SENSATION AT WANGANUI.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9155, 3 March 1910, Page 5

SENSATION AT WANGANUI.

UPOKONGARO HOTEL DAMAGED BY EXPLOSIONS. A MAN MISSING. WANGANUI, March 2. What appears to have been_ a deliberate attempt, to blow up the Upokongaro Hotel took place this morning at about tewnty minutes past 3 o'clock, when a couple of terrifice explosions occurred, arousing not only the residents of Upokongaro, but people living at least a mile away. These who turned out discovered that the Upokongaro Hotel, kept by Mr H. Tyson, had" been the scene of the explosions, and that two charges of explosive (which is believed to have been gelignite) were lired. One was placed on the ground a short distance from the dining-room window in front of the hotel, while the second was placed against the iron fencc which joins tho upriver side of the building. The shots shattered every window in tho hotel, but fortunately did no harm to the building itself beyond cracking a few timbers. A skylight was broken in Mr Missen's store a few yards away, but no further damage appears to havo been done. Nevetheless those in the hotel seem to have had a narrow escape. A little nephew of Mr H. Tyson's was sleeping in a bed under one of the shattered windows and was literally covered with splintered glass ,but escaped without a scratch. Mr and Mrs Tyson and several boarders were thrown out of their beds by the shock, but everybody soon recovered from their fright and were thankful to find matters no worse.

Detective Siddells went up to Upokongaro this morning to investigate the affair, and was not long in finding a clue. Strong suspicion attached to a man named Laurent, a Mexican halfcaste, and the suspicion was strengthened by the finding on the ferry boat of his coat and vest, the pockets containing correspondence pointing to the suicide of the supposed perpetrator of tho outrage. The police went jip this afternoon to drag the river, where they believe Laurent ended his life. It is reported that Laurent had threatened the Tysons in consequence of some dispute over a cheque. To-day's search w'as resultless, but further dragging will take place to-morrow.