Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-23
BLAST INSTANTLY KILLS
ATTENDANT ON elephant
India's Ruler Only Slightly Injured.
Vicereine Suffers From Shock.
STATE PROCESSION IS HALTED
Missile Is Thrown From a Housetop
as Vice-Regal Party Makes Its
Entry Into Delhi, New Capt.
tai of the Empire.


DELHI. India. December o3.-Baror
Charles Hardinge, viceroy OF India. was
wounded and an attendant of his was
killed by {. bomb hurled at the viceroy
from a housetop as he was entering the
new capital In state today. The bomt
struck the howdah. or basket Of the vice.
roy's elephant, killing the attendant IN
stantly He was hurriedly removed tt
a hospital.
The bomb thrower's attempt to kill
Lord Hardinge came within hairs
breadth of being successful The viceroy
was making his entry in state into Deih
as the last of the ceremonies in connec'
ton with the transfer of the capital from
Calcutta to Delhi The transfer was
made in October last, but Lord Hardingt
was not to take formal possession of his
new quarters until today.
Bomb Hurled From a Roof.
A large gathering of troops. officials
and Punjab chiefs was present TO well
come the vice-regal party. It's splendid
elephant procession had just left the
railway station, passing through Chandai
y ~,
was hurled by man standing on a
housetop. and it struck the howdah or
basket of the elephant in which Lord
and Lady Hardinge were riding Inc
attendant, holding a large parasol over
the vice-regal pair, was instantly killed
as the bomb, a very powerful one. ex-
ploded. Lord Hardinge was wounded
IN the shoulder.
Baron Hardinge, on arrival at the nos
pital, was at once examined by the sur
rrt- hot a
his shoulder was only a slight one.
Lady Hardinge suffered severely from
shock and it was found necessary 10
apply soothing remedies.
The viceroy's parasol bearer had peen
killed outright and another attendaht
seriously wounded by fragments of the
bomb. The ceremonies were interrupted
for only q short period. while the Vlcs,
roy and vicereine were being conveyed
TO the hospital and vice-regal residence
respectively.
Deed Arouses Indignation.
Sir Guy Fleetwood Wilson. financial
,nember of the council Of the governor
general of India, took the viceroy's place
,n the procession, which then proceeded
nm its way through the new imperial city
IN the durbar camp, where great mum
ber Of raiahs and other Indian chieftains
vere gathered Sir Guy then took up his
,,osition I'm front of the viceregal dais
and road aloud a dispatch from Baror
Hardjnge. saying that he was only slight
ly injured The reading OF the message
was received with prolonged cheering
The attempt on Baron Hardlnge M
reused feelings of intense ndlgnat1on
hoth among the natives and the BRITISH
officials present. as he Is one OF the mos
popular viceroys who has ever ruleo II
India. ,..,
For a long period there had been a iui
In the native agitation In India Wnlci
had at various times led to ASSASSINATION:
Of high officials. The attack on Baror
Hardinge by a fanatic therefore came
with great uneXpectedness. only snor
time ago the viceroy himself wrote to th'
India office in London, saying that th'
country was vefy quiet and that the pros
poets for his official entry into Delhi wer'
most favorable.
Threw Missile But Few Feet.
The bomb was thrown as the grea
procession was passing through thu
Chandai Chowk. which is a long, narrow
typical oriental street containing man,
stores selling various kinds of merchan
disc. The houses are mostly one-stor1
buildings. but some of them rise to tn'
height of two stories. \ line of stree
cars runs the whole length of the Chan
dai Crowk. but. owing to the Importance
of the days event the service had beer
suspended.
The vicceroy's elephant was an enor
nous animal. The driver sat between hi
ears guiding him in the usual native
way by tapping him on the forehead witt
q steel spike. Behind the driver was th'
great howdah, a box-like construction
fixed on the elephants saddle. The how
dah was covered with imperial purpl,
drapings decorated with gold lace ant
tassels. In il We're seated the viceroy
and vicereine. and at their backs stood
another native attendant holding ove
their heads the great parasol which in
dcates the royal dignity. Owing to th'
lowness of the houses in the Chandis
Chowk. the would-be assassin. who stoot
on one of the roofs when he threw tn,
bomb, was only few feet from the vice
roy and vicereine.
Escape Well Nigh Miraculous.
The bomb. which was evidently in
tended to explode by concussion. burs
with terrific force The native standin:
behind the viceroy and vicereine hold
ing the imperial umbrella was blown
from his position to the ground and in
stantly killed. while the driver sittin,
in front Of the howdah was wounde,
in no fewer than eight places. The es
cape Of Baron and Lady Hardinge wa
II
only a foot or two from its target
The great procession immediatei,
came to a standstill. and n crowd of OF
iicials rushed up and found the vicero,
bleeding and pale. while the vicerein
was terribly shaken.
The police Immediately surrounded th
house from which the bomb was throw,
and made several arrests. All the out
lets from the city were placed unde
strict guard.
The bomb thrower has not yet bee
captured. \ reward of OOOO rupees tap
prOximately $500 has been offered fo
his arrest.
Today's celebration marked the carry
ing out of the announcement that tn
king had made during the great corona
tion durbar. of the transference of tn
imperial capital of India TO Delhi
Since the announcement was made tn
yiceroy, who had been created Barol
Hardinge on his appointment TO office
has been busy visiting various parts O
the country. and has been able to pa
only a few flying visits to Delhi L
I(.nptipnad nv, Saonpd