18 JUNE 1881, Page 1

The Fenians have made an attempt to blow up the

Liverpool Town Hall. Two men were observed at 1 a.m. on Saturday morn- ing on the steps of the building, with a bag, which a constable felt satisfied contained some explosive. The men ran away when challenged, and be pursued them, and with the assistance of another constable secured them both. Other constables, mean. while, watched the bag, which in a few minutes exploded, shatter- ing the windows of the Town Hall and some neighbouring houses, and breaking off fragments of stonework. In the bag was found a section of gas-pipe, which had been stuffed and loaded with dynamite. The two men, whose real names appear to be M'Kevitt and M'Grath, are in custody, and it is expected that one of them will turn Queen's evidence. That is improbable ;