THE LATE DUKE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 186, 7 August 1900, Page 2

THE LATE DUKE.

ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION IN

SYDNEY.

A contemporary recounts the circumstances of the attempted murder of the late Duke of Saxe Coburg and Gotha (better known as the Duke of Edinburgh) when, in command of the Galatea, he made his first visit to Sydney early in 1868. The occasion was the holding at Clontarf, on the shores of Sydney harbour, some seven miles from the city, of a great public picnic, for the purpose of providing funds for the Sailors' Home. The day was observed as a general holiday, and such arrangements -were made that, although tickets "were a guinea each, the affair promised to be one of the chief festivities of the Duke's visit. Luncheon had taken place, and the Duke was chatting to Sir William Manning, near the beach, at the same time giving him a cheque ns a 'donation to the Sailors' Home, when a man was observed to leave the half circle of spectators who followed the Duke's movements; a\t a Tsiiort mstance, ana -tru-TTBik rapidly towards his Royal Highness. When he was within arm'" ■~ierur*^—~ I*--£~T1 *- -£~T latter the^rr.*- *red a pistol at the <.xiauic of the Dukes back. The Duke fell on his hands and knees, exclaiming that he was shot and that his back was broken. Sir William Manning, turning sharply round, was ordered by the would-be assassin to stand back, and at once dropped to the ground to avoid the shot, the pistol fortunately missing fire. _ A plucky coachbuilder, named Vial, thereupon rushed at the assailant and pinioned his arms. A furious struggle took place, the man again aiming at the Duke as he lay on the ground, but Mr, Vial's grip diverted the shot, which struck a bystander in the foot. The Duke was removed to . a tent, where an examination showed that the bullet had struck him about half an fnch to the right of the spine, and had travelled round the ribs until it stopped close .to the surf ace, near the breast bone. The Royal sufferer was taken by water to Government House, and was there placed in dharge of two nurses who had just arrived ftiom England. TUfeir care and that of the doctors who attended him was such that, aided by youth and health, the Duke was able in twelve days to walk to the jetty to rejoin the ship. In speaking of the affair he said he felt no pain when the shot struck him, but when he raised himself he found he had lost all sensation from the small of his back downwards, and tha,t his legs were very cold and quite powerless, while he suffered ,from a sense of suffocation. Considering that the pistol which was used wajs so near him that the powder burned his coat it was little short of a miracle that he escaped so lightly.