Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1912 — HURL HATCHET AT PREMIER ASQUITH [ARTICLE]

HURL HATCHET AT PREMIER ASQUITH

Arrival in Dublin Marked by Sensational Incident. REDMOND HIT BY MISSILE British Prime Minister Given Ovation by Crowds in Irish City Where He Speaks Tonight on Home Rule.

Dublin,. July 19.—Premier Asquith, who is to speak here tonight on home rule, was welcomed upon his arrival at the Kingstown quay last night by John Redmond in the presence of a great crowd. A parade of several nationalist bodies, 2,000 torch bearers and several bands was formed and the premier was escorted to his hotel. The police arrangements were the same as upon the occasion of the king’s visit, but Lord Mayor Sherlock, who refused to' welcome King George, was there to receive the king’s prime minister officially. Hurl Hatchet at Premier.

A sensational incident was enacted before the party reached Mr Asquith’s hotel. Some person, presumably a suffragette, from a concealed position on a roof Or an upper story, threw a hatchet at the premier as his carriage was passing. The hatchet fell between Mr. and Mrs. Asquith, who were on the rear seat of the carriage, and 1 hen to the floor of the carriage. Mr. Redmond was seen in a moment to be bleeding from a cut in the eye, but as nobody had seen the hatchet strike him, it is thought, perhaps, the handle of the missile had grazed the Irish leader’s eye just before it landed between the premier and his wife. Given Ovation in Streets. The crowds in the street-gave the visitors an ovation and upon arriving at the hotel insisted on a speech. . Mr. Asquith said this was the first time the chief minister of the crown had visited Ireland since the act of union and it was quite beyond him to thank the people for the magnificent welcome they had accorded him. He came, he said, on a mission of peace between artificially estranged people. They would not forget Grattan and Parnell now that they were about to enter into the fruits of the labors of these two leaders. The premier assured his hearers that he was the ambassador of peace between Ireland and Great Britain and he assured them in behalf of the liberal party and British democracy that the liberals meant to bring the cause to a speedy issue. Tries to Burn Theater.

Great excitement was occasioned by the attempt of a suffragette to burn the Theater Royal, where the premier will address the Nationalists tonight. While the audience which had been seen the vaudeville show was leaving the theater a blazing chair was hurled into the orchestra by a woman in a box. The curtain of the box was also seen to be in flames when the chair was thrown. The fire caused . semipanic among the audience and at its height the woman escaped. The theater attendants soon extinguished the flames.