MAJOR’S NARROW ESCAPES.

Another correspondent states that the auxiliaries were placed at a disadvantage in having to withhold their fire on account of hundreds of dockers being on the quay, and if they had not done so there would have been a terrible loss of life. The attackers took cover behind barrels which they rolled in front of them as they advanced, while they had the swing bridges over a canal in readiness to be drawn immediately they had made good their retreat. When the dockers were in safety the auxiliaries replied vigorously to the fire of the assaulting party, who were pursued in every direction. The man who was killed had a bomb in his hand, and this exploded when he fell and blew off one of his hands. The gas bombs almost overpowered some of the auxiliaries, who suffered from sickness as the result of fumes.

Major Ryan, who commanded the company, had two miraculous escapes. The attackers were evidently conversant with the interior arrangements of the hotel, and knew the major’s bedroom. A bomb flung from the roof of a building opposite the hotel was aimed at his room, but it entered the window of the dining-room, which adjoined the commander’s apartments. Fortunately no one had got down to breakfast. When Major Ryan rushed downstairs a large bomb flung into the billiard-room just grazed his forehead, knocking off his cap, but it failed to explode. Major Ryan said he was aware that Sinn Feiners were especially concerned over his company, which had done much work in frustrating Republican plans to import ammunition.