A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13013, 2 March 1910, Page 2

A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.

EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR AT UPOKONCARO. Supposed Attempt to Blow Up Hotel. Considerable sensation was caused in town this morning on receipt of- news of what appears an extraordinary outrage. It appears that, at 20 minutes past 3 this morning, the residents of Upokongaro were roused by a couple of terrific explosions, which were heard, not only all over the township, but even at points a mile away, while the shock was felt in houses across the river. Those who turned out to discover the cause found that what looked like a deliberate attempt to wr.eck the XJpokongaro Hotel had been perpetrated. Two charges of explosive (which is. believed to have been gelignite) were fired. 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 fence which joins the upriver side of the building. The shots shattered every window in the 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 have been done. Nevertheless, those in the hotel seem to have had a narrow 7 escape. A little nephew of Mr. H. Tyson’s (the licensee) was sleeping in a bed under one of the shattered windows, and w 7 as literally covered with splintered glass, but escaped without a scratch. Mr. and Mrs. Tyson, and several boarders, were thrown out of bed by the shock, but everybody soon recovered from their fright, and wore thankful to find matters no worse.

A CLUE. Supposed Suicide. Detective Siddells went up to Upokongaro this morning to investigate the affair, and was not long in finding a clue to his hand. Strong suspicion attached to a man named Laurent, a Mexican half-caste, and the suspicion was strengthened by the finding of his coat and vest, the pockets containing correspondence, on the Upokongaro ferry boat. This appeared to point to the suicide of the supposed perpetrator, and the police went up this afternoon to drag in the, river, where they believe Laurent ended his days.