of hon.
or which will attend the president dur
| ing his stay in Russia and to the
| various Russian officials who will bs
| in attendance upon the chief magis
trate of France. These medals beal
on one side the profile of an effigy o.
the republic and the words "Repub-
| Hque Francaise.' On the reverse side
Of the medals is a wreath Of laurel:
surrounding the date, August 1897
The semi official Novoe Vremya re-
| Gently threw a damper upon the visi
of the French president to Russia By
| denying that NJ. Faure would be &C.
ccfapanied by his wife or daughter
| thus recalling the unpleasant discus.
| sion which arose during the visit OF
| the car and czarina to Paris regarding