ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF H.R.H. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2658, 7 April 1868, Page 1 (Supplement)

ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF H.R.H. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

[FROM AN EYE-WITNESS.] The following account is by an eye-wit-ness :— "Everything went on pleasantly. The weather was auspicious ; a finer mornin g waa never enjoyed in New South Wales ; and as it was proclaimed and kept a public holiday, all who could, made their arrangements so that the thorough enjoyment of the picnic might not in any way be interfered with. By ten a.m. crowds of people were| wending their way to the Circular Quay. The Zembla, the first steamer chartered by the committee, left the wharf at that hour, fully freighted with a living cargo, bound to Clontarf. The Eiami, Morpeth, and other steamers followed, and by mid-day a large gathering of ladies and gentlemen were assembled at the place of rendezvous. The committee had made arrangements of the highest order. Clontarf is romantically situate in a pleasant bay, protected at the back by rugged hills, but presenting at the landing-place, a sandy beach, and a grassy plain, of limited extent. The spot is peculiarly situated for a. fete champetre, with all its romantic accompaniments. Upon this plain an immense marquee and several tents had been pitched, in which were concentrated all the luxuries the skilled entrepreneur could provide. To the right, a tent, over which floated the Royal Standard of England, had been specially pitched for the accommodation of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh and suite, the Earl and Countess of Belmore and their attendants. The grounds were arranged for all the sports of old England — cricket, foot ball, croquet, Aunt Sally, &c. Tho band of H.M. 50th Regiment, and the well known talented German band were stationed in different convenient positions. Every imaginable resource seemed to have been called forth to promote the people's pleasure. By half past 1 o'clock, the last steamer had been discharged, and an immense concourse of people had assembled to do honor to the long-looked for day. At about 2 o'clock, the steamer Fairy, having on board his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, the Earl and Countess of Belmore, Miss Gladstone, and Mrs Lambert, Lord Newry, the Right Honorable Eliot Yorke. Lieutenant Haig, R.A., Commodore Lambert, and Commander Campbell, R.N., arrived at the landing place provided for them. They were welcomed by the greater part of the people on the ground. As soon as the Fairy was alongside the wharf, his Royal Highness stepped ashore, assisting as he did so the Countess of Belmore, who immediately took his arm, and followed by their suite, the royal party passed along a passage formed by the people, who in line stood on each side, direct to the refreshment booth. Arrived there, tho signal was at once given for luncheon. Tho Prince, Lord Belmore, and their attendants, having been seated, Sir William Manning took the chair, Captain Smith sitting opposite him as vicechairman. The Prince was seated on the right of the chairman ; on the right of the Prince the Countess of Belmore and Sir Alfred Stephen. On the left of the chairman were Earl Belmore and Miss Gladstone. There were besides at the royal table Commodore and Mrs Lambert, the Hon. Mr and Mrs Murray, Mrs Billy ard, Lady Stephen, Lady Manning, and a number of the 6lite. His Royal Highness had just partaken of lunch, and left the tent as soon as her Majesty's health had been proposed and drunk with the usual honors. He was walking beside Sir William Manning across the green in the direction of the royal marquee, the people were scattered in all directions enjoying themselves, when they were startled by the report of two shots in rapid succession. A rush was instantly made towards the spot, and cries were heard " The Prince is shot !" " The Duke is killed !" Nine-tenths of those who heard the words did not credit them ; and for some moments few could realise that anything so dreadful had actually taken place. They could not believe that in such a scene of innocent gaiety and enjoyment any human being could be so diabolically wicked as to commit so dreadful a crime. The report was, however, too true. The excitement, as soon as the truth was fully comprehended, was dreadful. Women, and even men fainted, and for a few moments the scene was one of almost indescribable confusion and distress. The first object, as soon as people had in some degree recovered from the shock was, of course, to ascertain if his Royal Hi&hneas was fatally wounded. The crowd around the spot was so great that for some time nothing could be ascertained as to the result likely to follow ; but in less time than it takes to relate the facts, the would-be murderer was seized by the multitude, and but for the energetic action of the police and some seamen, would have been killed on the spot. " Kill the wretch," " Lynch him," " Hang him," burst from a thousand voices. The attempts of so many to reach him with kicks and blows frustrated the purpose of all. How the wretched assassin was not torn limb from limb by the attacks of the crowd is a mystery. On his back, his clothes torn to shreds, amidst a fighting and surging multitude, aiming at his life, his look was one of the most desperate and determined kind. He was in this condition partly pulled and partly driven by kicks and blows towards the landing place. The police and seamen struggled manfully to retain their prisoner, and to take him on board the steamer, while he avenging crowd strove as desperately to to get him out of their hands, in order to inflict summary vengeance on the spot. Fortunately, the arm of the law was strong enough to prevent the commission of an act which all in their cool moments would have deeply regretted. The struggling and fighting mass at length reached the gangway, and there a scene which baffles description took place. The enraged people saw that the assassin was likely to be saved from their vengeance, and fierce cries again arose— "Lynch him," "Hang him," "Up with him" — and amidst tho raging excitement the wretched being was dragged on board the steamer in a condition better imagined than described. He appears to have retained his senses up to this time, but soon after became unconscious, and while he was in that state the steamer started for Sydney. To return to the Royal victim of this atrocious outrage : He fell instantly on being shot, saying " Take hold — my back is broken." Mr Thomas Hale was close at hand at the moment, and instantly lifted his Royal Highness to an easier position than that in which he fell. Medical assistance was fortunately quickly available, and as soon aa safety would permit the Prince was

carried to his tent, and in a short time preparations were made to remove him to Sydney. By this time it was generally reported that the wound was not likely to prove fatal, and the welcome intelligence was received with the deepest satisfaction on all sides. The Royal victim bore his sufferings in the most patient and quiet manner, and we need not say that everything that kindness could suggest was done to assist and relieve him. The following is a precise statement of what occurred at the moment of the attempted assassination. The man came up rapidly behind the Princo a little diagonally, with his right hand by his side, until he was within two or three paces of his victim, The assassin then moved more rapidly, lifted his hand, placed the pistol (a Colt's revolver) almost in contact with his Royal Highness' left shoulder, and fired. The Prince instantly fell forward, or rather sunk or tottered to the ground. The ruffian then before he could be seized, drew back rapidly three or four paces, again raised his arm and took deliberate aim, but before he could fire, Sir William Manning, who was walking at the Prince's side, had turned round on hearing the report, and attempted to seize the man ; the pistol was then aimed at Sir William who ducked or threw himself forward to avoid the shot ; but this time — it was all the work of a moment— the weapon missed fire. The assassin was then in the act of pulling the trigger a third time, and while doing so was seized from behind by Mr Vial, coachbuilder, of Castlereagh street, who grasped his arms, and so brought the direction of the weapon at the moment of explosion towards the ground. The shot struck the earth, close at hand, and rebounding, wounded a gentleman (said to be Mr Gr. Thorne) in the foot or lower part of the leg.