Attempt to Assassinate the King of Spain

New Zealand Tablet, 17 April 1913, Page 36

Attempt to Assassinate the King of Spain

As King Alfonso was returning from a review on Sunday, three shots were fired at him. One struck the King's horse on the chest. The miscreant, a Catalonian named Alegre, who was expelled from France a few weeks ago as an anarchist, was arrested. He was seized by a policeman, who, by his action, deflected two other shots. King Alfonso had presented the colors to the recruits, and was returning at a walking pace, when Alegre, quitting the front of the crowd, darted forward and seized the bridle of the King's horse and flourished a Browning pistol. The King, with his usual admirable coolness, realising the position, with a sudden pull of the bridle raised the horse a moment as Alegre fired, and only the horse's chest was hit. ° The Queen and the Princess of Battenberg witnessed the ceremony, and followed the King in an open carriage. The Queen heard the shots and guessed what had happened. She was terrified until the King's aide-de-camp arrived and reassured her. King Alfonso, on seeing his assailant overpowered, rose in his stirrups and saluted the crowd in military fashion, and loudly shouted 'Viva Espana.' The cry met with an enthusiastic response. The King then dismounted, smiling, and without betraying the least emotion, replied to eager questions. To his entourage he exclaimed: 'Gentlemen, it is nothing.' Then he lightly vaulted on to his horse and proceeded to the palace. At the palace there was a renewed outburst of cheering.