A GORGEOUS SCENE.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14547, 26 December 1912, Page 7

A GORGEOUS SCENE.

NO PRECAUTIONS TAKEN. THREE DEATHS IN ALL. POWERFUL ORGANISATION AT WORK. DELHI, December 21. Lord and Lady Hardinge had an enthusiastic welcome in tho streets. A battery of artillery and tho Inniskillon Fusiliers, acted as the Viceroy's bodyguard. Tho Staff was preceded by an enormous elephant, gorgeously caparisoned with saddJo cloths of brilliant gold and silver. General.Sir O'Moore Creagh, Commandor-in-Chief, and tho members of tho Council followed them. Scores of Punjab's nobles on horse back, with tho Punjab chiefs clad in richest dresses adorned with jewels, upon elephants, numbering fifty, formed a splendid spectacle. Tho route was lined by three English regiments, ghurkkas, and other native troops. .Ho special precautions wero taken. In fact, the Vicoroy's elephant was some distance ahead of the escort. Tho (bomb passed close to Lord Hardingo's body, and horribly mangled the umbrella-bearer, who had officiated at Lord Curzon's Delhi Durbar, and begged for tho same honour yesterday. Besides the 'boy, a man among the spectators was killed, and several spectators wero wounded. The bomb sliattered tho hack of the howdnh, and nails from it dented the helmets of some of tho 60th Regjmont, who wero lining the streets. A large handkerchief full of nails and screws was collected afterwards. Similar bombs had been used in tho trainthrowing outrages. The 'boldness of the attempt points to a powerful organisation. Tho house, a largo three-storeyed ono, is used as offices on tho ground floor, and as native residential quarters above. It was densely packed with about 150 spectators. SPECTATORS' STORIES. LADY __AR_>INGE'S WONDERFUL ESCAPE. LORD HARDINGE PROGRESSING SATISFACTORILY. DELHI, December 24. Spectators assert that a group of men in a corner on tho roof disappeared after the explosion. They heard a cry in Hindustani expressing satisfaction that the aim had been sure. Some timo elapsed before the polico surrounded tho house, and the panic m tho street facilitated tho escape. Tho Viceroy did nob realise for a moment what had happened. Lady Hardinge had a wonderful escape. Sho was on tho side of tho howdah facing the houso whence tho bomb came. Sho showed tho utmost courage, and asked her husband, "Aro you hurt?" The Viceroy replied, "1 am all right; let us go on." Her ladyship said, "We cannot, there are dead men behind us." Tho elephant was halted and tho Viceroy reeled and fainted from loss of blood. Much difficulty was experienced in getting him off tho elephant. Tho staff lifted him down and removed him to an ambulance. At tho Viceroy's instance the procession continued. Sir G. F. Wilson fulfilling the programme and formally assuming possession of Delhi. Tho Viceroy is progressing satisfactorily, but is suffering from shock. Tho explosion caused him to suffer from temporary deafness. Two operations havo boon performed to extract nails nnd fragments of metal from his body. It is expected that Sir George Sydenharo-Clarko will be appointed Acting-Viceroy. The Government Houso at Calcutta is strongly guarded.