The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-11-23
ArrEMpr TO blow UP JAMES GoaDos


ATTEMPT TO blow UP AMEs GoRDos
BENNETT, The New York Herald
Of Monday contains long account Of
an attempt having been made to de-
stroy the life of the proprietor, Mr..
Bennett, from which VIC CLEAN the fol
lowing particulars:
1t appears that on the evening Of
the 18th uIt., II man whose identity has
not been made ont, employed back
mail Mt the Park to take him to
the Fulton Ferry. On their way
down, the person stopped the hackman
at the Herald office, and asked him
to deliver u package. The hackmnn
did as he was requested, and left in
the Heyuid Office u small round box.
The box was subsequently handed to
Mr.. Bennett, tho editor of the Herald:
1t was, as is said. marked as follows.
"Native silver and copper ore from the
Cuba mountains, with letter inside the
box. For james Gordon Bennett,
proprietor and editor. Office, N.
w. corner of Fulton end Nassau
streets. Private and with carc." Ac-
company the box was Il card, ON which
was printed with pen rs follows: Sen
or V. Alcazor, OF Cuba, f"r Mr.. BEN
nett, who will call ON his rrttirn to
the city The outer envelope be-
ing removed it disclosed smnll
pnstcboard box, resembling those us
eddy shirt dealers for putting up col
lars. On the side Of the box was
affixed by means Of rcd scaling wax, a
slip of Iuulscap PAPER, on which. WAS
printed in the same handwriting, but
in rcd ink, these words-"Spccimcns
and private documents from the
interior of Havana for Mr.. Bennett
(nilly.) Should he he ont oftown, kccI,
for him. lslaI.d Of Cuba, Scptenl-
ber, 1852" AS the box could not
he readily opened, Mr.. Hudson one OF
the editors of the Hruid who was
present, made an incision with Il
knife, when some black ',-.::::;; OF
some hard substance. rolled out upon
his desk. These grains proved to
be powder, and a subsequent i,vcs.
tigation proved that the paper box was
II most imgcniously contrivcd torpedo
or Internal machine. and that it con
tanned such quantity ofpowdcr tha,
, its explosion would have been Ger
tain death, to all who might happen t,
be near it. a circular piece o.
pil.c wood, half inch thick, was sup
ported by four light pegs, fastened
in the bottom OF the box, and about
the height Of an inch aud tlrcc-puar
tiers over it. Abont threc.uuartcrs o
: IN incl above this piece of wood wa.
another one, but somcw! at less il
circumference. This was fastened tc
the bottom oflllc box by two pieces .
strong cord, running through holes il
the lower wood, and was supported b,
!. Il bunch Of dctouating matches, rest
t ing on a groove in the upper surface 0
9 the lower wheel, and forming sor
; OF column in thc centre. The groov,
. was covered with samlpapcr, ant
:. the lid of the box was fastened t,
;;,-.;.nm"s ~ :. ;a,,,,:@ @';,.e ct. wood, SD tha
c III attempting to screw of IT,. uEzszs5 zl.
g the friction should ignite 1 inc matches
:. This being all so ingcnpusIy con
J; strueted, tho box was filled will
: line rife powder by means of
hole made in the centre of tin
bottom, the powder passing through
4 holes and inches cut in the lowe
: piece of wood until the box wa
/ entirely filled with it. About
y dozen hard paper pellets were found II
nons the powder, which were design
|. cd to have acted as bullets. I'hcl
the hole w;ts covered with circular
: piece OF tin, and entirely conccalc
and secured by quantity of black
scaling wax, impressed with an Am
crican cent. Altogether, it was ;
most diabnlically constructed affair
and had it exploded in Mr.. Bennett.
hands, would have not only killed him
but Mr.. Hudson, and probably m,o,h
er gentleman then in the office. Bu
instead of twisting round the cover a.
designed, Mr.. Bcnnct cndcuvorcd t,
phil it up and thus raised the lnatcic.
oil the sand paper. The escape, how
ever, WAS II most miraculous al,
/ pruv!dcntial one.
--1-s1-eo.b.. .a---