Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-05-02
CHE REBEL PLOT TO BURN PHILADELPHIA

CHE REBEL PLOT TO BURN PHILADELPHIA,
The circumstances under which the plot to
burn Philadelphia was discovered here are
about az follows: ra -
On Friday evening last, Sergeant A p. Nc.
Kenny.at the 9Th street wharf discovered two
suspicious looking individuals lurking about
in the dark. who upon seeing they were
watched, made off. Saturday evening, about
the same hour, these two men again made their
appearance at the wharf, when Sergeant
McKenny informed his commanding officer OF
the fact, who instructed him to watch them
closely. The Sergeant seeing the two men in
conversation, got close enough to them to hear
one of them inquire Of the other "Do you
thing they will meet to night" The reply was
not heard, and the men again started off, but
were followed by Sergeant McKenny, who
overlook them on a vacant lot on Ak street,
when one OF the men seeing they were fol-
lowed, drew pistol and fired at the Sergeant,
the ball taking effect in his right breast, near
the nipple. Fortunately Sergeant McKenny
had package Of letters in his pocket, through
which the ball passed, and deadened the force
OF the ball, preventing its making a serious
wound.
The Sergeant being alone, concluded to Law
still, although not dangerously wounded, and
the fellows believing that they had killed him,
Immediately ran off and made their escape.
Sergeant Mckenny, upon regalning his feet,
discovered g letter upon the ground which the
man who fired the shot had pulled from his
pocket with the weapon.
Upon returning to his quarters sergt NICK.
discovered that the letter was of some i'm.
portance, and 1t was accordingly sent to COL
1ngraham.
The letter revealed the fact that there was a
deliberately planned plot on foot to burn Phila-
tors were to take part, and contained REQUEST
urging certain parties supposed to be the two
men alluded to abOve,) to be in PHILADELPHIA
on the 3Oth Of April, as the attempt to destroy
the city would be made on the LIST day OF May,
when the final blow would be struck, and the
torch not lowered until the city was In ashes
and their pockets filled with treasure.
Col. Ingraham, after recalling the letter. i'm =.
mediately dispatched officers to the railroad
station when it was ascertained that two mea
answering the description Of those who had
assailed the sergeant had taken passage on the
train which lett the depot q few moments
befoe.
ne information of the discovery of the plot
was then telegraphed to Gen. Cad walader, at
Philadelphia, and early on Sunday evening
Capt. Potts, chief of the military detectives
ana patrols attached to Col. Ingraham's office,
was dispatched to Philadelphia with such de-
tails OF the plot as had ceme to the knowledge
Of the authorities here.
To prevent any suspicious character from
leaving this city for philadelphia on Sunday
morning, Col. Ingraham and number of off,
GERS proceeded to the railroad station, and
quietly took passage in the Philadelphia train.
After the train had reached point some three
miles from Washington, it was taken possess
sion OF by Col. Ingrabam and his party, and q
thorough search instituted among the pas
sengers. The officers finding no one upon the
train who could not give satisfactory account
OF thems elves, the train was allowed to pro.
ceed, Col 1ngraham and his party returning
to this city.
Facts are within the knowledge OF the
authorities here which go to show that there
are some eight hunderad conspiratsrs banded
together for the purpose of burning PhilndeI-
phia and other Northern cities. The affair is
now undergoing thorough investigation,