CANADIAN PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4157, 7 February 1916, Page 5

CANADIAN PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.

TOTALLY DESTROYED BY FIRE.

GERMAN PLOT SUSPECTED

EVIDENCES OF INCENDIARISM.

SEVERAL PEOPLE KILLED

OTTAWA, Feb. 4. Parliament Buildings have been destroyed by fire, following an explosion, believed to he of incendiary origin. Six Jives wore lost four when a wall collapsed. Two women guests o'f the Speaker were trapped in his apartments. Several members and the wife of the Speaker had to jump into nets. The House was in session and members had difficulty in escaping. Several were burned and others cut by falling glass. Mr Burrell was caught in his room, and the flesh burnt off both cheeks. He is suffering from shock. He states he is sure the fire was of incendiary origin. He thinks a chemical was used.

The Montreal fire apparatus was - loaded on a special train and brought to the scene. Several members were carried out nearly Suffocated. The military were called out, and placed a cordon round the buildings 'to keep the crowd hack. The library, which contained many valuable treasures, was endangered. The fire started in the reading room to the left of the galleries, and in three minutes the whole wing was filled with smoke. The roof of the House of Commons fell in, and the flames ate np the Senate Chamher and the big tower. Sir R. L. Borden announced that the House would assemble to-morrow afternoon.

Two members made an escape from the second storey by tying towels together. One hurt his leg in falling.^ Only the skeleton of the building is left.

The Providence (Rhode Island) “Journal” announces that it notified the Canadian Government three weeks ago of a plot planned at the German Embassy, Washington, whereby the Canadian Parliament, Duke of Connaught’s residence, and Ontario munitions plans would he destroyed. Mr 'William Lr ggie, member for New Brunswick, is amongst the missing. - , _ The dead include Madame Bray and Madame Morin, two visitors from Quebec, a waiter, two policemen, and a plumber. The fire i s now under control. Conflicting statements have been made regarding the supposed origin of the fire.

Several members of Parliament and policemen assert- that they heard explosions, others declare that merely a pile of papers in the reading room was ignited. An investigation has been ordered. Mr E. B. Law, a member of Parliament for Nova Scotia, and Mr Massing. are believed to he dead. Mr Loggia is safe Sir R. L. Borden and Sir Wilfrid Laurier addressed the House, which met in Victoria Museum alluding to the sead feature of the fire, and announcing that an immediate investigation would be held. The library was saved through the firemen’s efforts.

ATTEMPT TO BLOW UP RAILWAY BRIDGE.

GUARDS FIRE ON SUSPECT

(Received Feb. 6, 5.5 p.m.) MONTREAL, Feb. 6An attempt was made yesterday to blow up the Victoria railway bridge across the St. Lawrence. The guards fired on a man approaching over the ice but- he escaped.

INDIGNATION IN AMERI-

CAN SENATE.

A HASTY DENUNCIATION

• WASHINGTON, Feb. 4. Senator Thomas, a Democrat, has introduced into the American Senate a resolution denouncing the Ottawa fire as an act of deliberately-planned _ incendiarism and an unpardonable crime against civilisation. . Other Senators asked him to delay the motion until an investigation had been held.

RETURNED SOLDIERS.

FOUR MORE MEN BACK

Four more soldiers back from the war arrived here on Saturday b-- the s.s. Tarawera, from South. Driver D. J. Poynton, Taranaki Regiment, enlisted in the Taranaki Province when war broke out, and was with the Advance Expeditionary Force at Samoa for nine mouths. After returning to New Zealand, he re-enlisted and went to the front with the Fifth .Reinforcements. After some weeks on the historic pen. insular, he contracted enteric fever, and was finally sent home aboard the transport Willochra. Private W. B. Bradford, who came here on a visit to liis parents, belongs to the 16th Waikatos, and left New Zealand with the main body. He was in the Canal “scrap,” and also m the initial landing at Gaha Tepe on the Peninsular, aud was the first Gisborne boy reported wounded. After some weeks at the convalescent hospitals m Egypt, he also was returned to the Dominion on the s.s. Willochra. Private Hone Petilia, who has spent two or three weeks in 'Wellington, returned to New Zealand on the hospital ship Maheno. He joined the first Maori Force, and after leaving the Dominion went first to Egypt and then to Malta. He spent three niontlis there, and arrived with his force at Gallipoli for the second landing at Anzac. After spending a. month on .the Peninsular, he received a wound in the chest from a shrapnel bullet. Private Petiha spent about four months in Egypt, convalescing, and was then sent back to New ZeaPrivate P. Foxley left with the sth Reinforcements, and arrived at Gallipoli in time for the big battle about August 7-8. After spending about three months on the Peninsular, he contracted fever, and was invalided to Malta, where he spent four weeks. He returned to New Zealand by the transport Willochra.