The Georgetown news., 1855-08-09
The Torpedo Affair Yesterday

The Times & Transcript of the Sd inc.
gives the following particulars of tbi'
strange affair:
A very strange and particularly Frpro,
attempt was made yesterday afternoon VI
self-immoton in order to encomnaes +tt a'
death of conceived enemy. The facts G "
the case as far as they could be ascertainoS u
are as follows. The banking house or 7
E. Ritter 4 Co., a French firm have ba1 ~
some transactions with one of their countrY
men named J. A. Bryant, an aged man AND
difficulties had ensued in reference to mont
gage to the amount of $4,000, which W.
shortly to be forecIosed. About 3 o'cloaI'
yesterday afternoon Bryant entered tbo
counting house of the firm, No. l44, Wash
ington street with carpet bag in hand and
handed letter written in French on nipca
of brown waste paper to one of the CLERK,
The following is its translation;
Read all this: fear nothing: without sa7
ing a word to other persons, give notice y
all the neighbors that in five minutes HI,
house will be blown up. This carpet baa
is filled with powder, and l am going "a
touch it off. But notify all the neigh6oy
TO go away; go Immediately to all the Der,
sons in the house if there are any, win
wait till you have told them. Pay atten.
ton, for l leave the responsibility upon yonr
conscience. You have nothing to fear Re-
as quick as you can"
After the delivery Of this letter he placed
the carpet bag on the floor beside him
The letter was read, but according to tba
statement Of a gentleman in the establish.
ment, no notice was taken of it, thinking
that the man had become deranged on aG.
count Of his monetary troubles, and this was
one Of his vagaries. Finding DO notice IA.
ken of his epistie, without speaking Bryant
drew a small single barrel pistol and dis.
charged the same into the bag-a tremend.
Gus explosion followed, tearing out the in.
terror of the countiug-room, destroying tb9
furniture, smashing all the glass and miur.
ing the ceiling, dotaching large pOrtionOf
the plaster. Fortunately neither sei-immo
lation or the destruction of Ritter was ac
complished, from the fact that the powde,
was loose in the bag MIR. Bryant was the
only sufferer from the transaction, having
both his hands very seriously burnt.
The gentlemen present connected with
the banking house of Ritter Il Co. were un.
injured. Marshal North and Assistant
Chief Engineer Mr.. j. Caprice arrested
Bryant, and conveyed him in a cab to the
State Marine Hospital, he having expressly
desired to be taken to an American Hospi,
tai, and not to be entrusted to the care Of
his countrymen. The flesh on both his
hands is very much burnt, and in the opn-
ion of the physicians lastevening, great dan.
ger existed that in recovering, the fingers
would adhere. When placed in the hospi-
tai, and whilst being conveyed there, theun.
fortunate man cOnyersed as if in full posses
sion Of his faculties. In course of day Or
two the facts Of the case will transpire, and
in consequence Of the conflicting nature Of
the reports current last night, we torbear
comment on the transaction. The explosion
caused an alarm of fire to be rung from
Monumental and the City Hall bells aud
the Department turned out in full force.