The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-06-05

'S L. WI AIIoNh
The Explosion Occurred just as the
Royal Couple Were About to Enter
the Palace and it Was Followed by
Tremendous Excitement.
Madrid, May 31.-The public rejoic-
ing over the marriage of King Alfonso
and Princess Victoria had a terribly
dramatic sequel at 2:30 o'clock this af-
ternoon when a bomb thrown from an
upper window exploded with deadly eff
feet near the coach occupied by the
king and queen. P~rovidentially King
Alfonso and Queen Victoria escaped by
an electric wire DETECTING the bomb,
but at least 16 persons, most of them
being of the personal and military es-
cort and the others spectators, were
killed. Many others were injured.
The following are the killed:
Captain Barros, commanding part of
the kings escort. Lieutenant Reyesi-
ent, Lieutenant Prendergrast. six SOL
diers. The Marquise of Colosa, her
daughter, Donant Antonio Calvo, his
niece, aged 6 years. Jose Sofa. 70 years
of age, Luis Fonseea.
n royal groom who was leading q
horse drawing the coach carrying the
king and queen.
Several of those killed were standing
on the balcony of the house from
which the bomb was thrown.
The explosion occurred just as the
royal couple were about to enter the
palace.
The route of the cortege had been di-
verified from Arsenel street to Mayer
street, owing to the popular desires.
The procession had just passed through
Mayer street, and was about to turn
into the Esplande leading to the palace
when an explosion shook the buildings
! in the vicinity, stunning a large num-
Der of people and throwing the cortege
into an extricable confusion. The roy
al coach was brought to a sudden stop
by the shock. officers and soldiers of
, the escort falling to the ground about
the equerry and horses that had been
killed. The SCREENS of the terrified
multitude mingled with the groans of
the dying. 1t was Immediately seen
that the royal coach was intact, except
as it had been damaged by flying
! %splinters.
King Alfonso Immediately alighted
carriage. They then entered another
coach and were driven swiftly to the
palace.
All this happened so quickly that
people away from the immediate vicin-
ity were not aware of the tragedy that
had been enacted and continued to ac-
claim their sovereigns. Soon, how
ever, there appeared the royal coach
with two horses missing and the others
spattered with blood, several of them
bleeding from wounds. The grooms
and drivers looked death1y pale in
their spangled uniforms. Then came a
boy shouting that the bomb had been
thrown at the king. The appearance
of the king and queen in a coach
brought out d%elirious ovations as the
fact was recognized that the soVerigns
had been spared.
In the meantime the scene of the
tragedy presented a horrible spectacle
with dead men and horses lying about,
literally torn to pieces.
Intense excitement prevailed, the
mob invading the streets while the
forces of the guards sought to maintain
order and block the approaching
streets. The bodies were wrapped up
in blankets and removed on litters
while the wounded were carried to hos
pitfalls in a~mbudances. The pavement
was literally covered with blood, and
tho upper stories of the buildings near
est were spattered with it. The place
from which the bomb was thrown is a
boarding house. The chamber from
which the missile was hurled was
taken May % by a man from Barcelo-
ma giving the name. OF Moral. When
the police surrounded the house the
man attempted to fee but was captured.
Another man escaped over the roofs OF
houses.
According to an official statement it
is not known whether one or more
bombs were thrown. The statement
continues that it is impossible to ascer-
! tain at present the author of the out
! rage, though it is known that a Cata-
lonan named Menkal Duran took an
appointment in the house from which
the bomb was thrown May %, paying
in advance a 500 peseta bill. He was
we'll dressed, of elegant appearance n
showed a fondness for flowers
Frederick w. Whiteridge, the Ameri-
a special envoy, went to the royal
palace where he was assured that the
king and queen were reasonably tran
quill considering the circumstances.
Mr.. Whiteridge also called at the for
eign ofice and on behalf OF the United
States expressed profound sympathy
with the Spanish sovereign and people.