The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-27
KING GEORGE NEARLY KILLED.
TWO AssAssINs OPEN FIRE ON HING
IN HIS CARRIAGE.


The King stands in Front of His
Daughter to Shield Her From tha
Flying BuIlets-The COachman
whips Up the Horses and Drives
the Royal Party Ont of Harms
Way-One of the Horses Slightly
Wounded-KtnE Could Identify
One of the Men.
Athens, Feb 26.-An unsuccessful ats
tempt was made to-day to assassinats
King George of Greece.
The King was returning from Phalerunt
at o'clock In the evening in landaus
accompanied by the Princess Maria, wheu
two men, who were hidden in ditch
alongside the road, opened fire with guns
upon the occupants OF the carriage.
The first shot missed. but the second
wounded a footman in the arm.
The coachman whipped up his horses
and the royal party dashed away at a
gallop
The miscreants fired seven more shots
after them, none of which took effect, and
the King and the princess returned to the
palace unhurt.
sins was dressed in gray clothing, and his
majesty declares that he could easily
identify him.
When the second shot whizzed past thu
carriage the King rose and stood In frone
of his daughter in order to shield her.
one OF the horses was slightly wounded
One of the assailants knelt in the mid>
die of the road. aimed straight at the Kings
who noticed that the mans hand was
shaking.
The shot missed and the King had a
clear view OF this man. who his majesty
says, was barely 20 years old.
He continued TO fire after the carriaga
until IL was out of range. His compan-
ion did not leave the ditch.
As soon as the news became known all
the leading politicians hastened to the pal-
ace to express their congratulations oven
the escape of King George and the Prin-
cess Maria.
The action of his majesty In shielding
the Princess at the risk OF his own life
has aroused great enthusiasm.
When the carriage arrived near the spot
where the assailants were concealed one
of them rose to his feet, crying, In Creek
''Stop your majesty"
The King coolly rose, and standing In
front of his daughter, brandished his walk-
ing stick, crying: "Begone."
The first shot was fired at distance OF
twenty yards.
The King relates that he perceiyed a
third individual little further away, ond
several persons who were In the vicinity
during the afternoon report seeing suspi-
cious looking men in a field beside the
road
A cndet, who was on horseback some
distance behind the royal carriage, heard
the shots and gallopcd 20 the scene In time
to SEQ the Kings assailants fleeing In the
direction OF Hymetus. Strong patrols ara
securing the district In search of the
would-be assassins.
At $50 o'clock tonight the Metropolitan
held thanksgiving service in the palace
chapel. The queen knelt, sobbing, through-
out the service.
| "A solemn TIE Deum has been fixed to be
held In the Cathedral tomorrow morning
at which all the members OF the royal
| family will attend.
| All the diplomats and personages OF
| prominence have called at the palace. His
| majesty said to them that the subversive
| propaganda of certain journals had
brought about deplorabe results.
Shortly after midnight the police were
on the track of the club OF which tho
Kings assaiants are members. The assas-
sins were chosen by lot. II is expected sev~
| eral arrests will shortly be made.
King George and his eldest son, Primes
| Constantine, have been very unpopular.
| since the overwhelming defeat indicted
upon the Greek army by the Turks lass
| year.