Attempt to Shoot the Prince of Wales.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11789, 6 April 1900, Page 3

Attempt to Shoot the Prince of Wales.

ARREST OF THE WOULD-BE ASSASSIN. A LAD OF FIFTEEN YEARS. United Press Association. — By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright. ■Received April 5, 5.30 p.m. Loxdox, April 4. — A youth named Sipido fired a revolver twice at the Prince of Wales at the northern station in Brussels, without doing any injury. When arrested, tho man's pockets were found to be stuffed with anarchist literature. Received April 5, 11.30 p.m. Loxdox, April 5. — The Prince and Princess of Wales -were journeying to Copenhagen for the King's birthday and to spend the Easter. They left Charing Cross in the morning, and travelled by way of Calais. When leaving the northern for the southern station at Brussels at 5.30 p.m. the driver heard shots and stopped the train. Sipido stood on the footboard, with a revolver thrust through the open window of the saloon, intending to fire a third shot. The stationmaster and others arrested Sipido, who was vociferating that he intended to kill the author of the slaying of thousands in South Africa and Mr Chamberlain's accomplice. The Prince was self-possessed. He alighted and asked the officials if the revolver was loaded. On receiving a reply in the affirmative, His Royal Higness smilingly hoped that the youth would be leniently dealt with. The Prince and Princess then decided to proceed on their journey. Before the journey was resumed, the Prince of Vv^ales telegraphed to the Queen and the Duchess of York. He also reassured the Princess, who quickly recovered from her alarm and agreed to proceed on the journey with the Prince. They received an ovation, bowing in acknowledgment from the carriage windows. At Cologne the Prince received warm congratulatory messages from - Queen Leopold and many other crowned heads. Sipido is a tinsmith, a Belgian by birth, and 15 years old. He is of Italian extraction, round-faced, black-eyed, and has dark hair. He attended a pro-Boer meet • ing on Tuesday. The Belgian public aro sincerely indignant, and blame the press for inciting the people against Great Britain. Received April 6. 9.20 a.m. London. April 5. — Great Britain was startled ut the attempt upon the life of tho Prince of Wales, and joy at his marvellous escape is universal, but mingled with resentment at the results of Anglophobism. The luck of police precautions is aoverely criticised, seeing that the Traubvaal has an agency at Brussels, which is a source of unchecked calumnies. Sipido's first shot struck a cushion beside the Prince, while the other spent itBelf in mid-air. Received April 6, °.45 a.m. London, April 5. — The horror of the Belgians at the attack on the Prince of Wales is also reflected in the Brussels newspapers. Sipido bought a ticket to enable him to walk on to the platform. A student named Vanmol picked up the revolver and was nearly lynched, the crowd thinking he was the miscreant. King Leopold took energetic action* to prove that Belgium is adverse to the wicked ngitatious. He instructed Baron Whaltnall, Belgian Minister in London, to express to Lord Salisbury his regrets at the outrage. He also telegraphed to the Queen. Received April 6, 10.20 a.m. London, April 5. — Sipido waited until n servant who was handing the Prince of Witlcs 11 cup of tea hud withdrawn. lie refused to divulge the name of the instigator of the outrage.