MADRID BOMB OUTRAGE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10742, 12 July 1906, Page 4

MADRID BOMB OUTRAGE.

A BRILLIANT WEDDING. FROM JOYTO TEARS. Mr Edgar Wallace, m the Daily Mail, gives a brilliant account of the Royal I wedding at Madrid and of the tragedy j that followed. Li the course of the re- ! port he says : — A distant burst of cheering and the blare of bugles announced at half-past 9 that the Royal procession had started. Prince after prince with fitting escort passed, and then came princes and princesses of the blood royal of Spain, Avith all the attentions due to their rank and exact order of precedence. Recognised instantly bj' the people and cheered rapturously was the Infanta. Isabel, a motherly lady with silver hair, who avus weeping as she passed. But the greatest reception, apart to that accorded to the principals, was reserved for the Prince and Princess of Wales. The difficulty of distinguishing personages m the Royal carriage was overcome by the fact that the Prince's photograph had been published m all the papers. When the British National Anthem sounded m the distance the enthusiasm of the croAvd was unbounded, and the approach of their Royal Highnesses' coach was the occasion for a singularly warm demonstration. Both tho Prince and Princess bowed, smiled, and saluted tho cheering people Avith that Avave of the hand which is characteristically Spanish, and the use of which pleases tlie Spaniard more tlian the most stately bows. A quaint feature of the Prince's retinue was the "coach of respect," an empty State coach following behind with exactly the same escort as that occupied by the Prince. Tlie Princess was dressed m white. Tlie procession seemed unending, and there were frequent stops, but at last appeared the plume-crested: heads of the eight Avhite ihorses drawing the Royal carriage. King Alfonso's Avelcome was unique. They "vivaed," they called him by name, and they showed m a dozen ways their affection for him. With him were Don Carlos and a pretty little boy of four, the Infante Alfonso, the King's cousin and heir. Tlie child was a feature of the procession — he was so obviously enjoying the ride and saluted- so gravely. PRINCESS ENA'S OVATION. But Avhatever had been the acclamations that greeted King Alfonso, the ovation of the day Avas reserved for Princess Bna. For her Madrid displayed its most beautiful decorations ; for her they hung from countless Avindows tapestries of enormous value (an authority pointed out to me a house from the Avindows of which Avere hung fabrics of the value of £40,000) ; injier honor family ohefets were ransacked and treasures which had not seen the light for 100 years, and which are practically priceless, were hung side by side with more modem specimens of the decorator's art. All brides look beautiful, but Princess Ena looked divine, and it is no exaggeration to say that Madrid Avent mad with enthusiasm as she passed, half an hour after the King, through the streets. For the last time she listened to "God Save the King" played m her honor. Her progress was a triumph over the Spain that loves beauty and courtships, and the youths paid her homage such as few women are fated to receive. The people pressed forward with outstretched hands, and only a strong force of military prevented" them from reaching the carriage. Here was a color feast such as Paul Veronese alone could have done justice to — a scene beside which the most magnificent efforts of pageant makers were insignificant. The tiny Gothic church is perched on a slight eminence, its wonderful proportions alone preventing it from appearing mean. It stood, a splash of cinnamon, with delicate finials rising to the blue Spanish sky. As Princess Ena's carriage turned into the broad drive that leads past the church, to the frenzied, shrill cries of the people, to the waving of thousands of handkerchiefs, to the soft tones of Spanish music, one Avas transported back to the day 6of barbaric gorgeousness when kings moved through a golden haze. Everything helped the illusion. There had been passing up the sweep of grey granite steps that lead to the silvered portals a procession of grandees — not m their military uniforms, as Avould be the case m other countries, but m the garb of their religious orders — not as soldiers, but as "brothers of Christ." In their spotless Avhite cloaks, emblazoned Avith the ensignia of their order, Avith their mediaeval plumed hats, they Avere part of tlie great and wonderful picture. Now, as Princess Ena's golden coach stopped before the steps, the picture was complete. For at the head of the stairs under the great sweep of the canopy — a huge paten of crimson and gold — stood a glittering throng Avaiting to receive her. Left and right of the entrance, supported by slender silver halberds, were the canopies over tlie Ambassadors, and from the terrace of the church hung priceless tapestries. IN THE CHURCH. At the church door an official helped the bride to alight, and then, slightly ahead of the two mothers, she Avalked up with a light step, standing out from the colored splendor of her surroundings. The King, avlio wore the plain uniform of a captain-general with the Orders of the Garter and Golden Fleece, awaited her arrival at the end of the dim aisle, which was almost dark after the glare of the sunshine, despite the subdued light of the cliandeliei-s and the lights on the beautiful altar. In almost every detail the service was identical Avith every Catholic marriage service, but it was sufficiently trying for tlie young pair, as the croAvded church was- suffocatingly hot. The Archbishop of Toledo, crozier m hand, advanced and performed the simple service : "Senora Princesa Victoria Eugenia de Battenberg, 1 require Your Highness and Your Majesty Senor Don Alfonso XIII., King of Spain and Castile, to affirm if there be any impediment by which this marriage cannot be contracted." The Princess made the responses m Spanish, speaking distinctly and making the three affirmutions required m a clear A'oice. Then m a A-oice rendered almost indistinct by emotion the Archbishop 6aid, "And I, on behalf of God Almighty and the blessed Apostles, Peter, Paul, and of Holy Mother Church, marry you, illustrious Princess, and you, most exalted King. This sacrament of matrimony >1 confirm m the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." It was a quarter to one when the booming of cannon announced the mass tnat followed the wedding ceremony was finished. AFTER THE CEREMONY. Out from the dark church into the glaring sunshine the Royal couple passed. The young Queen looked pale, but smiled and waved her hand to the people. Tlie King himself looked a little fatigued, but there was happiness m his smile, and he looked eagerly into his Queen's face and pressed her arm m frank delight. As they stood together under the noble canopy, a young couple side by side Avaving hands here and there, as they recognised friends among tlie privileged circle, there Avas something m the scene unlike anything one ha 6 witnessed. Without losing a particle of the dignity of a splendid function it took on a character of happiness so evident, so undisguised, as to be almost plebeian. Even Spanish dignity melted m joy at seeiug the two Avhoee" lovemaking has been the talk of Spain brought together. The scene that followed as they moved off was remarkable, and the return journey to the palace was marked by demonstrations of affection unequalled m the history of Spain. From the packed stands, windows, and balconies, and from the roof-tops, rose one long, continued roll of cheering. One cry shouted by a spectator, and caught up by the croAvd. I shall always hear. It was*, "Beautiful, beautiful!" Even the guarding soldiers lining tlie route caught- the enthusiasm, and raised their swords m irregular salute with the same cry of "Bonito !" THE BOMB THROWN. A dastardly attempt to ussa-ssiaate King Alfonso and Queen Victoria was made iv the Call© Mayou at twenty minutes past two, as the royal couple were returning from the church to the palace after the Avedding. I had just left the street, after seeing the royal carriage pass. Queen Victoria was leaning forward, radiantly happy, and waving her hand to the cheering people. King Alfonso was leaning back, lazily waving his hand, but not taking his eyes from his Avife's face. I was writing the last- words of a despatch Avhen from a distant street came what sounded like a solitary explosion. Some ten minutes later a courier came galloping past and brought the terrible news, that a diabolical attempt had been made on the lives of the" King and Queen. The royal procession had passed through the Calle Alcala, where the crowd pressed densely, had crossed the Puerto del Sol, and had entered tlie Calle Mayor. , Tliis street run§ almost to the threshold of the !ialace. It is one of the most beautifuly decorated thoroughfares, its narrowness allowing it to be spanned with garlands and suspended arches. At the palace end the street slopes steeply, and opposite the Civil Governor's house grows yet narrower. I

The assassin had posted himself on a balcony overlooking the road and facing the Governor's house. As tho royal panpassed he hurled a bomb. Hy God's providence he missed his mark. Had the weapon fallen a foot further nothing could havo prevented tho transformation of the most famous wedding of modern days into a dreadful tragedy. As it was the bomb exploded, killing a number of spectators and wounding others. At the moment of "telegraphing tho excitement is so intense that it is impossible to obtain accurate particulars. But I am credibly informed that eight persons were killed and twenty-five injured. The whole royal procession was panicstricken, but King Alfonso, recovering himself immediately, spoke through tho broken windows of the royal carriage and inquired what damage had been done. Immediately he sent an orderly to reassure Princess Henry of Battenberg and the Queen-JNlother. His Majesty, raising his voice, commanded the procession to resume its course. Queen Victoria was deathly pale, but smiled courageously. At that moment all the King's thoughts wero evidently for her. He patted her arm and spoke to her continuously at! the way to Uie palace. A rumor .had already reached the palace that tihe King Avas killed, and utter consternation prevailed until the royal carriage came into view. Then arose an hysterical shout of joy. A few minutes later King Alfonso and Queen Victoria* appeared hand m hand on the palace balcony, smiling and bowing m answer to the frantic cheering of their subjects. THE KING AND HIS BRIDE IN TEARS. The missile fell to the right of the royal carriage, between the hindmost pair of horses and the front pair of wheels. The explosion killed two horses and a groom. The Marquis de Sotomayor, the equerry who was riding _at the right side of the carriage, was slightly wounded. Four soldiers lining the route were killed on the spot, and a lieutenant who was standing at the salute was fatally injured. A police-bugler had his head severed from his body, and two women among the spectators were also killed. The injured wero very numerous, and included two or three persons on the second stove; balcony of tho house from which tlie bomb was thrown. Immediately after the explosion the Duke of Cornacliuelos rushed forward, ; .opened the carriage door, and taking hold of the King dragged him out of the vehicle, and then the Queen, who showed signs of great emotion. On their arrival at the palace it 'was noticed that both the King and his bride were m tears. THE ASSASSIN'S ESCAPE. The assassin, whose name is Mateo Moral, escaped m the confusion, but left evidence of being wounded. Immediately before the outrage the Queen had remarked to the King that she would be glad to reach home, the explosion following on her words. The bleeding and wounded officers threw themselves round the royal carriage, and (he Queen, alighting, gazed with horror on the dead and dying men and officers. One officer lay dead, with his hand raised to the salute. The Queen was composed, but on reaching the palace broke down completely. As she alighted gentlemen pressed forward, but the King Avaved them back and tenderly supported his weeping wife. The bomb was thrown concealed m a bunch of flowers. A panic ensued among the occupants of the stands, who threw themselves to the ground. The postillion of the Municipal Guard and a Moorish officer Avere killed instantly. Bodies, horribly mutilated, lay along the street. Men removed their hats before the dead, and there followed a solemn scene. A priest from a neighboring church arrived to give tho last sacraments to the wounded and his blessing to the dead. King Alfonso .stood up when the explosion occurred, and cried to tho people, "Don't be afraid ; we are not hurl." [It Avill be remembered that- Moral some days afterwards was challenged m a village inn by a constable, that he afterwards shot the constable, and fled, but Avas followed by the villagers, and committed suicide when cornered by them.]