The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-22
BOMB FOR
AMERICAN
AMBASSADOR
P a ris Communists
Make Attempt to
Assassinate Myron
T. Herrick

ASSaSSlnaJo MyrOn
T. Herrick
Paris. Oct. 10 (By the Associat-
ed Press).-A small oblong pack
age wrapped in plain white paper
tied with strong cord and mark
ed, Perfume" lay on table in
the American embassy all this
morning. 1t was addressed per-
sonally to the American ambas-
sador, Myron T. Herrick, and had
been delivered by registered post.
Thinking it was a gift, the am
bassador's secretary, Lawrence
Norton, carried it to the ambas-
sador's residence. Early in the
evening. the ambassadors valet,
Blanchard, saw the package on a
desk, and following custom started
to open it. TIE removal of the
paper revealed a small pasteboard
box such as might be used for
holding soap Almost Immediate
ly spring was released and as
Blanchard lifted the lid he heard
a familiar noise which brought
back the days when he was a
bomber in the British army. He
hurled the box through the open
bathroom door and ran from the
room. The bomb exploded in the
doorway, two fragments hitting
the valet in the back. He was not
seriously injured.
The ambassador, his daughter-in-
law. rms Parmely Herrick, and
her seven year old son were just
at this time ascending the stair
way, preparatory to entering Mr..
Herrick's suite. Blanchard came
running out as the ambassador
reached the top.
"a bomb has exploded and I
am hit" the valet shouted. Thank
God. YOU weren't in the roonl.''
Blanchard then collapsed and
was carried down stairs. The am
bassador motored Immediately to
the Hotel Crillon to ask General
fershing the best thing to do, and
the prefect of police was summon
ed.
The bomb is believed to have
been sent by French Communists
as protest against the conviction
of two Communists in the United
States charged with murder; it
contained the deadliest of explo-
sives, according to the perfect and
his staff of bomb experts.
Proof of the strength of the ex-
plosives is shown by the fact that
the bathroom was wrecked, that
much damage was done in the
bedroom and that seven fragments
went through thick steel ward
robe, while others made deep dents
in the metal doors of cabinet.
The ambassadors first thought
was to ignore the matter but Gen.
Pershing and others advised him
to make the full details public be-
cause Of the possibility of other
bomb outrages. The prefect, ac-
companied by the attorney general
VI HidHNc, CdfIlc 70 TIE nOleI ana
shortly afterward went with the
ambassador to the latter's home.
The prefect made the announce
ment that 5000 police and detec-
uves would begin at once search
ing inquiry and that probably there
would be numerous arrests among
known Communists.
President Nillerand was among
the first to congratulate the Amer
lean ambassador on his escape. He
sent a personal representative to
convey congratulations in the name
of the. people Of France that the
ambassador had not been hurt and
assure Mr.. Herrick that the out
rage was deeply resented by every
Frenchman worthy of the name
and that the greatest efforts would
be made to apprehend the guilty.
Premier BRAND, Leon Bourgeois
and many members Of the diplo-
matte corps sent messages and
throughout Paris the most intense
indignation is expressed at the at
tack on the. ambassador.