Below is the first of a daily article from the archives of European newspapers, which, over the next month, will illustrate the unfolding diplomatic crisis 100 years ago that led to the outbreak of the first World War. Two days after the Sarajevo shootings, the Times of London reported the shooting of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife on its front page.
THE SCENE OF THE MURDER
(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT) SARAJEVO
After inspecting the troops on the Filipovitch parade ground the august visitors drove in a motor-car along the station road and the Appel Quay to the Town Hall. The first attempt, when the bomb was thrown, took place at 10.15am, as the car was driving along the Appel Quay, just before reaching the Chumuriah Bridge.
An aide-de-camp seated in one of those motor-cars which followed the Archduke’s car was wounded in the neck by fragments of the bomb and several passers-by also received light injuries. The perpetrator was arrested. He is a young printer, 23 years of age, Nedjeliko Cabrinovitch by name, and a native of Herzegovina, belonging to the Serb-Orthodox faith.
When the motor-car conveying the Archduke and his Consort reached the Town Hall his Imperial Highness said to the Mayor: “What is the good of your speeches? I come to Sarajevo on a visit, and I get bombs thrown at me. It is outrageous.” When the procession drove back from the Town Hall the second attempt was made.
At 10.40am, as the Heir-Apparent’s motor-car reached the corner of the Appel Quay and of the Franz-Josefstrasse, another bomb was thrown at the car by Gavrilo Prinzip, a Bosniak High School student, also belonging to the Serb-Orthodox faith. This bomb did not explode.
Thereupon the assassin fired three shots from a pistol. The first shot hit the Archduke in the neck, the second hit in the leg, and the third hit the Duchess of Hohenberg in the lower part of the body. General Potiorek, chief of the Administration, who was sitting in the Archduke's motor-car, escaped injury. The perpetrator was seized by the crowd and severely mauled.
The Archduke and the Duchess of Hohenberg were rapidly conveyed to General Potiorek’s official residence. Both were past all human aid and received the last Sacrament. The Archduke expired a few minutes after his Consort. The town has been plunged into the deepest mourning. The national flags have been hauled down, and black emblems have been hoisted in their stead. Several suspicious-looking persons have been arrested. The approaches to the Palace are barred and guarded by the military.
HEROISM OF THE DUCHESS
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT) BERLIN, JUNE 28
The news of the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand and the Duchess of Hohenberg was made known here by extra editions of the newspapers at about 6 o'clock this evening. The version published here states that the Duchess attempted to shield her husband by throwing her own body in the way of the assassin's bullet. The utmost horror and consternation have been aroused by the crime, which is a terrible blow to the ally of the Dual Monarchy. No one has yet attempted to gauge its possible effect upon the stability of Europe, and the diplomatic world is almost stunned. The Times, June 30th, 1914
(Selected by Mark Hennessy)
