The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-06
SHOT Al PRINCE OFWALES
A BELGIAN ANARCHIST ATTEMPTS HIS
ASSASSINATION.
FIRES TWO T-BLANK SHOTS
At the Prince and Princess from the
Steps OF their Railway Carriage as the
Train Pulls Out of a Depot at Brus-
sels-Both shots Mfss-The Assassin
Arrested-Boasting OF His Deed-The
Prince Takes Matters Coolly.

Brussels, Belgium, April "A SEN
sational attempt to assassinate the
Prince of Wales was made at a rail-
young anarchist, who fired two shots,
but the prince escaped unharmed. The
would-be assassin was Immediately
arrested. The train bearing the prince
was just pulling out of the Northen
railway station at 1886 o'clock, when
Sipido jumped upon the footboard Of
the princes saloon car, aimed his re-
volver at his royal highness and fired
twice. Hearing the shots the station
master rushed to the scene and
knocked down Sipido's arm as the lat
ter prepared to fire a third shot, while
themselves on the princes aSsailant
In the confusion, another man, who
was innocent, was seized, roughly
handled and beaten.
Intense excitement prevailed for the
moment, as it was feared the prince
had been hit, the shots having been
fired almost point blank. The railway
carriage door was hastily thrown open,
and great relief was felt when the
prince himself appeared at the window
unhurt.
Both the prince and the princess,
however, had very narrow escape.
The policeman on duty took Sipido in
charge. The latter appeared proud or
his exploit and seemed quite calm. he
told the authorities that he lived on
the Rue de la Forge, at Saint Giles.
two miles south Of Brussels.
Div L1f Vol ho6 a c
certained that the man who fired the
shot should be arrested he declared
himself and the princess uninjured and
the train immedt- tely started.
An eye witness says that the train
was already in motion, and when the
engineer heard the pistol he shut off
steam, applied the brakes and stopped
the train. AS the train restarted, after
Sipido's arrest, the public loudly cheer
ed the prince, who acknowledged the
demonstration from the car window.
The prince appeared quite unaffected
by the incident. He asked whether the
revolver was loaded, and on being in
formed in the affirmative, smiled and
begged that the culphit might not be
treated too severely.
When examined by the station Off
cials, Sirido declared he intended to
kill the Trince of Wales; that he did
not regret his action and that he was
ready to DO it again if given a chance
to do so. Subsequently he declared he
wanted to kill the prince because he
caused thousands of men to be slaugh-
tered in South Africa"
The would-be assassin is a tinSmith,
a resident Brussels, 16 years of age.
His pockets were found to be full of
anarchist literature. He has round,
boyish face, black eyes and dark hair.
At the examination before the mag
istrate it was ascertained that he had
purchased a penny ticket in order tC
reach the departure platform, where
he walked up and down quite while
while the prince was promenading.
An examination of Sipido's revolver
| showed that four chambers had been
discharged, but that two Of the car
tridges had missed fire. The weapon
is Of the cheapest six-chambered de-
scriptiOn, such as is usually sold here
for 3h francs.
Persons who attended the Maison du
Peuple yesterday say that they heard
Sipido declare that if the Prince OF
Wales came to Brussels he ought to
have a bullet in his head, and they
also heard him offer to bet five francs
that he would fire at the pripce.
According to LIE Patriote, some news
of the views expressed at the meet
ing referred to was conveyed to the
| station master, who had taken what
he thought were extra precautions.
Sipido appeared at the station in his
best clothing, having explained to his
| father that he was going to seek en-
| ployment.
The attack is condemned even at the
| labor headquarters here, and at the
| Maison du Peuple, where the extreme
| anarchists meet, a leading member OF
| the young socialist guard was loud
! in his denunciation this evening OF
| Sipido's action.