The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-11-06

Another ina .rnai Machine--DaTingA t.
tempt 10 NOW uPa HeteI-Expiosion
OF "a keg Oh Powder in Earl's, Park
Row.
An awful explosion occurred yesterday
afternoon, in the Office OF Earle's Hotel, in
Park Row. Without a moments warning
the house was shaken to its very roof, and
all Its inmates thrown into a state OF con-
fusion and alarm. In the office below stairs,
among the baggage, an explosion OF gunpow-
der had taken place, but how, and the cause,
or why, no one was able TO explain.
Fortunately, at the time of the explosion
there were but few persons in the Office
These were stunned and thrown upon the
floor, butnone OF them dangerously hurt
One man was taken to the City Hospital.
but il is not considered that his injuries will
prove fatal. By the force of the explosion
the upper Gel ing was shattered to pieces,
aud scattered over the floor as il masor's bad
been at work in the room. The panes of
glass in the front door were shattered 10
pieces, and one or two of the doors taken off
their hinges. But for the fact that the front
of the office was glass, giving a ven, to the
powder, the whole house must have lallen
from the roof, and all its inmates been buried
beneath its ruins, which was doubtless the
intention oil the hearlless fiend who was the
author OF the act.
The Chief of Police, with force, was in
stanlly on the premises, and an investga-
gctl0n OF the affair entered into. The facts
OF the matter are simply as follows:
In small leather travelling ya,ise had
beer placed small keg of powder, holding
twelve pounds. In one end of the key was
inserted the muzzle OF small double bar
relied pistol, and against the triggers of the
pistol was placed an iron spring, made TO
strike the triggers and create an explosion
at certain time, regulated by the running
down OF Weights attached 10 the trigger
spring. The valise was of an ordinary ap-
pearance, and could be placed, as t was, in
the Office among the b ggage, without ex-
letting any suspicion, and at the hour fixed
upon, the machinery would SO revolve with
IN the valise as TO perform the fatal work in.
tended.
The Police collected among the fragments
the remains at the vaiise, the slaves aud
hoops OF the small key of powder, the doub lie
barreled pistol, aud some of the machinery
with which it W. ked, and have them all u,
present at The Chiefs office. On the prem.
lses also were found large shot, which had
no doubt been placed in the keg to make The
havoc more sure and deadly.
AT the time Of the explosion, fortunately
there were only three or tour persons IN the
hlce. The Internal machine was placed be.
nind tie counter OF the office, aud the clerk
oring in the office at The time, was singu-
larly enough, lifted from mis- feet I'd throw n
m the outside o the counter without receiv.
ng any Injury. One OF the W tiers OF the
hotel, named Peter Mourn, was badly burned
about the lace and hands, and taken 10 the
CITY Hospital, where he now lays in much
pain, but it Is thought his life is not in dan
ger His Clothes Immediately took fire, aud
ne ran Into the street covered with flames. -
la an instant his clothes were torn from hi,
body, and but Tor this speedy relief oil hi:
clothing, he might nave been burned IL
ieath. one OF the guests of the hotel, Mr.
= K Dowd, was also adly burned about the
face, but not dangerously.
The wash room OF the hotel was the wors
injured, aud II is remarkable that this room
should receive the great damage of the shocl
situated several feet from the machine, ant
projected by an entry AID one or TWO doors
one side OF the plasiering OF The wash room
was entirely loosened, and hung only by The
work. This is certainly a diabolical at
empt To destroy an entire building and sac
rIhoe the lives oi a hundred or more, TO graf
, ny some private spite or to be revenged up
on some particular party.
Y. Herald, 29h.
|