Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-12
THE MADRID BOMB THROW
ING
Miss Alice II. Busl,cc, n Teacher in the
Spanish Capital, Saw the ARar-
cbist Trngcdy-IIcr Vivid Des-
crintiOn Of II,

Miss Bushee. the writer of the following
letter, is the daughter of Rev. Wliliap ~.
Bushee. who was for number of years
pastor of Congregational Churches In Der
by. Morrisvfle. Wallirgford and other Yer
mont towns She has been for several
years teacher in the international
Protestant school for girls In Madrid
Spain. founded by the late Mrs. Alice
Gordon Guick. She is well known to
some Of our readers. and in missionary
and educational circles In this and other
lands She witnessed and was herself in
peril from the murderous bomb explos-
ion in Madrid. from which the young
King OF Spain and his bride SO narrowly
escaped destruction Her parents now
reside in Woonsocket, r. l., and the
Gazette of that city prints the follow
ing letter from her detailing her per-
sonal view Of the tragic event:
Fortuny 20, Madrid,
June TO- 1906
MY Dear Mother-There have been so
many things happenqg during these last
10 days that have not been able to write
you all the details Of that memorable 3lst
Of May. a day that will not be forgotten
in the history Of Spaln.
Not only the city ana the nation had
been preparing for the event that was
to take place. but also all Europe, and
one might say the whole world Two
days before stood at the corner where
the street from the station turned to the
palace. and saw the prince and princess
of Wales escorted by the royal guards
the crown prince of Austria, Grand Duke
vladimir of Russia. Prince Albert of
D,-,,c DIT, l,t,
Sweden, japanese delegation, infanta
Paz the kings aunD and her family In
Guiding the little Pillar, who had been
selected at ono time as the queen of
Spain, with all their retinue, drive up the
street to the palace, where they had a
short reception.
The Puerta del Sol, the large oval
square IN the middle OF the city, and the
70 streets leading from 1t, were all finely
decorated. both for day and night effects
flags of Spain and England. flowers,
festoons, electric lights In abundance,
greetings both tn Spanish and English, to
the Hoyal couple We're everywhere pre-
sent 1t was well worth seeing.
Thousands OF people had come into the
city from all over Spain and from other
countries and in some cases fabulous
prices were being paid for rooms and
balconies. where the parade could be
seen that morning
We had RECEIVED an invitation to see
the royal procession from the balcony
of a house Just Off the Puerta del Sol,
on the street through which the carrta ges
would pass on their return from the cure
The ceremony took place at II o'clock,
but they were to leave the palace at $3.50,
so that we left the house at $50 and went
as far as the tram would take us, walk
ing up Alcala to the PuertA del SOL as
no tram was allowed an any OF the
streets where the procession would pass.
On the way we saw the regiment that
had come from Africa. known as tho
Tiradores de Riff. fine looking men. and
noticeable for their special costume.
When We reached the Puerta the cav
airy were already there. forming two
lines. with the horses so close together
that 1t was impossible to pass between.
They were the Husares de Pavia regiment
under the command OF Don Fevando. the
husband OF the kings youngest sister,
Maria Teresa We were allowed to pass
through the opening between the two
lines. through which later the procession
would pass and reached our corner bal
cony In safety. The streets were rapidly
filling up with people, many had been