ASSASSINATION OF THE EMPRESS OF AUSTRIA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 19, 15 September 1898, Page 6

ASSASSINATION OF THE EMPRESS OF AUSTRIA.

THE WORK OF AN ANARCHIST. HOW THE DEED WAS DONE. THE Empress of Austria was foully done to death at 11 o'clock on last Sunday at Geneva (Switzerland), where she had been staying incognita. The murder was the work of one of those infamous secret associations that have ever been under the ban of the Church, and that have been carrying on the work of political assassination from St. Petersburg to Barcelona, and from the cold-blooded slaughter of Pius IX's trusted Minister, Pellegriuo Rossi, in 1818, down to this last foul act which has placed Austria, and indeed the whole civilised world, in mourning, Mazzini was the apostle of political assassination. He was the pet of Victor Emanuel and Cavour. The cloak of his spirit has fallen on many an association such as that of the bomb-throwing Anarchists, to whom the murderer of the Empress of Austria belonged. The murderer was an Italian Anarchist named Luccheni — a mason by trade, living at Lausanne, 32 miles from Geneva. Reports from Paris (the cables say) state that the murderer is a refugee from Milan, where he took part in the late riots. He was chosen at a recent anarchist meeting held at Zurich with six others to assassinate one of the sovereigns of Europe, King Humbert of Italy being specially selected. Failing an opportunity to carry out this intention, the seven were accused of cowardice. At a second meeting, held a week ago, Luccheni became exasperated and exclaimed : 'I will kill someone, no matter who A French detective was present at the meeting. KiDg Humbert cf Italy was warned. President Faure was guarded against assassination. Luccheni Btabbed the Empress to the heart at noon on Sunday as she was walking from the Hotel Beauregard, Geneva, to board a steamer on Lake Geneva. The knife entered below the left breast After dealing the death-blow Luccheni attempted to escape but two cabmen captured him. He exclaimed :' My blow went home She must be dead !' The prisoner, says the cable message, appeared to be in high spirits, and amused himself by pinging son^s." For such spirits notoriety is as breath to their nostrils. Orsini, who attempted to assassinate Napoleon 111., and Oberdauk, who tried to murder the Emperor of Austria, are instances of the extent of this morbid craving for criminal notoriety. The cable messages state that when the Empress received the blow she fell, but rose immediately and went aboard the steamer where she fainted. The wound was over 3in deep, piercing the heart and left lung. The Empress, feeling the shock but no "pain, thought she had been struck with a view to stealing her watch Wnen she sank to the ground she remarked. ' I think I feel a pin in my chest. She was assisted aboard the steamer, where she fainted ±ne Countess of Szapany opened the Empresss bodice, and discovered a small wound, almost imperceptible and marked by two drops or blood. The Empress momentarily recovered, and was taken to the hotel. She asked what had happened, but never spoke afterwards. She was attended by two physicians anddied after receivnmthe last rites of ; the Catholic Church, of which she was throughout her life a faithful child. The news of the sad event created intense horror throughout Switzerland and fair.y stupified the people of Vienna. The streets were impassable while thousands rer.d the news. The theatres were closed as a token of profound grief, and the good qualities of the Empress were the theme of universal eulogy. Count Goluchowski Minister tor Foreign Affairs, broke the news to the Emperor who was overcome with grief, and bank to the ground groaning He is said to be bearing the cruel blow with great fortitude." Inton.se griet is manifested throughout Austria and Hungary nvn and women weeping in the streets. Mourning banners are displayed everywhere. v J