DISCOVERY OF GUNPOWDER UNDER CORK BARRACKS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3897, 13 October 1880, Page 4

DISCOVERY OF GUNPOWDER UNDER CORK BARRACKS.

An incident has occurred at Oork which is supposed to be an indication of the renewed >aotivity of the Fenian organisation. Accordling >tio' what information can bs obtained, a rfew days since the mileman in the tunnel on the Great Southern and Western Bailway . aioticed two small barrels near the entrance at the Blackpool end. On examination it appeared that the barrels contained gunpowder. INo account could be given of the manner in -which the barrels had been placed in the tunnel, and no owner for them could Ijo • discovered. Tho tunnel rune directly iiud'er- the military barracks, and it was surmised that an attempt to blow up the i -barracks »» in contemplation. The matter was reported to tho military authorities, and in consequence of thu and further information siDCO received, special precautions were .taken for the safety of the barracks. The . guards were doubled, and a patrol of eighty .. men watched the exterior of the barracks at night.- The impre?eion is that the two barrels , were only the first instalment of the material . intended for the explosion. The destruction of the barracks by means of gunpowder placed- in the tunnel was one of the projects . entertained by the Fenians in 1867. , i A later .account says :—" There is no doubt . • whatever, that a small quantity of powder vvas found in the tunnel at Cork. Ifc could 1 aot, howover, have been intended to blow up (,-ihe barracks,, which are protected by several Ijjundred feet of solid rock. It was placed t ihere, doubtless, either for concealment or far i ihe, purpose of blowing up some train when { lassing. The military and police authorities eire.extremcly reticent on the subject."